Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro is an American actor, producer, and restaurateur with an estimated net worth of $500 million. Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, much of his fortune actually comes from a business venture outside acting altogether: his co-founding of the Nobu restaurant and hotel empire.

Early Life & Family

Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. was born on August 17, 1943, in Greenwich Village, New York City, to two artists, painter Robert De Niro Sr. and painter and poet Virginia Admiral. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised primarily by his mother in Manhattan. He began studying acting as a teenager, training under acting coaches Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg.

Rise to Fame

De Niro’s breakthrough came through his collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, beginning with “Mean Streets” (1973). His performance in “The Godfather Part II” (1974) earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and his intense, transformative performance in “Raging Bull” (1980) — for which he gained significant weight to portray boxer Jake LaMotta later in life — won him the Academy Award for Best Actor and is widely considered one of the greatest performances in film history.

Career History

Across a career spanning more than five decades, De Niro has starred in numerous acclaimed films, many with Scorsese, including “Taxi Driver,” “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” “The Irishman,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” He has also shown a versatile comedic side in films like “Meet the Parents” and “Analyze This.” He co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2002 alongside Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, partly to help revitalize Lower Manhattan following the September 11 attacks.

How He Built His Wealth

While De Niro’s decades of film salaries have contributed substantially to his fortune, a significant share of his wealth comes from his business ventures outside Hollywood. In 1994, he co-founded the Nobu restaurant brand with chef Nobu Matsuhisa and producer Meir Teper, which has since grown into a global chain of high-end restaurants and hotels. He has also invested in real estate development and hospitality projects, including in Lower Manhattan, further diversifying his income beyond acting.

Personal Life

De Niro has been married twice, to Diahnne Abbott and later to Grace Hightower, and has several children from different relationships, including actress Drena De Niro.

Between his decades-long acting career and his Nobu restaurant empire, Robert De Niro’s net worth is estimated at $500 million as of 2026.