Sylvester Stallone received an incredibly low amount of money for a very important movie in his career

Sylvester Stallone is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood, as he was truly the king when it came to action and drama movies in the 70s and 80s. This is mostly because of his iconic roles in films such as the Rambo and Rocky franchises.

Sylvester Stallone has defined many generations of stars as well as movies, as the iconic Hollywood legend has made sure people continue to revere him for his contributions to the world of Cinema in his long and illustrious career.

Sylvester Stallone in RockySylvester Stallone Earned Shockingly Low Pay For His Most Important Film

Sylvester Stallone’s financial journey with the Rocky franchise is an excellent indication of his own star power as well as the growth of the franchise itself. After all, the franchise started from a very modest and low-tier budget before becoming the juggernaut it is today – birthing spinoffs, games, and more.

Stallone’s connection with the character of Rocky Balboa began with the 1976 film Rocky, where he played the lead as well as wrote the screenplay. According to Variety, Stallone agreed to a meager $35,000 for the 25-day shoot, which means he actually earned less than $2,000 per day – something that can’t be fathomed right now. Nonetheless, he was determined to do the movie as it is evident he had major goals with the franchise.

Sylvester Stallone in a scene from RockyHow Much Sylvester Stallone Earned For The Entire Rocky Franchise

It has already been established that Sylvester Stallone earned a paltry sum for the first Rocky movie, but that doesn’t mean it stayed that way for the sequels. As the franchise gained momentum, so did Stallone’s compensation for each iteration.

According to Variety, his earnings increased with each installment, with Rocky II (1979) bringing in $75,000 and Rocky III (1982) increasing that to $120,000. According to Cheatsheet, Stallone’s salary reached an impressive $15 million by the time he starred in Rocky V.

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V

Considering backend percentages, net points, and the ongoing success of the Creed films, Stallone’s earnings from the entire franchise have soared to an incredible level. No specific breakdown of his earnings is there as they vary, but all of his film earnings and other ventures helped him reach a net worth of an estimated $400 million – which is definitely incredible. Therefore, Stallone is more than happy he banked on the success of Rocky back in the late 70s.