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How did Iron Man become so rich? Since he's a superhero, I hope that he wouldn't do anything illegal such as tax evasion. I understand that he's one of the big leaders among the Avengers, but it's not like he's getting paid to do his job...is he?
Perhaps I don't know enough about the Marvel Universe.
His father, Howard Stark, created Stark Industries and was developing weapons for the U.S. military. Stark Industries develops and sells weapons to militaries all over the world. Tony inherited Stark Industries after his fathers death.
In the movie Iron Man his own weapons are responsible for his capture. That's when he discovers Obadiah was selling weapons to bad people behind his back.
He creates the Iron Man suit, but refuses to give that technology away. Only Rhodey (a.k.a. War Machine) was given one.
Being an Avenger doesn't pay well according to Falcon in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier.
His father was already a weapons contractor for the USA during WW2. Besides supplying weapons to the USA they were also supplying weapons to pretty much anyone else who was willing to buy them (even terrorists, thanks to Obadiah) until Tony stopped him.
60 years of dominating the arms market is kinda a sure thing to become rich, and even after leaving the arms dealing Stark Industries still developed and sold new tech (like S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new helicarrier engines during Winter Soldier, probably not free of charge).
