After years of boxing, it seems like Rocky should be rich in the Creed movies. Rocky went from being an underdog fighter in the Rocky movies to the champ, earning million-dollar purses from beating Ivan Drago at the height of the Cold War and being able to afford things as luxurious as a palatial house and a talking robot for Paulie. By the time Adonis (Michael B. Jordan), the son of one of Rocky's greatest rivals Apollo Creed finds him to ask for his help training for an upcoming fight, Rocky isn't wealthy at all despite all the public recognition he got from the big fight against Mason Dixon in Rocky Balboa.
By the time Donnie finds the Italian Stallion, he's barely scraping by and living in his old neighborhood when he should have been milking Wheaties endorsem*nts. In order to understand why Rocky isn't living a comfortable lif after facing all the opponents in the Rocky franchise, it's important to look at how his financial situation changed in Rocky IV and Rocky V, and how he responded to Adrian's tragic death offscreen in Rocky Balboa. Certain decisions were made that once acted upon, set the trajectory for Rocky's future, and without Adrian's guidance while struggling to connect to his son, Rocky didn't have a lot of reason to believe his circ*mstances would ever change.
Rocky Lost Most Of His Fortune To An Unscrupulous Accountant
Rocky lost most of his money by putting Paulie in charge of his finances when he was in Russia in Rocky IV, which ended up being a huge mistake. Paulie gave a lawyer Power of Attorney, and after promising to invest the Balboa's money in surefire real estate investments with an unscrupulous accountant, along with failing to pay the taxes and mortgage on Rocky's house efor several years, ended up leaving Rocky and Adrian with very little. Then Adrian passed away between the events of Rocky V and Rocky Balboa, forcing Rocky to move back to the old neighborhood and live frugally.
Rocky would have been rolling in endorsem*nt deals and even more well-off than he was in Rocky III if it wasn't for Paulie's need to prove himself. Paulie felt underappreciated and taken for granted so made decisions that cost Rocky everything, effectively resetting his story and taking him back to his roots where he could be an underdog again. Rocky ended up learning that nothing in life is guaranteed, whether it's a fortune or having his family stay together, and surprisingly stays friends with Paulie.
Rocky Put Everything He Had Into Adrian's Restaurant
By the time Donnie meets Rocky in Creed, he's been funneling all his money into the restaurant he named after Adrian. As a result, he only has just enough to get by, and can't live the extravagant way he did in the past. It was a way for him to feel comfortable, useful, and closer to her while he regaled his customers about the golden years of his past. Restaurants are notorious for losing money, particularly in the first five years that they operate.
Rocky using what money he had left after Adrian got sick to start a restaurant in her honor is a touching example of his love for her while at the same time indicating his poor business acumen. Rocky's a fighter, not an entrepreneur, but as always, he's willing to go the distance and do his best. He may not have much by the time Donnie finds him in Creed, but his wealth is in his experience as one of the greatest boxers of all time, which is worth its weight in gold.
