Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom: How Much Will Marvel Pay Him?
Robert Downey Jr. is expected to earn tens of millions of dollars as he returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a new role.
On Saturday -- five years after he retired from the role of Iron Man with 2019's "Avengers: Endgame" -- it was announced that Downey will play supervillain Doctor Doom in the two upcoming "Avengers" movies.
It is unclear how much Downey is getting paid to portray the classic "Fantastic Four" villain in "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars," but his salary could be similar to or higher than his "Endgame" earnings.
According to CBR, Downey -- who is estimated to be worth $300 million -- made $75 million from "Endgame," which grossed $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office.
This figure comprised his reported $20 million upfront salary and $55 million from his rumored 8% backend deal.
Per Celebrity Net Worth, the 59-year-old Oscar winner took home similar amounts for 2013's "Iron Man 3" and 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War."
In a 2013 interview with GQ, Downey admitted that he made around $50 million in total for the first "Avengers" movie, which premiered in 2012.
"Isn't that crazy? They're so pissed. I can't believe it. I'm what's known as 'a strategic cost,'" the actor said.
CBR estimated that since the first "Iron Man" movie came out in 2008, Downey has earned anywhere between $386 million and $421 million for playing Tony Stark/Iron Man in various MCU movies.
Downey's return to the MCU was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con, where he made a surprise appearance Saturday.
In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, from Saturday's event, green-robed men with metal, Doctor Doom-like masks walked on stage and joined MCU president Kevin Feige and the Russo Brothers, who will direct the next two "Avengers" installments.
Joe Russo told attendees that they needed to hire "the greatest actor in the world" to bring "one of the more complex characters in all of comics" to the big screen.
The director continued, "As proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom..."
Downey, dressed in a green suit and a mask, then stepped forward and revealed his face, shocking the audience.
"New mask, same task," Downey told fans.
In a ceremony filled with theatrics, Robert Downey Jr returns to Marvel, will play Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers movies. pic.twitter.com/rsmNY5mzfD
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) July 28, 2024
"Avengers: Doomsday" is set to be released in May 2026, while "Avengers: Secret Wars" will theaters one year later.
