Robert Downey Jr. has been the highest paid actor in the world for three years running and all because of Tony Stark and the iron suit of Iron Man.
He just made it to the top of Forbes list of highest-paid actor for the period from June 2014 to June 2015 and all because of one movie – “Avengers: Age of Ultron” – where he is not even the solo star. He got $80 million for portraying again Tony Stark and Iron Man for the fifth time with Marvel Studios.
The amount was more than enough to top his previous best of $50 million, which he made in making “Iron Man 3” back in 2013, and further pushed him up the highest paid actor list for the year.
His closest pursuer was Jackie Chan who earned $50 million for the same valuation period, but it’s not just earnings for a couple of movies but also from his other businesses.
Running at third is Vin Diesel with $47 million and that is because of his “Fast & Furious 7” starrer, which is now officially the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, details the Christian Post.
A dip in salary next year
RDJ is set to reprise his role again as Tony Stark and Iron Man for another Marvel film due out in May next year “Captain America: Civil War,” but he will not be paid the same $80 million by Marvel but ‘only’ $40 million. After all, the movie is not his but that of Chris Evans and his Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America superhero character.
Unless Robert Downey Jr. appears in any other Marvel movie from now until June next year or he takes on another project where he will be paid more than $30 million, the actor is likely to lose his hold on the top of the list as the highest-paid actor for 2016. Unless no other actor makes over $40 million next year, RDJ still has an inside track on the title.
He does not have an Iron Man appearance in 2017 so it is likely that he will be out of the top of the list of highest paid actors by that year.
However, there will be two Avengers film in 2018 and 2019 – “Avengers: Infinity War Part 1” and “Avengers: Infinity War Part 2” – to be followed by “Iron Man 4” most likely in 2020.
Marvel Studios would likely offer him no less than $80 million from any of those three films and there is a possibility that he might be paid over $100 million for “Iron Man 4,” which would enable Robert Downey Jr. to become once again the highest-paid actor in the world for three consecutive years beginning in 2018 up to 2020. It will be his second three-peat by then for the title.
‘Iron Man 4’ will happen
Amid initial skepticisms about “Iron Man 4” which is anchored primarily on money matters, it becomes clear now that the movie is good as go, confirming the pronouncement of “Iron Man 3” Director Shane Black that the fourth installment to the franchise would really materialize, notes the Australian Network News.
So while fans are still waiting for “Iron Man 4,” the actor is still very busy playing his alter ego and donning the iron suit for the next Marvel blockbuster movie, “Captain America: Civil War.”
While the movie is definitely about Captain America and Steve Rogers, and of course Chris Evans, Marvel fans are actually filled with excitement over the prospect of Captain America and Iron Man going head-to-head in the movie, which shall become one, if not the film’s best highlight.
Apparently, the Marvel’s Avengers would be divided on the issue of the Superhero Registration Act. Tony Stark is all open to the idea of superheroes disclosing their identities in public, the way he as Iron Man is doing while Steve Rogers is opposed to the idea.