From rising star to Hollywood poison to international superstar -- all in the span of two decades -- Robert Downey Jr. has had a roller coaster career and one hell of a life.

The son of an underground filmmaker, Downey Jr. bounced from city to city growing up, instilling a movement in the future star. By the time he was 17, he had dropped out of high school and moved to New York to become an actor. And today, more than 30 years later, Downey Jr. has ridden one wave after another -- some nearly catastrophic -- that have made him Hollywood's highest paid actor and one of its most beloved stars.

From his upbringing by his father to his unbelievable "Avengers" paycheck, here are 11 crazy things you probably don't know about Robert Downey Jr.
[Sources: IMDb, Celebuzz!]