Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is better known as Sylvester Stallone or occasionally, “Sly” Stallone. He’s an American actor and filmmaker with an estimated net worth of $400 million. He is famous for leading the Rocky and Rambo film series, as well as the more recent Expendables film series. He’s also noted for writing, co-writing or directing many of the films in these series. Stallone has numerous awards including a Golden Globe for his role in Creed though he was nominated for two for Rocky.

Sylvester Stallone’s Dog Butkus

We’ve all been there — trying to make ends meet while in between jobs. Sylvester Stallone once found himself in dire straights before the Rocky series took off. Butkus, a beautiful bullmastiff dog, was sold by Stallone for $40 in front of a 7-eleven in early 1970s to put food on the table. As a struggling actor, he was trying to sell the script for Rocky and didn’t have money to live. Once the film series was finalized, Stallone bought Butkus back for $15,000 and he then went on to star in two ‘Rocky’ films — Butkus, that is, not Stallone.

On Butkus, Stallone has said, “We got him when he was about six weeks old. He was a ferocious-looking little devil and when he ate his security blanket we decided to name him after Dick Butkus, possibly the fiercest football player in history. We became very well acquainted because, in addition to me, there was my wife Sasha and another giant dog, all living in the third tiniest apartment in New York.” [Click here to read our full story on Butkus]