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"Being at this point in my life and understanding how rare these scenarios are where you can touch millions of people around the world with a story and a character, being negative about that is just silly...I try to embrace it all and consider it a blessing.” For many actors, being best-known for a character they portrayed more than 35 years ago could be a source of frustration. For Ralph Macchio, AKA the original Karate Kid, it’s an indication of just how powerful The Karate Kid -- and his contributions to it -- was. In addition to turning Macchio into a household name, The Karate Kid also turned him into something else: a very rich man. His reported net worth? An impressive $4 million.

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If you came of age in the 1980s, the name "Ralph Macchio" is almost certainly a familiar one for you. However, The Karate Kid was just one of many parts Macchio played over the course of his decades-long career. Here’s a closer look at this beloved actor’s journey to fame and fortune.

Sweep the Leg!

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Ralph George Macchio Jr. was born on November 4, 1961 in Huntington, New York. Dance was his first taste of the performing arts, and it had a huge impact on his life: It was while performing in a dance recital that he was discovered when he was just 16. 

After booking several commercials, television shows, and even a small part in a movie, Macchio’s first big break came when he was tapped for the role of Johnny Cade in 1983’s Francis Ford Coppola-directed The Outsiders. While the film won the hearts of many teenage girls, Macchio would win the hearts of the world with what came next: The Karate Kid.

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The Karate Kid and its sequels turned Macchio into a bona fide heartthrob and celebrity. However, Macchio struggled to find the same level of success in adult roles when that chapter of his life came to a close. Still, he persevered, and his commitment was rewarded in 1992 with the critical darling My Cousin Vinny. Macchio also experimented with other creative outlets along the way. His resume includes everything from a national tour of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying to the competitive reality television program Dancing with the Stars to producing American Gypsies on the National Geographic Channel. 

On Returning to Reseda

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While fans had long pushed for a continuation of the Karate Kid franchise, it wasn’t until 2018 that Macchio found himself fully on board with the idea of bringing the show back with the YouTube series Cobra Kai. Macchio doesn’t just star on the show alongside his Karate Kid co-star William Zabka, the on-screen nemeses also co-executive produce it. 

Said Macchio of knowing that the time was right for the reprisal, "I always felt the legacy of the film, I was very protective of it. I was very protective of the character and felt it was easier and smarter to let the legacy stand on its own and not attempt to go back to the well." However, when the vision of the Cobra Kai team uniquely spoke to him, he knew that the time was right. 

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Cobra Kai didn’t just resuscitate Macchio’s career, it also breathed new life into his bank account. He reportedly earns a million dollars per season of the show, which will enter its third season in 2020. 

Unlike many of his former co-stars, Macchio was never known for his hard-partying, high-spending ways. In fact, his first car -- which he bought after booking his first television gig on Eight is Enough -- was a 1981 Mazda 626 stick shift. He and his father walked into the showroom looking for a car and walked out with the silver-blue vehicle, which cost exactly $9,000.88 at the time. Macchio later told YourAAA Magazine, “I believe I had the car up through when I got married in 1987. Looking back, that 626 accompanied me at the start of my own family and launch of my career. Unlike the car, at this point -- I’m proud to say -- both are still going strong!” 

The car is an example of Macchio’s frugality: Many experts insist that the key to making the most of your vehicle investment -- and to getting richer, in general -- is to drive an older car. Speaking of older cars, Macchio also owns the 1947 Ford convertible given to his character, Daniel, by his mentor, Mr. Miyagi, in The Karate Kid. 

And while Macchio doesn't make his home in Beverly Hills among the rich and famous, he does live in posh East Hampton, New York. This is a desirable zip code for celebrities, including Jerry Seinfeld, Sean “P Diddy” Combs,” Martha Stewart, Calvin Klein, Ina Garten, and countless others. 

Macchio also stands out from many other celebrities in another key way: His marriage to his wife, Phyllis Fierro Macchio, has lasted for more than 32 years. Despite Macchio’s wealth, his wife continues to work as a nurse practitioner.

Looking back on his career, Macchio still marvels over the staying power of the film that made him a household name as well as a very rich man. “The clock keeps ticking, but when the clock keeps ticking and you could have something that still resonates for decades on end and now we're talking into second and third generations it's a pretty, it's a pretty wonderful thing,” he said on the film’s 30th anniversary in 2019.