Information | Category |
$500 Million | Net Worth |
Aug 17, 1943 (80 years old) | Birthdate |
Greenwich Village | Birthplace |
Male | Gender |
5 ft 9 in (1.77 m) | Height |
Actor, Film Producer, Film director, Voice Actor, Television producer | Profession |
United States of America | Nationality |
What is Robert De Niro’s Net Worth and Salary?
Robert De Niro, renowned for his illustrious career in film and theater, boasts a staggering net worth of $500 million. Beyond acting, he co-founded the globally acclaimed Nobu franchise, which spans over 40 high-end sushi restaurants and hotels worldwide, generating hundreds of millions in revenue annually. His financial success, underscored by $250-$300 million earned from film salaries and business dividends between 2004 and 2018 alone, reflects his multifaceted entrepreneurial acumen.
Raised in New York, De Niro honed his craft at prestigious institutions like the Stella Adler Conservatory and Lee Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he delivered iconic performances in quintessential New York-based films such as “Taxi Driver” and “New York, New York,” often collaborating with fellow New Yorker Martin Scorsese. His Oscar-winning role in “The Godfather, Part II” and other acclaimed performances solidified his status as a Hollywood heavyweight, ensuring enduring accolades and continued artistic brilliance over the years.
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Early Life
Robert De Niro was born on August 14, 1943, in New York City, to Virginia Admiral, a painter, and Robert De Niro Sr., an abstract expressionist artist. His parents separated when he was three, and he was raised by his mother in Greenwich Village.
At ten, De Niro debuted as the Cowardly Lion in his school’s “The Wizard of Oz,” igniting his passion for acting. He left school at 16 to pursue an acting career, training under Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. His film debut came at 20 in Brian De Palma’s “The Wedding Party,” followed by “Hi Mom.”
De Niro gained recognition with “Bang the Drum Slowly” and began a fruitful collaboration with Martin Scorsese in “Mean Streets.” In 1974, he won his first Academy Award for portraying young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather II,” marking the start of a storied career that spans decades.
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Film Success
Robert De Niro’s career soared after starring in “Taxi Driver” and “The Deer Hunter,” the latter earning him another Academy Award nomination. His portrayal of Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver,” especially the iconic line “You talkin’ to me?”—improvised by De Niro—became legendary in American cinema.
Known for his intense method acting, De Niro immersed himself in roles, like driving taxis for preparation in “Taxi Driver” and living in Sicily for “The Godfather Part II.” He even learned to play the saxophone for “New York, New York.” His dedication peaked in 1980 when he transformed physically and mentally to portray boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.” Gaining sixty pounds and mastering boxing skills, De Niro’s performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1993, De Niro made his directorial debut with “A Bronx Tale,” based on Chazz Palminteri’s autobiographical play about his rough upbringing. Though initially overlooked, the film has gained a following over time. De Niro returned to directing in 2006 with “The Good Shepherd.”
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Personal Life
Robert De Niro currently resides in New York, where he is deeply involved in developing the TriBeca neighborhood. He has invested both his finances and time into initiatives such as the TriBeca Film Festival, TriBeca Productions, and The TriBeca Grill.
In 1997, De Niro married Grace Hightower. A year later, they welcomed their son Elliot. Prior to this marriage, De Niro had a son named Raphael from his first marriage to Dianne Abbott. He also adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from her previous relationship. Additionally, De Niro has twin sons born via surrogate mother through in vitro fertilization.
Although Robert filed for divorce from Grace in 1999, the couple reconciled before ultimately separating for good in 2018. Further details about their divorce proceedings will be explored in subsequent paragraphs.
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Business Ventures
Apart from his acting career, Robert De Niro is known for his successful ventures beyond Hollywood. He co-founded the renowned Nobu restaurant chain with Nobu Matsuhisa, which has expanded to over 40 locations globally. The Nobu empire reportedly earns hundreds of millions in revenue annually. Additionally, De Niro is a co-owner of The Greenwich Hotel in New York.
In 2017, he partnered with Australian billionaire James Packer to announce “Paradise Found,” a planned luxury resort set to be situated on Barbuda in the Eastern Caribbean.
Divorce Battle
In June 2019, during their ongoing divorce proceedings, Robert De Niro’s ex-wife Grace Hightower submitted legal documents detailing their financial situation.
According to Grace’s filings, Robert’s net worth is estimated to be over $500 million, largely accrued from his investments in the Nobu restaurant chain, with earnings between $250 million and $300 million from 2004 to 2018 alone. Their 2004 prenuptial agreement stipulated that Grace would receive $1 million annually for each year they were married, a $6 million apartment, $500,000 in cash, and half the value of their main residence. However, Grace contested the agreement, seeking 50% of Robert’s wealth, claiming he had kept her uninformed about his finances for over a decade.
Further details from court documents clarified that according to the prenup, Robert would pay Grace $1 million in any year he earned at least $15 million, with proportionate adjustments for lower earnings.
In July 2020, amidst their divorce proceedings, Grace lodged a complaint with the court, alleging that Robert had unreasonably reduced her monthly allowance on his American Express card from $100,000 to $50,000. De Niro countered, citing financial hardships exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, leading to a severe downturn in his business ventures. It was noted that he had to secure a $500,000 loan to help manage mounting debts at Nobu, which reportedly incurred losses of $3 million in April and $1.9 million in May. His legal team indicated that De Niro’s projected earnings for 2020 were uncertain, suggesting he might earn around $7.5 million, if fortunate.
Personal Life
In 1976, Robert De Niro married actress and singer Diahnne Abbott. They welcomed a son named Raphael De Niro that same year, who later pursued a career in real estate. De Niro also adopted Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship, Drena De Niro, who later became an actress and model. Sadly, their marriage ended in 1988, and they parted ways thereafter.
Robert De Niro, during his marriage to Abbott, had a significant relationship with Toukie Smith, a former model. From this relationship, twin sons Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick De Niro were born in 1995 through the use of in vitro fertilization and a surrogate mother.
In 1997, De Niro married Grace Hightower, who is an actress, singer, and philanthropist. Their son, Elliot De Niro, was born in 1998. Despite facing marital challenges in 1999, they managed to reconcile and reaffirm their commitment. Their family grew in 2011 with the arrival of their daughter, Helen Grace De Niro, who was also born via surrogate. Sadly, De Niro and Hightower separated again in 2018 and finalized their divorce in 2021.
In May 2023, Robert De Niro welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79.
Real Estate
In 2006, Robert and Grace purchased a 6,000-square-foot apartment in New York City for $20.9 million from Harvey Weinstein. Grace now holds sole ownership of the property, having listed it herself in April 2024 for $20 million, reportedly as part of their divorce settlement.