Featured Image Credit: Paramount Pictures
Topics: Film, Marvel, Robert Downey Jr, MCU, Money
Brenna Cooper
Topics: Film, Marvel, Robert Downey Jr, MCU, Money
Here is the eye-watering amount Robert Downey Jr has made per-minute throughout his time in the MCU and, spoiler alert, it's a lot.
Earlier this week it was announced that Downey Jr, 59, would be making his highly anticipated return to the Marvel franchise during a climactic moment at this year's San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).
The actor won't be reprising his role as Iron Man who, for this moment, remains dead after the events of Avengers: Endgame - although, thanks to the multiverse, no one in the MCU is ever truly dead.
Downey Jr's return will see him play an entirely different character, with the actor set to don a green cape and mask in the role of supervillain Doctor Doom for upcoming movies Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
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The reveal has since divided Marvel fans online, with many questioning why Disney decided to reuse one of its biggest stars instead of casting a completely new actor.
However, Downey Jr's decision to return may have been influenced by a very handsome pay cheque.
According to a report by Variety, directors Anthony and Joe Russo will make around $80 million (£62 million) for the two films, while Downey Jr is set to get 'significantly more' for his part.
The perks aren't just financial either, with the actor also reported to receive 'private jet travel, dedicated security, and a whole trailer encampment' while filming.
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This may sound like an eye-watering amount to you and I, however, if Variety's reports are correct, this is nothing compared to the cash the Downey Jr was already made from the MCU.
Having been one of the biggest names in the MCU since his debut as Tony Stark in 2008's Iron Man, you'd expect Downey Jr to be making a pretty penny for his acting - so it won't surprise you to learn that the actor is the highest paid name in the franchise.
According to further figures shared with Variety, the Oppenheimer actor has made between $500-$600 million (roughly £389,562,500 to £467,475,000) for four Avengers movies, three Iron Man solo films and various cameos in other media.
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Half a billion dollars is such an insane amount of money to the average person that it's almost impossible to quantify, so we decided to break down the actor's earnings into an hourly and per minute rate.
Downey Jr has been on screen for around 6hrs, 7mins throughout his time in the MCU, which means he's made around $83.3m (£64.9m) an hour.
Break that down to a per minute rate and he made $1.36m (£1m) - which is quite a bit more than minimum wage.
LADBible has approached representatives for Disney and Robert Downey Jr for comment.