The 46-year-old star, who has played anti-hero Richard B Riddick in two movies - 2000's "Pitch Black" and 2004's "The Chronicles of Riddick", is now reprising his role in the franchise's latest movie, due out next month, reported Contactmusic.
"I had to leverage my house. If we didn't finish the film, I would be homeless," he said.
But Diesel insists the risk makes the him even more proud of the finished product.
"It's a strange and unique sense of gratification, and it's not like any film I've done in the last 10 years," he added.