Making a career in acting is a tough road, and there is no lone way to do it. Everyone has a different path, and for Sylvester Stallone, things really got going when he penned and starred in Rocky.
Stallone's career has featured smash hit films, feuds with co-stars, and even a stunt that landed him in the hospital. It has truly been a career for the ages, and at this point, the man is still collecting huge checks for his work.
Stallone's made a fortune for his acting, even netting 8 figures for a massive flop. Let's take a look at the payday in question.
Sylvester Stallone Gets Millions For His Films
When it comes to the biggest names in action movie history, few are as recognizable as Sylvester Stallone. The man broke out decades ago, and he spent his career upping the ante and setting the tone for the rest of the industry.
Rocky was the film that made Stallone a star, and that one film started a huge franchise. As if that wasn't impressive enough, Stallone would also be the star of the Rambo and the Expendables franchises, making him a rare example of a performer who has been the face of several hit franchises.
Franchise films certainly played a part in Stallone's career success, but he also starred in countless hit films along the way. At his peak, the man was a moneymaking machine for movie studios, and he was involved in a ton of major projects.
Thanks to his status in Hollywood, Stallone made a fortune.
How Much Does Stallone Take Home?
Over the course of his career, Sylvester Stallone has consistently taken home huge paydays. This, of course, is one of the many benefits of being a movie star, and Stallone's salaries have all had a hand in shaping his $400 million net worth.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, "In 1982 he earned $3.5 million for "First Blood". The following year he earned $10 million – the inflation equivalent of $25 million – and earned his first Producer credit for "Staying Alive". He earned $4 million and his second Producer credit for 1984's "Rhinestone". The following year he earned $12 million and another Producer credit for Rocky IV. He earned another $12 million for "Over the Top". For Rambo III he earned $16 million."
This is just a small piece of what Stallone earned during some of the biggest years in his illustrious career.
The site also noted that, "Between the 1970s and 2012 alone, Sylvester Stallone earned $300 million in base film salaries alone. After adjusting for inflation, his earnings from this period alone were worth roughly $500 million in today's dollars."
It's amazing to see what the actor has accomplished financially during his years in Hollywood, and it shows that studios had a ton of faith in him as a box office draw. Unfortunately, rolling the dice on Stallone has not always paid off.
He Made $12 Million For 'Bullet To The Head'
So, which flop did Stallone make a fortune for? 2013's Bullet to the Head is the flop being highlighted today, as Sylvester Stallone took home a colossal $12 million for the box office bomb.
The film, which also featured performers like Jason Momoa and Christian Slater, carried a budget north of $40 million, and it had some potential.
When talking about what drew him to the film, Stallone said, "Well, I liked the idea of a very simple story with a dark morality. There’s humor in that later on, but you start with the basic idea that you have two total opposites having to work together for a common cause who you know are going to have to take each other out at the very end, at least that was the original premise. I also really liked the idea of doing it with Walter Hill after the first director bowed out. That made the project especially enticing."
Sadly, the film only managed to take in $22 million at the box office, making it a massive disappointment.
This was not the only flop that Stallone made a ton of money for. He also made $20 million for Eye See You, which made $6 million. He also made $20 million for Driven, which was another huge flop, per Celebrity Net Worth.
Bullet to the Head was a box office bomb, but ultimately, Stallone made $12 million for his role in the film. At the end of the day, most people would jump all over that offer.