Here's How Much Money the 'Game of Thrones' Cast Make Per Episode

Spoiler: It's more than most people make in a year.

Emma Dibdin's avatar
By
published
in News
HBOOuterwear, Fur, Fashion, Photography, Fur clothing, Cloak, Grassland,
(Image credit: HBO)

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. Yes, that is per episode, meaning a full 13-episode season would bring in well over $6 million. Per their list, that's the same as Kevin Spacey brings in for an episode of House of Cards, and slightly more than Claire Danes makes for an episode of Homeland.

RELATED STORIES

Marie Claire Logo

(Image credit: Marie Claire)

What\'s Really Going On With Arya and Sansa

Marie Claire

(Image credit: Marie Claire)

BTS video of \'GoT\'s "Beyond The Wall"

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.)

If you're now feeling suitably depressed about your own financial prospects, click on over to Variety to read the full list, which includes some more modest paychecks. The Crown's Claire Foy, for instance, made just $40,000 per episode for the first season of the Netflix drama, though she's undoubtedly reneged in the wake of her multiple award nominations.

Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.

Emma Dibdin
Emma Dibdin

Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. She loves owls, hates cilantro, and can find the queer subtext in literally anything.