See who’s richest in Game of Thrones’ cast

Seven years after the finale, U.S. viewers still scroll through old episodes and new spin-offs, and the question that keeps resurfacing is who actually cashed in the most. Recent 2026 rankings place Game of Thrones' cast wealth in sharper relief than ever, separating the actors whose post-series franchises exploded from the ones whose paychecks peaked on HBO alone.

One season, forty million dollars

Jason Momoa logged only eight episodes as Khal Drogo, yet his $40 million net worth tops every other name on the list. The surge came from three Aquaman films, a role in Dune, and the Mananalu bottled-water line he launched in 2022.

Streaming numbers show the first Aquaman still draws fresh viewers each weekend, which keeps his backend participation checks flowing. Endorsement renewals signed in early 2026 added another seven-figure bump.

By contrast, long-tenured cast members who stayed for eight seasons rarely matched that single-franchise multiplier, illustrating how brief screen time can out-earn steady television work when the right blockbuster follows.

Steady pay, steady prestige

Peter Dinklage banked roughly $30 million from the series itself, finishing with a $25 million net worth after taxes and investments. His four Emmy wins have translated into producing deals that continue to clear six figures a year.

Unlike Momoa, Dinklage never landed a tent-pole action franchise, so his post-show income rests on voice work, prestige indies, and the occasional streaming series. That mix has kept him in the top three for five straight annual round-ups.

His visibility also fuels convention appearances and branded partnerships, revenue streams that do not appear on the pay stubs of shorter-run cast members.

Red Viper, green lights

Pedro Pascal spent barely half a season as Oberyn Martell, yet his $22 million valuation now sits just behind Dinklage. The engine behind the number is a two-season Mandalorian contract and the lead in The Last of Us, both of which renewed in 2025.

Residual checks from those series, plus a small equity stake in one production company, keep the estimate climbing. Agents close to the deal say the figure is likely understated by several million.

Pascal’s trajectory mirrors Momoa’s: limited Game of Thrones' cast exposure followed by franchise roles that dwarf original series salaries.

Brand deals offset salary caps

Emilia Clarke earned $1.1 million per episode in the final seasons, yet her listed net worth stands at $20 million. Endorsement contracts with Clinique, Dolce & Gabbana, and Chaumet account for the difference.

Clarke addressed viral rumors of earlier $300,000-per-episode deals in a May 2026 Variety interview, calling the claims exaggerated. The corrected figures align with arbitration documents filed by the five core leads who negotiated together.

Her producing credit on an upcoming limited series could add another low-seven-figure payday before the next wealth ranking cycle.

Arbitration receipts tell the tale

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s $1.07 million per episode rate in season eight is documented in public filings, pushing his cumulative earnings above $16 million. European thrillers and Danish commercials keep the meter running between big U.S. projects.

Because his post-show slate skews arthouse rather than blockbuster, his wealth grows more slowly than Pascal’s or Momoa’s. Still, the Danish actor remains one of the five highest earners from the original series.

Producers note that his willingness to shoot abroad has opened doors that many American agents overlook when scouting follow-up roles.

Jon Snow’s quieter ledger

Kit Harington matched the top per-episode rate but sits at $14 million today. A stage production in London and a supporting role in the Marvel film Eternals have not matched the scale of streaming franchises.

Family estate matters disclosed in U.K. press reports last spring trimmed liquid assets, an uncommon line item in these rankings. Ongoing voice work for video games supplies modest residuals.

His placement underscores that pay parity on set does not guarantee identical post-series outcomes once agents and lifestyle choices diverge.

Horror and European projects fill gaps

Lena Headey’s $12 million net worth reflects the same final-season salary as her co-leads, supplemented by horror films and voice gigs. She has avoided the franchise circuit, choosing instead prestige television in Britain and Australia.

Those projects rarely clear the backend numbers attached to superhero tent-poles, yet they maintain her profile without the long shoots required by action sequels. The strategy has kept her in steady demand on both sides of the Atlantic.

Headey’s choices illustrate one sustainable path for actors who prefer selective work over volume.

Younger cast, smaller slice

Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams earned roughly $210,000 and $175,000 per episode at peak, respectively. Turner’s $10 million valuation draws from three X-Men films and high-profile endorsements, while Williams’s $6 million includes equity in the tech platform Daisie.

Both actors started with less leverage during the original negotiations, a fact reflected in their lower per-episode rates. Subsequent diversification has narrowed, but not closed, the gap with the adult leads.

Industry observers expect Turner’s upcoming limited series and Williams’s expanding app partnerships to lift both numbers before 2027 rankings appear.

Streaming longevity versus one-off windfalls

The current spread shows two clear lanes: actors whose wealth multiplies through global franchises and those whose earnings plateau after the original series ends. Residual formulas on streaming platforms have not yet matched the traditional backend percentages of studio films, so the franchise route still dominates.

Renewed interest in House of the Dragon and rumored Targaryen spin-offs may generate new checks for the original cast through archive licensing, though the amounts will be modest compared with lead roles in tent-pole features.

Negotiating power on future projects will likely hinge on how many viewers rewatch the early seasons, keeping the 2026 wealth order in motion for at least one more cycle.

Where the numbers head next

Franchise commitments already locked for Momoa and Pascal point to further gains, while Clarke’s producing slate and Williams’s tech stake offer smaller but steadier upside. The rest of Game of Thrones' cast will depend on selective offers and smart investments rather than new blockbuster windfalls.