What is Robert De Niro’s Net Worth and Salary?
Robert De Niro, an American actor known for his work in film and theater, as well as for his roles as a producer and director, has amassed a net worth of $500 million. Beyond his highly successful career in acting, he has also built a significant fortune as a co-founder of the Nobu chain of luxury sushi restaurants and hotels. Currently, there are over 40 Nobu locations worldwide, contributing several hundred million dollars in annual revenue.
Filings made public during his contentious divorce proceedings from Grace Hightower, whom he was married to from 1997 to 2018, suggested that Robert’s net worth stands at no less than $500 million. These documents indicated that he earned between $250 million and $300 million from 2004 to 2018 alone through film salaries and business dividends.
Having been raised in New York, De Niro trained at two of the city’s prestigious acting schools: the Stella Adler Conservatory and the Actor’s Studio, led by Lee Strasberg. Throughout the late 1970s and 80s, he starred in several iconic films that were set in and around New York City, many of which were directed by fellow New Yorker Martin Scorsese, including titles like “Taxi Driver” and “New York, New York.” His remarkable performances in films such as “Bang the Drum Slowly,” “Mean Streets,” and “The Godfather, Part II,” the latter of which earned him an Oscar, established him as an A-list actor. His accolades and remarkable performances continued for decades.
In more recent years, while he occasionally appears in films, Mr. De Niro has concentrated on philanthropic efforts as well as his hotel/restaurant ventures. He founded the successful Tribeca Film Festival and has invested in various properties and dining establishments in lower Manhattan, owning multiple locations on both the East and West Sides of Manhattan.
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Early Life
Born on August 14, 1943, in New York City, De Niro came from a family of artists. His mother, Virginia Admiral, was a painter, and his father, Robert De Niro Sr., was an abstract expressionist painter and sculptor. After his parents divorced when he was three, he was raised by his mother in Greenwich Village.
Robert made his stage debut at the age of ten, portraying the Cowardly Lion in his school’s rendition of “The Wizard of Oz,” igniting his passion for acting. By 16, he had decided to leave school to chase his acting aspirations. He trained under legendary mentors Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. At 20, he secured his first film role in “The Wedding Party,” directed by Brian De Palma, with whom he would later collaborate again on “Hi Mom.”
His breakout role came when he played a dying baseball player in “Bang the Drum Slowly.” Following this, he partnered with director Martin Scorsese for the film “Mean Streets.” In 1974, De Niro received his first Academy Award for his portrayal of a young Don Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather II.”
Film Success
De Niro’s career soared from that point forward, as he delivered a series of widely acclaimed performances, from “Taxi Driver” to “Deer Hunter,” the latter earning him another Academy Award nomination. His character, Travis Bickle, in “Taxi Driver” solidified his status as an icon. Notably, the line “You talkin’ to me,” which was improvised by De Niro, has become famous.would later be referenced as a memorable quote in American cinema.
Renowned for his intense method acting, De Niro took on the role of Travis Bickle after working as a taxi driver. For “Godfather II,” he immersed himself in Sicilian culture. He even learned to play the saxophone for “New York, New York.” In 1980, he rigorously prepared to portray Jack Lamotta, a real-life boxer, in Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.” De Niro acquired boxing skills and gained sixty pounds for this character. His dedication was rewarded, as he clinched the best actor Academy Award for this performance.
De Niro made his directorial debut in 1993 with “A Bronx Tale.” The screenplay was penned by fellow actor Chazz Palmiteri and was inspired by Palmiteri’s one-man show recounting his youthful experiences. Though the film was initially overlooked, it has since found a dedicated audience. Notably, it wasn’t until 2006 that De Niro returned to directing with “The Good Shepherd.”
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Personal Life
Currently, De Niro makes his home in New York, where he actively contributes to the development of the TriBeCa neighborhood through investments in the TriBeCa Film Festival, TriBeCa Productions, and The TriBeCa Grill.
In 1997, he tied the knot with Grace Hightower, and they welcomed their son Elliot a year later. Besides Elliot, De Niro has another son, Raphael, from his first marriage to Dianne Abbott. Additionally, he adopted Drena, Abbott’s daughter from a past relationship. He also has twin sons born via surrogacy through in vitro fertilization.
Robert initiated divorce proceedings in 1999, but they later reconciled, ultimately parting ways for good in 2018. More details regarding their divorce battle will follow in subsequent paragraphs.
Business Ventures
Aside from his acting career, Robert De Niro co-founded the immensely successful Nobu restaurant chain alongside Nobu Matsuhisa. Currently, there are over 40 Nobu locations globally, with reports indicating that the Nobu enterprise brings in several hundred million dollars in annual revenue. Furthermore, Robert is a co-owner of The Greenwich Hotel located in New York.
In 2017, he and Australian billionaire James Packer announced plans for a luxury resort named “Paradise Found,” set to be located on the Eastern Caribbean island of Barbuda.
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Divorce Battle
Legal documents filed by Robert’s ex-wife Grace Hightower in June 2019 as part of their ongoing divorce proceedings revealed intricate details about their financial situation and assets.
According to Grace’s documentation, Robert’s net worth is estimated to be at least $500 million, with earnings between $250 and $300 million reported from 2004 to 2018 alone, a substantial portion of which…
Robert’s expanding Nobu empire was the source of significant financial considerations during his divorce. According to a prenuptial agreement signed by the couple in 2004, Grace was entitled to receive $1 million per year for the duration of their marriage, a $6 million apartment, $500,000 in cash, and half the worth of their primary residence. However, Ms. Hightower pursued motions demanding 50% of the actor’s wealth, alleging that he had concealed his financial situation from her for over a decade.
Subsequent interpretations of the prenup, as disclosed in court filings, stipulated that Robert was required to pay Grace $1 million in any year where he earned at least $15 million, which applied to most years. In years where his earnings fell below that threshold, he would owe proportionally less.
In July 2020, amid ongoing divorce proceedings, Grace submitted a court complaint claiming that Robert unjustly reduced her monthly American Express allowance from $100,000 to $50,000. In his defense, De Niro asserted that his income had significantly declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading his business empire to suffer. Reports indicated that he had to borrow $500,000 to help address part of Nobu’s increasing debts, with his lawyers stating that Nobu suffered a loss of $3 million in April and $1.9 million in May. Moreover, they noted that De Niro would be “lucky if he makes $7.5 million” in 2020.
Hightower’s attorneys argued that Robert had:
“manipulated the COVID-19 pandemic to adversely affect his wife financially. I find it hard to believe that a man who has an acknowledged net worth of $500 million and an annual income of $30 million suddenly needed to reduce [spousal support] by 50 percent and exclude her from the house in March.“
The judge presiding over the case ultimately ruled that reducing the Amex allowance to $50,000 was not unreasonable, but also ordered Robert to pay Grace $75,000 to assist her in finding a summer residence, since Robert was currently residing in their former primary home.
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Personal Life
Robert De Niro’s first marriage took place in 1976 with actress and singer Diahnne Abbott. They welcomed their son, Raphael De Niro, in the same year, who later ventured into real estate. Additionally, De Niro adopted Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship, Drena De Niro, who pursued a career as an actress and model. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in 1988.
During his marriage to Abbott, Robert engaged in a long-term relationship with former model Toukie Smith, resulting in the birth of twin sons, Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick De Niro, who were born via surrogate in 1995 through in vitro fertilization.
In 1997, Robert entered into his second marriage with Grace Hightower, an actress, singer, and philanthropist. Their son, Elliot De Niro, was born in 1998. However, their marriage encountered difficulties, and they nearly divorced in 1999, but they ultimately reconciled. In 2011, their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Helen Grace De Niro, who was also born through a surrogate. Sadly, De Niro and Hightower separated again in 2018 and finalized their divorce in 2021.
May 2023 marked the arrival of Robert’s seventh child, as he welcomed the newborn at the age of 79.
Real Estate
InIn 2006, a purchase of a 6,000-square-foot apartment in New York City was made by Robert and Grace for $20.9 million; the seller being Harvey Weinstein. Following their divorce, Grace seems to have gained sole ownership of the apartment, as indicated by her April 2024 listing with an asking price of $20 million.