He Sold His Dog for $40—Then Paid $15,000 to Get Him Back After Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Rocky’ Changed Everything.

Long before Sylvester Stallone became a household name as Rocky Balboa, he faced a crossroads that tested not just his resolve, but the depth of his heart. One of Hollywood’s most poignant behind-the-scenes stories, the tale of Stallone and his beloved Bullmastiff, Butkus, is a testament to the unwavering bond between man and dog—a bond forged in hardship and redeemed in triumph.

Desperate Times, Heartbreaking Choices

In the early 1970s, Stallone’s fortunes were at their lowest ebb. Struggling to find work as an actor and living in a cramped, rundown apartment above a New York subway stop, Stallone’s financial situation was so dire that he could barely afford food for himself, let alone for his loyal companion, Butkus. Facing the bitter reality of poverty, Stallone made a decision that would haunt him: he sold Butkus to a stranger outside a liquor store—reportedly for as little as $25 to $50, depending on the account. “Totally broke,” he later recalled, Stallone parted with his best friend so both could survive.

A Miracle in the Making

Everything changed with the script for Rocky. Stallone’s rags-to-riches screenplay sold, and almost overnight, his prospects shifted from desperation to possibility. But one thing gnawed at him: the loss of Butkus. Driven by the hope of reunion, Stallone tracked down the man who had bought his dog—identified in some versions of the story as “Little Jimmy.” What followed was a negotiation straight out of a movie: knowing Stallone’s newfound success and emotional investment, the man demanded $15,000 for Butkus’ return.

“He Was Worth Every Penny”

For Stallone, there was no price too high. He paid the $15,000, a staggering sum compared to the meager amount for which he’d let Butkus go. In an emotional Instagram post years later, Stallone called it a “modern day miracle,” adding, “He was worth every penny!” Their reunion was not just personal, but cinematic: Butkus joined Stallone on the set of Rocky and its sequel, immortalized as Rocky Balboa’s faithful companion—credited on-screen as “Butkus Stallone.”

A Legacy of Loyalty

The story of Stallone and Butkus is more than Hollywood lore. It’s a reflection of how adversity can deepen bonds, and how love and loyalty can endure beyond hardship. Butkus, once a symbol of all Stallone could lose, became a living reminder of all he had gained—and of the value of never forgetting those who stood by you when times were hardest.

A Dog’s Place in Movie History

Butkus appeared in both Rocky and Rocky II, not merely as a prop, but as a symbol of perseverance. The scruffy dog who had once been a casualty of hard times became, fittingly, part of a cinematic underdog story that inspired millions.

The Story Lives On

Though some details—like the exact selling price—are debated, the essence is unchanged: faced with nothing, Stallone let go of the thing he loved most, and when fortune smiled, he gave everything to bring it home. In the legend of Rocky and the legend of Stallone, the true heart of the story may just belong to a dog named Butkus—a testament to the loyalty that survives even the harshest times.