Iron Man is one of the most popular MCU superheroes, and it's highly unlikely this will change anytime soon. If it wasn't for Iron Man who kickstarted the universe back in 2008, the MCU might not be what it is today. Tony Stark's journey is now over, at least unless the creators decide to bring him back in a different way, which seems unlikely.
Iron Man's life was never easy but in the end, he made it count. Tony Stark is the ultimate proof that being born rich isn't automatically a ticket to happiness. There are a lot of sad things about his life that make him even more sympathetic.
The Death Of His Parents
Losing one's parents is never easy, and Tony Stark was still very young when it happened to him. He wasn't particularly close to his father but loved his mother, as became clear when he talked about her.
If Maria stayed alive, there's no doubt she would have been a great grandmother to Tony's daughter Morgan. And who knows - perhaps, given more time, Tony could have also reconciled with his dad.
Stane Betrayed Him
Jeff Bridges' Obadiah Stane was the first Iron Man villain - and also the one who hit Tony Stark the hardest. He's been his friend for many years so when it became obvious that he was the one who wanted Tony gone, it came like a shock to Tony.
What's more, Stane tried to kill Tony by ripping the arc reactor from his chest - and he very nearly succeeded.
He Witnessed His Best Friend Get Injured
Captain America: Civil War (2016) was full of intense moments - but one of the more memorable ones happened when Tony's best friend, James 'Rhodey' Rhodes aka War Machine got shot down from the sky.
Tony immediately goes after his friends and the moment where he worries Rhodey might be dead is full of obvious pain written in Tony's face. Luckily it all ended well and Rhodey survived, even though he was severely injured.
Steve Lied To Him
No matter what some people might think, there are many pieces of evidence proving that Steve Rogers and Tony were real friends - most of all the fact Tony himself said it.
So Steve's betrayal, the fact that he lied to Tony about the death of his parents, was a blow that their friendship simply couldn't get over. The two superheroes parted ways on less than friendly terms and it would be years before they reunited.
His Friendships Fell Apart
Despite his reputation, Tony Stark never had that many close friends. And those he had often left him. Not just Steve Rogers who decided to save Bucky instead of telling Tony the truth. But also Natasha who joined Steve's side in the end.
To be fair, it was also partially Tony's fault since he had several bad character traits, just like any person. But seeing him mostly alone made some fans feel sympathetic for him.
His Death
Considering he was just 53 at the time of his death, Tony Stark could have stayed alive for many more years. But he sacrificed his life when he snapped his fingers and erased Thanos from the world - hopefully for once and for all - in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Even though the film had many tearful scenes, Stark's death was the most touching one.
He Had To Abandon His Daughter
When Tony Stark first appeared in the MCU as a careless rich playboy, rarely anybody suspected he would once be a dad - and a good one at that.
But that's exactly who Tony became as he was raising his daughter Morgan alongside Pepper. So when he sacrificed his life in the final fight against Thanos, the realization that little Morgan wouldn't get to grow up with her dad by her side was a painful one.
And He Didn't Get To Spend More Time With Peter
The main reason why Tony Stark risked everything, including his peaceful family life with Pepper and Morgan, was to bring Peter Parker back. Because like Tony said in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), if Peter died, that would be on him.
Tragically, even though Tony succeeded in bringing Peter back, they didn't get to spend a lot of time together and only saw each other for a moment (and one hug) before Tony snapped his fingers and died.
Who Previously Died In His Arms
Peter Parker's death was one of the most traumatic moments in Avengers: Infinity War (2018). And not just for the fans of the young superhero but also for Tony who feared that Peter would die on his watch - and it actually happened.
Spider-Man felt death was coming for him and he fought against it but couldn't stop it and vanished in Tony's arms. It's no wonder that one of the first words Tony said after his return to Earth was: "I lost the kid."
The MCU Keeps Making Him A Villain
Tony Stark's actions were the reason why both Spider-Man villains, Vulture and Mysterio, ended up on the path of villainy in the first place.
And while it's always refreshing to see a villain with a personal connection to the hero, the MCU is taking it too far and it continues making Tony Stark the force behind the villains in Spider-Man's universe - instead of giving Spider-Man his own villains, not those motivated by Stark.