It was 1971, 25-year-old Sylvester Stallone had to sell his dog named Butkus for $40 to buy food.

A few years later, after the huge success of his movie “Rocky” (1976), he bought back Butkus but for $15,000.

“We were both hungry and lived in a hostel on top of a subway stop. When things got worse, I had to sell it for $40 in front of a 7-eleven store because I couldn’t afford to buy food.

Then, like a modern day miracle, the Rocky script sold and I was able to buy it again, but the new owner knew I was desperate and charged me $15,000… worth every penny! ”

Stallone won an Oscar for ‘Rocky’ and Butkus starred in the first two films before passing away in 1981.