Robert Downey Jr - Robert Downey Jr Lands $50 Million Payout For Avengers

Since its release, the movie has become one of the most successful films of all time. It's raked in over $1 billion at the global box office and is looking set to become the third biggest film of all time, behind Avatar and Titanic. Apparently, the executives at Marvel Studios struggled to keep costs down, with so many superstars playing their superheroes in the movie. In comparison to Iron Man's hefty pay packet, Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) all took home relatively low salaries (in comparison) of between $2million and $3 million.

The reason that Robert Downey Jr. is able to command such a huge fee is apparently down to the previous success of his solo Marvel venture, Iron Man, which made $585 million, His deal with Marvel Studios included him receiving a percentage (thought to be 5% or higher) of the box office takings for any future movie in which he played the Iron Man character. This phenomenal pay day marks another step in the transformation of his career. Just a few years ago, Hollywood had all but written off Downey Jr, thanks to his frequent drug charges and eventual imprisonment. Hopefully Lindsay Lohan is paying attention because here is living proof that a career damaged by scandal can still be salvaged.