Robert Redford Net Worth in 2024: How the Hollywood Icon Made Millions and Built a Legacy

Robert Redford, renowned for his roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Natural, and All the President’s Men, has left an indelible mark on American cinema. Beginning his career in 1960, Redford has graced over 80 movies and TV series.

Beyond acting, Robert Redford’s net worth also comes from his roles as a director and producer and his ownership of two production companies. Not to mention, he’s also the founder of the Sundance Film Festival.

Read on to discover Redford’s most successful projects and trace his career from the beginning until now.

Early Life

Charles Robert Redford Jr. was born in Santa Monica, California, on August 18, 1936. His parents were Martha Woodruff Hard and Charles Robert Redford. Additionally, Redford also has a half-brother from his father’s earlier marriage.

While Redford’s father worked as an accountant in El Segundo, his family moved to Van Nuys. Here, he went to Van Nuys High School and was more interested in sports and the arts rather than academics.

After graduation, Redford attended the University of Colorado while working at a restaurant and bar called The Sink. Unfortunately, he became fond of heavy drinking, which cost him his scholarship. After having been kicked out of school, Redford traveled around Europe. He later took painting courses at the Pratt Institute and studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Acting Career

Robert Redford’s acting career began in the stages of New York. His first Broadway performance was in Tall Story in 1959. More theater roles followed this with The Highest Tree and Sunday in New York. In 1960, he then landed several roles in popular TV shows, including Maverick, Rescue 8, Playhouse 90, and Perry Mason.

Redford had his film debut in the big-screen adaptation of Tall Story in 1960. His next film was War Hunt in 1962, where he received a $500 paycheck for playing the role of Private Roy Loomis. Throughout the 1960s, Redford’s film career steadily grew as he appeared in films like Inside Daisy Clover in 1965, The Chase in 1966, and Barefoot in the Park in 1967.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

It was in 1969, however, that Robert Redford really hit the big time on the big screen. He landed the role of the Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which became his first blockbuster. He shared the screen with Paul Newman. The film earned $102 million in theaters and won Redford his first BAFTA for Best Actor.

The Sting

The commercial and critical success continued for Redford as he appeared in The Sting in 1973. Appearing opposite Paul Newman once again, Redford received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

In theaters, the film was a massive success with audiences, generating $156 million in ticket sales against a $5.5 million budget. Also, the $500,000 salary that he got for this movie might seem small now, but at the time, it was a sizable boost to Robert Redford’s net worth.

All the President’s Men

Redford would then co-star with Dustin Hoffman in 1976’s All the President’s Men. The movie won $70.6 million worldwide and won four out of eight Academy Award nominations.

A Bridge Too Far

The following year, Redford would appear in the war film A Bridge Too Far, directed by Richard Attenborough. Although it did not match the earnings of Redford’s previous films, it was still a commercial success, making $50.7 million, which was almost double its production budget of $27 million.

The film was also a notable addition to Robert Redford’s net worth, as he earned a reported salary of $2 million for his work on the film.

The Electric Horseman

His next appearance would be the 1979 western comedy-drama, The Electric Horseman, directed by Sydney Pollack. Robert co-starred with Jane Fonda and received an acting salary of $3.5 million. The film went on to make $61.8 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $12.5 million.

Ordinary People

In 1980, Redford would take on a new challenge with his directorial debut, Ordinary People. The drama film was based on Judith Guest’s novel of the same title and starred Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore.

It was an extremely successful venture for Redford, both critically and commercially. At the box office, it made $54.7 million, which was much more than its small budget of $6 million. More importantly, it won Redford his first Best Director award at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Directors Guild of America.

The Natural

Redford led a powerhouse cast in the 1984 sports film, The Natural. He played the lead character, an extremely talented baseball player named Roy Hobbs. Other actors in the cast were Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, and Kim Basinger.

The film earned four Oscar nominations. It ended its theater run with earnings of $48 million against a budget of $28 million, making it a moderate commercial success.

Out of Africa

In 1985, Redford would work once more with director Sydney Pollack on the epic drama film Out of Africa. He shared the screen with Meryl Streep. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Redford’s performance did not receive any nominations. However, it elicited many positive reviews from critics. Despite the lack of recognition, he did take home $6 million for his role. And furthermore, the film raked in an impressive $227.5 million in theater revenues.

Legal Eagles

The following year, Robert Redford’s net worth would get another considerable boost when he earned $8 million for his acting performance in Legal Eagles. This film, which also starred Debra Winger and Daryl Hannah, went on to make $93 million from theaters globally.

A River Runs Through It

Redford would receive his second Best Director nomination from the Golden Globes for A River Runs Through It in 1992. Among the film stars was Brad Pitt, who has frequently been noted for his uncanny resemblance to a young Redford. The film was a commercial success with gross earnings of $43.4 million.

Indecent Proposal

Redford would have another huge blockbuster in 1993 when he starred in Indecent Proposal alongside Demi Moore. The cast also included Woody Harrelson and Oliver Platt. The erotic drama was a major box-office success, generating $266.6 million in gross earnings against a budget of $38 million.

Redford’s reported $5 million salary for this film was a little below his average rate then. However, he successfully negotiated to receive 15% of the movie’s net income. The film provided another sizable boost to Robert Redford’s net worth.

The Horse Whisperer

In 1998, Redford starred in the western drama The Horse Whisperer. This was the first time that Redford not only starred as the lead but also directed and produced the film as well.  

The movie was another massive success, bringing in $13.7 million in theater revenues over the premiere weekend. It went on to draw in $186.9 million globally. Redford also got a Golden Globe nod for his directing work.

The Legend of Bagger Vance

In 2000, Redford would direct Will Smith, Matt Damon, and Charlize Theron in The Legend of Bagger Vance. Unfortunately, it earned only $39.5 million at the box office, falling short of even recovering half of its budget of $80 million. The lackluster performance can be attributed to the stiff competition during its theater run as it was released simultaneously with films like Meet the Parents and Charlie’s Angels.

The Last Castle

The following year, Redford would receive a sizable paycheck of $11 million for starring in The Last Castle. Sadly, the film did not perform well in theaters. It was only able to draw $27.6 million against a budget of $72 million.

In the following years, he would appear in films like The Clearing, An Unfinished Life, and Charlotte’s Web, as the voice of Ike. He also directed and produced Lions for Lambs in 2007, The Conspirator in 2010, and The Company You Keep in 2012.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Redford would join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2014 when he starred as Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. With a budget of $170 million, the movie went on to earn $714.4 million from theaters around the world, making it Redford’s second-highest-grossing film to date.

Avengers Endgame

In 2019, exactly sixty years after his first film appearance, Redford would appear in the highest-grossing movie of his career. He reprised his role as Alexander Pierce in Avengers: Endgame.

The film had a production budget of $356 million, which it quickly surpassed within days of its premiere. Opening weekend alone generated $357 million in ticket sales. The movie finished its theater run with a record-breaking $2.8 billion in gross earnings, making it the second-highest-grossing film of all time.

Recent Work

Aside from Endgame, Redford’s most recent film appearance was in The Old Man & the Gun in 2018.

He also voiced the narrator in Buttons in 2018, and Lokia the Dolphin Monster in Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia in 2020.

Other Ventures

In addition to his acting salaries, Robert Redford’s net worth also benefited greatly from his work as a director and producer. He is one of the owners of the production company Wildwood Enterprises, Inc., and Sundance Productions. He is also a highly sought-after narrator for documentary films.

Additionally, he’s known for being the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, which is regarded as the biggest festival for indie films from around the world.

Real Estate

It is not surprising at all that Robert Redford’s net worth is also significantly impacted by his real estate investments over the years. In addition to his primary home in Utah, Redford also has numerous other properties in the area. One of these is the 30-acre Horse Whisper Ranch, which the actor had listed for $4.9 million in 2021.

Redford also owns properties in Napa Valley, which were listed at $7.5 million.

Personal Life

Robert Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958. However, the couple divorced in 1985. They have four children, including Scott Anthony, David James, Shauna Jean, and Amy Hart. Their eldest child died of SIDS at barely more than two months old. 

Redford remarried in 2009 to Sibylle Szaggars. The couple tied the knot in Hamburg, Germany, but have been living in the United States since the 1990s. They now live in Sundance, Utah.

Robert Redford’s Net Worth in 2024

As of 2024, Robert Redford’s net worth is estimated at $200 million. And while his acting career has been one of the primary contributors to that number, his work as a director and producer and his production companies also significantly impact his net worth.

Fans of Redford can look forward to two of his upcoming projects. He’s the executive producer of Disbeliever, which is currently in post-production. And he’s also producing the upcoming TV mini-series The Burgess Boys for HBO.