Sylvester Stallone Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth and Salary?

With a net worth of $400 million, Sylvester Stallone is a notable American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director. He ranks among the most iconic and cherished action heroes of all time, holding the unique record as the only performer in American cinematic history to lead box office #1 films over six consecutive decades.

Achieving superstardom with “Rocky,” Stallone rose to become one of the highest-paid action stars during the 1980s and 1990s. He has created and produced several successful franchises, such as “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “The Expendables.” As of this date, his film endeavors have brought in over $4 billion in global revenue. Distinguishing him from many Hollywood celebrities, Sylvester has actively engaged in writing, producing, and/or directing numerous significant films in his franchises.

Some of the most lucrative films for Stallone by box office revenue include “Rocky IV” (1985) with $300 million, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985) also generating $300 million, and “Creed” (2015) which amassed $173 million. Overall, his films have grossed more than $4.5 billion globally, placing him among the top-grossing actors alongside major stars like Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. Comparatively, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a fellow legendary action figure, has a global box office total estimated at about $4.4 billion, slightly less than Stallone’s earnings.

Salary Highlights

From the 1970s until 2012, based solely on the films we will soon discuss—excluding many of Stallone’s movies from that era and the subsequent decade—he earned approximately $300 million in base film salaries. After accounting for inflation, this amount equates to around $500 million in today’s value.

After drafting the screenplay for “Rocky” within just three days, multiple studios expressed interest in his project with United Artists leading the charge; however, they preferred to cast Robert Redford or James Caan. Stallone persistently lobbied the film’s producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, to let him take on the lead role. He ultimately accepted a nominal salary of $23,000 for the project, roughly equivalent to $110,000 today. The film went on to gross $225 million from a budget of $1 million.

• For “Rocky II,” Stallone received a payment of $75,000.
• His base salary for “Rocky III” was $120,000.
• For “Rocky V,” he secured $15 million.
• In “Creed” and “Creed II,” he earned base salaries of $10 million each.

In 1982, he garnered $3.5 million for “First Blood.” The subsequent year, he earned $10 million, which adjusted for inflation corresponds to $25 million, along with his first Producer credit for “Staying Alive.”

He made $4 million and obtained his second Producer credit for the 1984 film “Rhinestone.” The following year, he received $12 million and another Producer credit for “Rocky IV.” He matched that $12 million for “Over the Top” and earned $16 million for “Rambo III.”

For several subsequent films, Stallone earned between $15 million and $16 million:

• “Lock Up”
• “Tango & Cash”
• “Rocky V”
• “Oscar”
• “Demolition Man”
• “Judge Dredd”
• “Assassins”
• “The Specialist”
• “The Expendables”
• “The Expendables II”

For “Daylight,” he received $17.5 million, earned $20 million for “Driven,” and another $20 million for “Eye See You.”

Early Life

Born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone on July 6, 1946, in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, Sylvester is the elder son of Italian immigrants, Francesco “Frank” Stallone Sr., a hairdresser, and Jackie Stallone, who was both an astrologer and a dancer. He has a younger brother, Frank Stallone, who works as an actor and musician. Due to complications during birth, the lower left side of Sylvester’s face was paralyzed, giving him his legendary “snarling” appearance and slightly slurred speech.

Due to the tumultuous relationship of his parents, Stallone spent part of his childhood in foster care. After their divorce, he lived temporarily with his father in Maryland.

Stallone initially pursued drama studies at the American College in Switzerland before transferring to the University of Miami, from which he left without completing his degree to chase an acting career in New York City.

Career

Stallone’s debut starring role appeared in “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s,” a softcore adult film, which he took on out of financial necessity after losing his apartment, earning just $200 for two days of work.

Stallone’s early filmography consisted of minor roles, including an uncredited part in Woody Allen’s 1971 film “Bananas.” In 1973, he acted in a film called “Rebel,” and achieved some early acclaim in 1974 with his performance in “The Lords of Flatbush.”

Relocating to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, Stallone spent his free time writing screenplays. Motivated by a fight he witnessed between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, he penned a screenplay centered on a down-and-out thug aspiring to be a professional boxer. Stallone was adamant about starring in the movie and refused to sell the script unless he was given the lead role. He eventually found supportive producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, who allowed him to take on the character of Rocky Balboa. The name “Balboa” was inspired by the location of his LA apartment, which was just a couple of blocks from Balboa Avenue.

The release of “Rocky” in 1976 marked a turning point in Stallone’s career. Despite initial mixed reactions from test screenings, the film became a global sensation, elevating Stallone to immediate A-list recognition and worldwide fame. Garnering both critical and commercial success, the film grossed $117 million at the box office against a relatively modest budget.
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With a budget of $1 million, the film achieved ten Academy Award nominations. It competed for Best Picture against iconic films like “All the President’s Men,” “Network,” and “Taxi Driver,” but remarkably, “Rocky” took home the award. Additionally, it won accolades for Best Directing and Best Film Editing. The release of “Rocky II” came in 1979, followed by two additional sequels in the ’80s, as Stallone continued to enjoy significant box office success.

In 1982, Sylvester made a triumphant return through his portrayal of John Rambo in the blockbuster “Rambo: First Blood.” This film spawned three sequels. To prepare for his roles as both Rocky and Rambo, he committed to an intense training regimen, working out twice daily, six days a week, with added evening exercises. For the third installment of “Rocky,” he achieved a remarkably low body fat percentage of just 2.8%.

However, in 1987, Stallone’s popularity began to wane following his role in “Over the Top,” which was a box office disaster met with negative reviews. The 1990s saw the release of “Rocky V,” which also failed to perform well at the box office. He tried to break into comedy but faced critical and commercial failures with early ’90s projects like “Oscar” and “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.” A brief resurgence occurred with “Cliffhanger” in 1993, earning $170 million, and “Daylight” in 1996, yet by the early 2000s, he found himself in a series of disappointing films both financially and critically.

After a three-year break, Stallone made a comeback in 2006 with the sixth entry in the “Rocky” series. He wrote, directed, and starred in the film “Rocky Balboa,” which had a budget of $24 million and grossed $155.7 million globally. He also returned to the role of Rambo in the fourth film of the series, titled “Rambo.” In 2010, his successful project “The Expendables,” which he wrote, directed, and starred in, debuted at #1 at the box office during its opening weekend. A sequel, released in 2012, also received favorable reviews and claimed a #1 position at the box office.

In 2015, Stallone expanded the “Rocky” franchise with a spin-off titled “Creed.” Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film centered around Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, the son of Apollo Creed, Rocky’s rival. Stallone garnered significant acclaim and his third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The follow-up, “Creed II,” premiered in 2018, earning favorable reviews and generating $35.3 million on its opening weekend. The fifth “Rambo” film hit theaters on September 20, 2019, and grossed $91 million worldwide.

Additionally, Stallone took on the roles of Stakar Ogord in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise and Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the “Tulsa King” series airing on Paramount+. In 2023, Sylvester, along with his wife and three daughters, featured in the reality show “The Family Stallone,” which was swiftly renewed for a second season.

Other Ventures

In March 2018, Sylvester co-founded Balboa Productions, a film production studio, together with Braden Aftergood. The studio has an extensive lineup of projects in the works, including “Creed II,” “Rambo V,” and “Expend4bles.” Currently, the studio is developing a film that narrates the story of Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson, recognized as the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion.

Stallone has also contributed his vocals to various films’ soundtracks. Notably, he recorded the theme “Gonna Fly Now” for the initial Rocky film and the song “Take Me Back” for Rocky IV. Furthermore, he performed duets with Dolly Parton for their movie “Rhinestone” in 1984. As a boxing promoter, he operates under the name Tiger Eye Productions.

Personal Life

In 1974, Sylvester entered into marriage with Sasha Czack. Together, they welcomed two sons: Sage Moonblood, who sadly passed away from heart disease at the age of 36, and Seargeoh. The couple divorced in 1985. Stallone’s marriage to Brigitte Nielson lasted from 1985 until 1987.

In 1997, Sylvester wed Jennifer Flavin. They…

Three daughters, named Sophie, Sistine, and Scarlet, would be welcomed by them. On August 24, 2022, news broke that Jennifer initiated divorce proceedings against Sylvester, with the filing taking place in Palm Beach County, Florida. Ultimately, the two found their way back to each other.

Real Estate

In 1999, a home was sold by Sylvester in Coconut Grove, Florida, for $16 million.

For several decades, Sylvester has primarily resided in a luxurious mansion situated in the upscale gated community of Beverly Park, located at the pinnacle of Beverly Hills. His estate covers 3.5 acres and includes a sprawling 20,000-square-foot home. Notable neighbors encompass Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, and Denzel Washington. Recently, comparable homes have been sold for prices ranging from $40 to $70 million. Reports in January 2021 indicated that Sylvester was putting this home on the market for an astounding $130 million, a figure he later reduced to $85 million in August 2021.

By December 2021, a $58 million offer was accepted by Sylvester, with Adele being the buyer; this transaction set the record for the highest price ever paid for a home in Beverly Park.

A video tour can be seen here:

In January 2010, a vacation retreat in La Quinta, California, was purchased by Sylvester and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, for $4.5 million. They attempted to sell this property multiple times, beginning in 2014. As of 2016, they even lowered the price to $3.625 million, yet a buyer remained elusive. Ultimately, in May 2020, the house was sold for $3.1 million.

In December 2020, Sylvester acquired a property in Palm Beach, Florida, featuring a 13,000-square-foot mansion on 1.5 acres for $35.4 million. The sellers made nearly $10 million in profits from the sale, having bought the property in 2018 for $26 million.

A 2.26-acre estate in Hidden Hills, California, was purchased by Sylvester in February 2022 for $18.2 million. Unfortunately, this property attracted negative media attention in August 2022 due to its reported excessive water usage. In May and June 2022, the estate exceeded its monthly water allocation by 195,000 and 230,000 gallons, respectively. The Stallones defended their situation by citing over 500 mature trees on the property that required regular watering to avoid creating a significant fire hazard. Should the Stallones surpass their water allocation by 150% over four months, the local water department had the authority to impose a restrictor on water entering the premises.

A video tour from the early 2022 listing can be seen here:

In December 2022, after holding the property for less than a year, Sylvester listed it for sale at $22.5 million, following its February 2022 purchase for $18.2 million. Ultimately, in October 2023, he sold the property to musician John Fogerty for $17 million, resulting in a $1.2 million loss from the original purchase price.