Who would have thought Iron Man, the debut movie of Marvel Studios, was the start of something bigger than anyone would have ever imagined? The man playing the “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” turned out to be one of the key characters in shaping the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Robert Downey Jr., who was at the center of it all, used his charisma and delivered those witty dialogues with so much confidence that it never felt like he was acting. He was essential to turning one of those lesser-known characters into the cornerstone of the biggest movie franchise in history. But what makes his story even more fascinating is how he was paid a staggeringly low salary for his first movie and how much he has grown ever since.

For the first Iron Man movie, he started with a relatively modest paycheck of $500,000. But over the years, his role in the cinematic universe became so important that it is impossible to imagine the Avengers without him. It was stated that the reason for his low pay was the risk involved in casting the actor, but he ended up being a cinematic giant who shaped the world of the MCU.

Today, Robert Downey Jr. isn’t just a Marvel legend; he’s one of the most bankable and influential stars in Hollywood. And after his whole snapping incident with Thanos and sacrificing himself, it looks like he is making a comeback to Marvel as he returns for Avengers: Doomsday, and it has created a lot of buzz, not just for him returning, but for how much Marvel is pouring out to bring him back.

Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not just a headline that will make all Marvel fans lose their minds; it is also one of the most notable days for Hollywood, with the amount of money that will be shelled out to bring this legend back. It was at the San Diego Comic-Con that Marvel dropped the golden news of Robert Downey Jr. playing the role of Dr. Doom in the new Avengers: Doomsday.

According to reports from Puck News, Matt Belloni mentions that the Iron Man actor is set to receive more than $100 million for playing Dr. Doom in the upcoming Avengers movies Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr. has previously shown interest in returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the beloved character was taken away from us in the movie Avengers: Endgame.

The news of his return is a good surprise for the audience, but it is costing Marvel big dollars. Looking at the way his return news made a buzz around the movie, it looks like the top dollars they are spending will pay for itself. It looks like his benefits don’t just end with the huge paycheck he is making. A report from Variety claims that his deal is filled with perks like private jet travel, dedicated security, and a whole trailer encampment.

After making bangers after bangers from 2008 to 2019 till the carefully woven Endgame, it looks like Marvel hit a slump. They were making movies that were meant to be blockbuster hits, but after the highly successful Endgame, things have been kind of slow.

One of the most happening things for Marvel in just the last year was the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine, which made around $1.4 billion. But apart from that, things have been pretty slow. So when Robert Downey Jr. was announced as Dr. Doom for the upcoming Avengers movie, it turned a lot of heads. But it’s not looking easy for Marvel with the amount of money they have to shell out for making another banger like they used to, especially if they want to bring in someone like the Sherlock Holmes actor.

Marvel has been shelling out money, aiming for another hit. A report from Forbes claims that Disney has already invested approximately $8 million during the pre-production phase alone. This figure is particularly noteworthy when compared to the pre-production spending on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which stood at around $2.5 million at a similar stage.

Apart from the huge pre-production cost, it is said that directors Anthony and Joe Russo are set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to make both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The directors are being paid $80 million to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. This large payment shows that Marvel is serious about bringing back the directors who helped make their earlier movies into a massive success.

It is clear that they are trying to jump out of the slump, no matter the cost, and are aiming to make more than both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

After his role as Iron Man in the first Marvel movie, he changed the game for himself. Who was once a risky actor to cast, turned things around for himself, and has become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Not only was he one of the most bankable actors, but he also won an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in the movie Oppenheimer.

Some of his payments from these Marvel movies are jaw-dropping; they don’t feel like a salary anymore but often feel like a whole movie’s budget that just goes into the Iron Man actor’s wallet. Downey Jr.’s salary for Endgame sits at a staggering $75 million, with the rumored 8 percent back-end deal earning him another $55 million for this film alone. The movie made around $2.8 billion globally.

Even the previous movie, Infinity War, grossed over $2 billion, due to Iron Man and the actor’s star power, which helped him to net around another $75 million, putting him in a whole different category of actors. Even comparatively smaller roles in movies like Captain America: Civil War have made him around $64 million. It is clear that if you want a response from fans, then you need legends like Robert Downey Jr. in your corner. It’s not rocket science, and Marvel knows what steps to take if it wants to relive those glorious days when everyone was only talking about Marvel and their marvelous movies.