Biography

Robert Rodriguez

by Shally,

Robert Rodriguez is an American filmmaker and visual effects supervisor widely known for his work as a director in Mexico Trilogy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sin City, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Spy Kid series and Alita Battle Angel. His movie El Mariachi was enlisted as the lowest Budget film ever to gross $1 million at the box office by Guinness World Records in 2015.

He has been given a nickname as a one-man film crew for his Marichi style film making; he works as director, cinematographer, editor and sound designer in a film.

Born In Mexican Family

Robert Anthony Rodriguez was born on 20th June 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, United States. He belongs to Latino ethnicity and holds American citizenship.

He is one of eight kids of a nurse Rebecca Villegas and a salesman Cecilio G. Rodriguez. He was raised with his seven siblings in Texas. He began to show interest in films when his father bought a VCR which came along with a camera.

He attended St Anthony High School Seminary in San Antonio. While in high school, he used to shoot videos of football games at the school. But he was fired soon because of his cinematic style video shooting. He graduated from the College of Communication at the University of Texas.

Having Net Worth Around $50 Million

Robert Rodriguez has gathered a substantial amount of his money from his work as a director. He has an estimated net worth of $50 million, as of December 2019.  

He is the director and producer of the 1992 drama thriller film, El Mariachi, which as made under the budget of $7,225 but had a whopping box office collection of $2 million.

Here are some of his other movies and their budgets and box office collections.

Movie Released Year Star-Cast Budget Box-Office
Desperado 1995 Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek $7 million $25.4 million
From Dusk Till Dawn 1996  George Clooney and Juliette Lewis $19 million $59.3 million
The Faculty 1998  Jordana Brewster and Clea DuVall $15 million $63.2 million
Spy Kids 2001 Carla Gugino and Alan Cumming $35 million $147.9 million
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 2002 Alexa Vega and Holland Taylor $38 million $119.7 million
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over 2003 Daryl Sabara and Sylvester Stallone $38 million $197.1 million
Once Upon a Time in Mexico 2003 Johnny Depp and Eva Mendes $29 million $98.2 million
Sin City 2005 Elijah Wood and Bruce Willis $40 million $158.8 million
Predators 2010 Adrien Brody and Topher Grace $40 million $127.2 million
Spy Kids:
All the Time in the World
2011 Jessica Alba and Joel McHale $27 million $85.6 million
Alita: Battle Angel 2019 Rosa Salazar and Christoph Waltz $170 million $404.9 million

Robert Rodriguez owns 63 acres of land and a castle-like ranch house in Austin, Texas.

Got Fame From First Film 'El Mariachi'

Robert Rodriguez made his directorial debut with the 1992 film, El Mariachi. The film won multiple international awards including Sundance Film Festival for Audience Awards. It was also enlisted in Guinness World Records as the lowest-budgeted film ever to gross $1 million in the box office.

Rodriguez released the sequel of El Mariachi, Desperado in 1995 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico 2003.

He has also directed the 1996 movie From Dusk Till Dawn along with director Quentin Tarantino. He is also the director of the Spy Kids film franchise; Spy Kids(2001), Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002), Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World (2011). 

Rodriguez has also direced Sin City  (2005) along with Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino. He continued to work the film's franchise, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

He has also worked as a producer in various television series such as From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Matador, Lucha Underground, and Spy Kids: Mission Critical

Robert Rodriguez, Jame Cameron, Jon Landau, and Roza Salazar at the premiere of Alita Battle Angel SOURCE: Getty Image

His future work includes Red 11, 100 Years, We Can Be Heroes, Hypnotic and Machete Kills in Space.

Has Five Kids From His Marriage

Robert Rodriguez is currently living a single life. However, previously in 2007, he dated Grindhouse actress Rose McGowan. The couple first met while shooting for Grindhouse and soon started dating. However, the two called it quits after two years of dating in 2009.

He was previously also married to producer and actress Elizabeth Avellan; they tied the knot on 9th July 1990 but got a divorce after 18 years.

The former husband-wife duo shares five children; four sons Rocket Rodriguez, Racer Rodriguez, Rebel Rodriguez, and Rogue Rodriguez, and a daughter Rhiannon Rodriguez.

Robert Rodriguez with his wife and children SOURCE: Getty Image

Despite the split, Avellan worked as a producer for many of his films.