As you watch this classic television series, the stars drag so much money to the bank. Here is what they make.
‘Game of Thrones’ cast make $500K per episode
Game of Thrones is the biggest show on television by a lot of measures, and certainly the biggest hit in HBO’s history, so it’s no surprise that its actors – the ones who have managed to survive into the seventh season – are making bank.
If you’ve ever wondered exactly how much a starring role in Westeros pays, Variety now has the answers for you.


In its 2017 salary survey – a “sampling of estimates” for the paychecks of TV’s most notable stars – the outlet revealed that Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington and Lena Headey all make the same amount per episode: $500,000.
The five actors, who have been a part of the popular fantasy drama since it first aired in 2011, sit at the top of the pile of the show’s big earners.



In some cases, that per-episode estimate includes “additional compensation for their work as producers or for their profit participation stakes”, meaning that dollar amount isn’t their pure per-episode salary as actors – but none of the Thrones cast are listed as producers. (By comparison, Spacey and Danes are both producers on their respective shows.)
Variety’s list also includes the hefty earnings of a number of other big names on different dramas, including Homeland’s Claire Danes ($450,000 per episode) and House Of Cards’ Kevin Spacey ($500,000 per episode).
The biggest earner of all is Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, who is set to earn a remarkable $775,000 per episode for his as-yet-untitled Amazon drama series, set to be helmed by acclaimed director David O. Russell.
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