Sylvester Stallone Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth and Salary?

Sylvester Stallone, an accomplished American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director, boasts a net worth of $400 million. He is widely recognized as one of the most iconic and cherished action stars in cinematic history, having achieved the unique distinction of starring in box office #1 films over six consecutive decades in American cinema.

His rise to superstardom began with “Rocky,” which led him to become one of the most highly paid action stars throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Additionally, he has been involved in creating and producing several highly successful film franchises, such as “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “The Expendables.” To date, Stallone’s filmography has accrued upwards of $4 billion in global revenue, and unlike many Hollywood celebrities, he has been instrumental in writing, producing, and/or directing a significant portion of his major franchise projects.

Among Stallone’s top films in terms of box office gross are “Rocky IV” (1985) and “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985), each bringing in $300 million, along with “Creed” (2015), which garnered $173 million. Collectively, his films have earned more than $4.5 billion worldwide, placing him alongside legendary actors such as Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, another legendary action figure, trails slightly behind with an approximate box office total of $4.4 billion globally.

Salary Highlights

From the 1970s through 2012, focusing only on the films specified (which does not encompass every Stallone movie from that timeframe or the subsequent decade), he accrued $300 million in base film salaries. When adjusted for inflation, this sum equates to approximately $500 million in today’s terms.

Following a swift three-day writing stint on the “Rocky” screenplay, Stallone garnered interest for his film project from several studios. Although United Artists emerged as the leading contender, they initially intended it for stars like Robert Redford or James Caan. Stallone persistently lobbied the producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, to grant him the lead role in the movie, ultimately accepting a modest salary of $23,000, comparable to about $110,000 today. The film impressively raked in $225 million against a $1 million budget.

• For “Rocky II,” he received a paycheck of $75,000
• In “Rocky III,” his base salary was $120,000
• He earned $15 million for “Rocky V”
• For both “Creed” and “Creed II,” he secured base salaries of $10 million

In 1982, his earnings for “First Blood” reached $3.5 million, with the following year bringing him $10 million — inflation-adjusted, this amounts to $25 million — in addition to his first Producer credit for “Staying Alive.”

He was compensated with $4 million and another Producer credit for “Rhinestone” in 1984. The subsequent year warranted a salary of $12 million alongside a Producer credit for “Rocky IV,” matched again for “Over the Top.” Meanwhile, for “Rambo III,” Stallone commanded $16 million.

For each of the following films, his earnings ranged 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”

Stallone earned $17.5 million for “Daylight,” while “Driven” and “Eye See You” each brought in $20 million.

Early Life

Born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone on July 6, 1946, Sylvester Stallone hails from Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan. He is the elder son of Italian immigrants, Francesco “Frank” Stallone Sr., who worked as a hairdresser, and Jackie Stallone, an astrologer and dancer. His younger brother, Frank Stallone, is known as an actor and musician. Complications during Sylvester’s birth resulted in paralysis on the lower left side of his face, which is responsible for his iconic “snarling” appearance and slightly slurred speech.

Due to the tumultuous relationship of his parents, Stallone spent part of his childhood in foster care, and they eventually divorced. Following their separation, he lived for a time with his father in Maryland.

Sylvester initially studied drama at the American College in Switzerland before continuing his education at the University of Miami. He ultimately left college without completing his degree to pursue a career in acting in New York City.

Career

Stallone’s initial leading role came in “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s,” a softcore adult film he accepted out of desperation after being evicted from his apartment. He earned $200 for just two days of filming.

His early film appearances were mostly insignificant, including an uncredited part in Woody Allen’s 1971 movie “Bananas.” In 1973, he secured a role in a film titled “Rebel,” followed by critical acclaim for his performance in “The Lords of Flatbush” in 1974.

In the mid-1970s, Stallone made the decision to relocate to Los Angeles. During this period, he wrote screenplays during his spare time. Motivated by a fight he witnessed between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, he crafted a screenplay centered around a struggling underdog aiming to become a professional boxer. Stallone famously refused to sell the script unless he was cast as the film’s lead. His persistence paid off when he found producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, who agreed to let him play the role of Rocky Balboa. The surname “Balboa” was inspired by his proximity to Balboa Avenue, just two blocks from his LA apartment.

“Rocky” premiered in 1976. Despite some tepid initial screenings, the movie evolved into a worldwide sensation, propelling Stallone to A-list status and international fame. It turned out to be both a critical and commercial success, grossing $117 million at the box office against a budget of
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With a budget of $1 million, it garnered ten Academy Award nominations. Competing for Best Picture alongside iconic films like “All the President’s Men,” “Network,” and “Taxi Driver,” “Rocky” astonishingly 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, with Stallone enjoying continued box office triumphs.

In 1982, Sylvester achieved another critical and commercial hit by portraying John Rambo in the action film “Rambo: First Blood.” Following the initial movie, three sequels were released. To prepare for both his Rocky and Rambo roles, he committed to an intense training regime, which included two workouts daily, six days a week, plus additional exercise sessions in the evenings. He managed to bring his body fat percentage down to an incredible 2.8% for the third installment of “Rocky.”

However, by 1987, Stallone began to experience a downturn in popularity after starring in “Over the Top,” which was a box office disappointment and received negative reviews from critics. During the ’90s, he released “Rocky V,” another film that struggled at the box office. His attempts to branch into comedy were met with both critical and commercial failures, highlighted by the early ’90s films “Oscar” and “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.” Stallone briefly revived his career with “Cliffhanger” in 1993, which grossed $170 million, and 1996’s “Daylight,” but by the early 2000s, he found himself in a series of box office flops and critical failures.

After taking a three-year break, Stallone made a strong return in 2006 with the sixth installment of the “Rocky” series. He not only wrote and directed but also starred in the critically acclaimed “Rocky Balboa,” which had a budget of $24 million and earned $155.7 million globally. He also reprised his role in the Rambo franchise with the fourth film, “Rambo.” In 2010, he took on the roles of writer, director, and actor in the successful “The Expendables,” which debuted at #1 at the box office on its opening weekend. A sequel followed in 2012, receiving similarly favorable reviews and achieving the #1 spot at the box office.

In 2015, Stallone introduced another installment in the “Rocky” saga with the spin-off film “Creed.” Directed by Ryan Coogler, the movie centered around Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, the son of Rocky’s adversary Apollo Creed. For his performance, Stallone was met with widespread acclaim and received his third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The sequel, “Creed II,” released in 2018, saw positive receptions and a strong opening weekend of $35.3 million. The fifth installment of the Rambo series was launched on September 20, 2019, earning $91 million globally.

In the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, Stallone took on the role of Stakar Ogord, and he portrayed Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the “Tulsa King” series on Paramount+. In 2023, Sylvester, along with his wife and three daughters, starred in the reality series “The Family Stallone,” which quickly received renewal for a second season.

Other Ventures

In March 2018, Sylvester co-founded Balboa Productions, a film production company, with Braden Aftergood. The studio boasts an extensive production lineup that includes “Creed II,” “Rambo V,” and “Expend4bles.” Currently, the studio is developing a film that narrates the story of Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson, who was the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion.

Stallone has also contributed vocals to soundtracks for various films. He recorded the “Gonna Fly Now” theme for the original Rocky and “Take Me Back” for Rocky IV. In addition, he performed duets with Dolly Parton for their 1984 film “Rhinestone.” He is also involved in boxing promotion through his company, named Tiger Eye Productions.

Personal Life

In 1974, Sylvester wed Sasha Czack, with whom he had two sons—Sage Moonblood, who tragically passed away from heart disease at age 36, and Seargeoh. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1985. From 1985 to 1987, Stallone was married to Brigitte Nielson.

Jennifer Flavin became Stallone’s wife in 1997. They

Three daughters were born to the couple: Sophie, Sistine, and Scarlet. On August 24, 2022, Jennifer’s divorce filing from Sylvester made headlines. This divorce was lodged in Palm Beach County, Florida, but eventually, the two managed to reconcile.

Real Estate

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

For several decades, Beverly Park, a luxurious gated community atop Beverly Hills, has been Sylvester’s main residence. His estate, covering 3.5 acres, includes a 20,000-square-foot house. Notable neighbors include Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, and Eddie Murphy. Recently, similar properties in the area have fetched prices between $40 – $70 million. Reports in January 2021 indicated that Sylvester was putting this property on the market with a staggering asking price of $130 million; however, in August 2021, he adjusted the price to $85 million.

A $58 million offer was accepted by Sylvester in December 2021, with the buyer being Adele, marking the highest transaction price for a property in Beverly Park.

Video tour available here:

In January 2010, Sylvester, together with his wife, Jennifer Flavin, acquired a vacation retreat in La Quinta, California, for $4.5 million. After several attempts to sell the property, commencing in 2014, they even lowered the price to $3.625 million by 2016 but still found no buyers. Eventually, they sold the house in May 2020 for $3.1 million.

In December 2020, Sylvester bought a 1.5-acre estate featuring a 13,000 square-foot mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, for $35.4 million. The previous owners of this property profited nearly $10 million, having purchased it in 2018 for $26 million.

In February 2022, an estate in Hidden Hills, California, was bought by Sylvester for $18.2 million, covering 2.26 acres. This property made headlines for negative reasons in August 2022 due to its excessive water usage. In May and June of 2022, the estate exceeded its monthly water limit by 195,000 and 230,000 gallons, respectively. The Stallones defended themselves, claiming the property required constant watering for over 500 mature trees, or they would die and present a fire risk. The local water department retained the right to impose restrictions if the Stallones exceeded their allowance by 150% over four months.

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

Less than a year following its purchase for $18.2 million, Sylvester listed the Hidden Hills property in December 2022 for $22.5 million. In October 2023, he sold it to musician John Fogerty for $17 million, resulting in a $1.2 million loss from the initial purchase price in February 2022.