Robert Downey Jr. is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. He is also well-known for his struggles with addiction. He was in and out of rehab for a long time, getting sober, relapsing, and getting arrested. He kept getting worse and worse until he ended up in state prison. 

He had to lose his money, his job, and his family before he could finally face his addiction head-on and find his way to recovery. The actor who played Iron Man didn't just play a superhero on the big screen. His story of beating addiction is a heroic tale of overcoming the odds and unlearning bad habits that he had for years.

Grown-Up With Substance Abuse

Robert Downey Jr. was born in 1965 in New York City. His father, who had problems with drugs himself, introduced him to them at a young age. When he was only eight, he let him try marijuana at a party. In an interview with People Magazine, Downey Jr. said that doing drugs with his father became a way for them to bond. Furthermore, this early exposure to drugs led him to spend most nights of his 20s and 30s getting drunk and looking for dealers.

In the early 1980s, Robert Downey Jr. moved from New York City to Hollywood to become an actor. His role in the movie Weird Science got him into The Brat Pack, a group of young actors who were in many of the most famous coming-of-age movies of the time. In 1985, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live and was there for a year. Then, in 1986, he got his first leading role in The Pick-Up Artist, which was the start of a very successful acting career.

Robert Downey's Career & Addiction

In the 1987 movie Less Than Zero, Downey Jr. gave a standout performance as a wealthy, disturbed young man. In 1992, he surprised everyone by winning an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's biopic Chaplin. His battle with alcohol and drug abuse started to dominate his life off the set. However, he continued to appear in movies. While making a movie, he managed to abstain from using for a while, but he quickly fell off the ladder and started using again, going on day-long binges. 

He was freebasing cocaine and using heroin by 1995. This resulted in multiple arrests and stays in rehab centers. In just a few short weeks in the summer of 1996, Downey Jr. was detained many times for odd and careless drug-fueled behavior. This included one instance when he was pulled over for speeding, and police discovered him to be not only drunk but also in possession of heroin and cocaine on him. He also had a.356 magnums that were loaded in the passenger seat. Soon after, he strolled into a neighbor's house and passed out in their son's bedroom. He was then detained by police once more. This was the start of Downey Jr.'s downhill trajectory.

There Was a Time When He Lost it All

Over the next few years, Downey Jr. went back and forth to state institutions in California to get help for his addiction. In 1999, he was given a sentence of 36 months in state prison. He was there for 12 months before he was released. He was arrested twice more in the next eight months before he was sent to Wavelengths International for six months of rehab. This was one of many times he had to go to rehab because of his drug use. This time in Robert Downey, Jr.'s life is what he calls his "rock bottom." 

It was when he was addicted to drugs and had lost everything. His wife left him, taking their son with her. He was fired from the TV show Ally McBeal, where he used to act. He had a lot of debt and was about to go broke. Then he decided it was time to take a year off and deal with his drug use fully. It was time to get back on track.

Recovery And Success

Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, and the box office success Zodiac. In 2003, when he formed a relationship with film producer Susan Levin while working on the film Gothika, he committed himself totally to his recovery. They got married in 2005 and have since had two children together. His dedication to overcoming addiction and revitalizing his acting career led to his greatest triumph to date: starring as Tony Stark in the Iron Man and The Avengers film franchises for Marvel Studios.

Today, Robert Downey Jr. lives a life that is considered to be quite peaceful. He has exchanged his wild nights out and weekend-long drug binges for nights spent at home with his family. The actor attributes his success in overcoming his addiction and remaining sober to a number of different things, including his connection with his wife Susan, his children, Eastern martial arts, yoga, and the 12-Step program. 

In a well-known interview with Vanity Fair, Robert Downey Jr., who was then 49 years old and had almost ten years of sobriety under his belt, stated, “For some people, it's just a function of age. It's quite natural for people to become obsessed with something for a while, then move on to something else after that period of time.”

Drugs can lead to destruction. It can never be a solution to one's problem. Robert Downey's life journey depicts the same. However, he chose to fight against his addiction which led to his today's successful career. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Robert Downey Jr a billionaire?

No, he is not a billionaire. However, he is definitely a millionaire with a networth of $300 million.

2. How does Rdj stay in shape?

Downey consumed between 2,500 to 3,200 calories per day while adhering to a diet strong in protein. He also practiced Wing Chun Kung Fu and Yoga. He worked out with Bose three to four times per week for roughly an hour and a half each session.