Sylvester Stallone sold the 'Rocky' rights in 1976 — 50 years later, he's done fighting for them

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Movie icon Sylvester Stallone is done trying to get the rights back to his life-changing "Rocky" franchise.

"God, I have tried," Stallone said in a new episode of the Power Players with Brian Sozzi podcast (video above; listen in below).

Stallone famously wrote the screenplay for "Rocky" in three days and demanded he play the lead role. He then sold the rights to producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff. The original deal didn't cut him an equity stake in the franchise, a long-term asset that he could have passed down to his children after his death.

Stallone has been unable to work out a deal for a share in the decades since. The "Rocky" franchise will celebrate its 50th anniversary since its release on Nov. 20, 1976.

"I don't want to get into it, but it was pretty locked up, and there was a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes," Stallone added. "Believe me, I have tried because I have said, wow, it's like, can I visit my child? But you know, time has moved on, and I have been very, very lucky. So I try not to dwell on that because the answer is absolutely not."

There really is no other way to put it: Stallone has earned his spot among Hollywood legends through blood, sweat, and tears. With that success — ranging from big-screen films "Rocky" and "Rambo" to the series "Tulsa King," which returns for its latest season on Friday on streaming platform Paramount+ — has come an equally impressive business backdrop, no matter if he owns the rights to "Rocky."

Recognizing the power of controlling his own IP, Stallone expanded his earnings beyond simple acting fees — which routinely topped $15 million to $20 million per project — by taking on writer, director, and executive producer roles across his iconic "Rocky," "Rambo," and "The Expendables" franchises.

In 2018, Stallone formed his own media operations, founding Balboa Productions, a film and television outfit that has successfully commercialized projects like "Tulsa King" and "Samaritan."

Beyond entertainment, Stallone has invested in other assets such as real estate and watches.

Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor, host of the Sozzi Unleashed morning show and the Power Players with Brian Sozzi podcast, and a member of Yahoo Finance's editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.