Inside Downey Jr’s quirky $75m property portfolio
Robert Downey Jr landed a massive payday when he returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villain Doctor Doom.
According to media reports, the Oscar-winner pocketed a cool $US80 million ($A120 million) to star in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Marvel also guaranteed the actor a variety of perks, including private jet transportation, back-end profit, a dedicated security detail and a “trailer encampment” when he is on set.
With an eye-watering multimillion pay cheque, it’s no surprise RDJ has dropped some dough on real estate.
The Oppenheimer star, who has a fortune of $US300 million ($A452 million), reportedly has a property collection worth $US40-50 million ($A60-75 million) alone.
MORE: Tyra Banks quit LA, secretly lives in Aus
‘Broke’ TLC split just 84c in sad fortune
‘Went into debt’: Nollsy’s sad payout after Idol
Robert Downey Jr landed a massive payday when he returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villain Doctor Doom. Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Here’s a closer look at the real estate moves of Downey Jr and how he turned his life around after hitting rock bottom.
Real Estate
Malibu mansion and zoo
In 2009, Downey Jr dropped an impressive $US13.4million ($A20.2 million) on a 7-acre-plus compound in Malibu and transformed the land into his own personal zoo.
The Soapdish star lives with dozens of pets, including goats, alpacas, pigs, cows, chickens and two cats named Montgomery and D’Artagnan, The Sun reports.
The giant estate also includes fenced pastures, several riding rings and 12 rose-covered horse stalls for his family’s beloved animals.
He bought the futuristic-looking home for $US13.4million in 2009. Picture: Supplied
The Iron Man actor gets up close and personal with two of his pet pigs. Picture: Instagram
His spacious compound consists of two main properties. The first property is a cozy ranch-style two-storey home, situated at the end of a picturesque tree-lined driveway, with three bedrooms and four bathrooms — formerly owned by NCIS actor Mark Harmon’s sister, Kelly.
She reportedly introduced bleached oak floors and antique limestone fireplaces in a huge revamp before selling the property to Downey Jr, complete with a barn converted into a two-bedroom guesthouse and multiplex court for basketball and tennis.
he actor shared this bizarre pic on social media of him with part of his menagerie. Picture: Instagram
The second parcel of land features a newly built white space age-style dwelling with dome-like windows and doors leading out to the pool area.
Succulent plants, trees and manicured bushes surround the futuristic building.
The residence boasts a hot tub and outdoor seating with sun-loungers.
The home has a huge pool and pink sun loungers. Picture: Supplied
Malibu pad
The Iron Man star and his producer wife Susan snapped up a three-bedroom Californian pad in 2017 for $US3.8 million ($A5.7 million) – a small sum considering RDJ’s fortune.
A mid-century modern property, the Downeys spread is just down the road from Point Dume where the fictional home of his on-screen alter ego billionaire Tony Stark was digitally created for the franchise.
It has a view of Malibu Lagoon, and out the back there is a pool, hot tub, fire pit, entertainment area and even a mini golf putting green.
Robert Downey Jr’s Malibu pad. Picture: Realtor
Inside Downey Jr’s Malibu home abode. Picture: Realtor
The exterior of Robert Downey Jr’s Malibu home. Picture: Realtor
Hamptons windmill home
For their east side abode, the Downeys opted for quirky over glitzy with a replica windmill house in the Hamptons.
The couple purchased the 19th century home in 2017, which set them back a reported $ US10.5 million ($A15.8 million).
Originally built as a playhouse in the 1880s and later transformed into a home, the property appeared in the 1982 Michael Caine movie Deathtrap.
The seven-bedroom East Hamptons estate features a tennis court, huge pool, landscaped gardens and a two-bedroom guesthouse.
Downey Jr’s Hamptons home comes with a windmill. Picture: New York Post.
RDJ’s rising star
Downey Jr has come a long way since he was imprisoned as inmate P50522 in 1999, when he was sentenced to three years behind bars amid his struggle with illicit substances, Page Six reports.
The Avengers actor, who’d infamously become uninsurable by studios, was at one point sleeping on his assistant’s couch, addicted to drugs and alcohol.
During his regular stints in prison, Downey Jr earned $US0.08 ($A0.12) an hour scrubbing pizza pans in the kitchen of the LA County jail, according to the Daily Mail.
The Zodiac star has been sober since July 2003 but has never shied away from talking about his troubled past.
Back in 2023, Downey Jr told Parenthood alum Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast that prison was like “being sent to a distant planet where there is no way home until the planets align.”
The Oppenheimer star spent three years behind bars on a drug conviction after a 1996 bust. Picture: Twitter.
The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star was first arrested in 1996 for possession of drugs and an unloaded .357-caliber Magnum. He was sentenced to three years of probation and required to undergo mandatory drug testing.
The Tropic Thunder star, however, skipped a drug test and had to spend four months in Los Angeles County jail, which prompted his first wife, Deborah Falconer, to leave him.
Despite the initial punishment, Downey Jr. skipped yet another drug test and landed the three-year sentence at a state prison in California.
“You could just feel the evil in the air, and that was no trouble at all because it was kind of like just being in a really bad neighbourhood,” Downey Jr. told Shepard.
“There was no opportunity there. There was only threats.”
He was arrested again in 2001 after Los Angeles police found him passed out in an alleyway. Picture: Getty Images
Unfortunately, his drug abuse didn’t end there, as Downey Jr. was arrested on drug charges in April 2001 after Los Angeles police found him in an alleyway.
Production behind the hit show Ally McBeal fired him and he was sent to rehab.
By then he was an outcast in Hollywood, pursued over unpaid taxes and almost went bankrupt.
With help from his friends, including actor Mel Gibson, the Sherlock Holmes star sobered up and eventually met his second and current wife, Susan, whom he’s described as his “bedrock, touchstone and lucky stars.”
Susan gave him an ultimatum, insisting she would never marry him unless he gave up drugs for good.
Downey Jr. and Levin married in a star-studded wedding in the Hamptons in 2005 that featured performances by Billy Joel and Sting.
The couple share son Exton, 13, and daughter Avri, 11. He’s also father to son Indio, 32, whom he shares with Falconer.
Downey Jr with his wife Susan. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Hollywood lifeline
Downey Jr turned his life around and resurrected his career, going from black-listed to bankable in the span of a few years.
The former party boy appeared in movies like Gothika (2003), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and Zodiac (2007).
Downey Jr’s role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a turning point in his career.
The actor famously earned “just” $US500,000 ($A750,000) to appear in the first Iron Man film in 2008.
After the box office success of the 2010 sequel, Downey Jr cleverly negotiated a crucial salary requirement for future Marvel movies.
The deal entitles the star to earn a significant cut of profits whenever he appears onscreen as Tony Stark or his super-powered alter ego Iron Man in any Marvel movie, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Downey Jr’s role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a turning point in his career.
Downey Jr’s appearance in 2012’s The Avengers, he made $US50 million ($A75 million), which was 10-20 times more than his A-list co-stars’ salaries.
His brief role in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, the actor earned $US15 million ($A22 million) for three total days of work.
He earned $US75 million ($A113 million) for the third Iron Man in 2013.
Downey Jr confirmed his enormous Iron Man salaries in an interview with GQ
“Is that number [$US50 million] about right?,” the magazine asked.
Downey Jr smiled and replied “yeah.” Adding “Isn’t that crazy? They’re so p***ed. I can’t believe it. I’m what’s known as a ‘strategic cost.’”
— Additional reporting by Kirsten Craze
Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and Page Six and were republished with permission.
MORE: ‘Stupid’: Sad truth on Bardot’s demise, wealth
English (US) · 