It would be an understatement to say that Game of Thrones provided new opportunities for its actors. The show’s unprecedented popularity brought enormous fame to its actors, no matter how minor their roles were, and opened doors for them in the entertainment sector, including acting, presenting, endorsements, and entrepreneurship, which increased their incomes tremendously.
Some Game of Thrones actors leveraged their fame to explore opportunities beyond acting. Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark, co-founded a social media platform, Daisie, aimed at creative professionals. Looking at all this, it’s evident that the success of Game of Thrones extended well beyond its runtime, providing its cast members with an influential platform from which to launch or expand their careers. So, let’s dive into the Game of Thrones cast successes, ranked by their estimated net worth as of 2023.
10. Gwendoline Christie and Iain Glen: $4M
Gwendoline Christie and Iain Glen both have a net worth of $4 million, which they have amassed via their roles in numerous films and television shows. Most people recognize Gwendoline Christie from her portrayal as Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones. For her performance, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Christie has also appeared in films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Darkest Minds. She has also established herself as a fashion icon, noted for her daring and avant-garde style. Christie was chosen as a Miu Miu brand ambassador in 2019, further solidifying her reputation as a fashion star.
Actor Iain Glen has also risen to prominence thanks to his role in Game of Thrones. His character, Ser Jorah Mormont, is Daenerys Targaryen’s trusted advisor. Critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase resulted from Glenn’s stellar performance in the series. In addition to his role on the show, Glen has starred in many movies and television shows. A theatre veteran, he has been in numerous plays like Macbeth, The Blue Room, and The Crucible. Recently, he has taken on the roles of Magnus MacMillan, captain of the oil rig Kinloch Bravo in The Rig, and Dr. Pete Nichols, Juliette’s father, in the American science fiction dystopian drama television series Silo.
9. Nathalie Emmanuel: $6M
Nathalie Emmanuel is a notable British actress who has appeared in film and television. Emmanuel was born on March 2, 1989, and began acting early, studying at London’s renowned West End School of Acting. However, her portrayal as Missandei, a formerly enslaved person who became a trusted advisor to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) on Game of Thrones, made her a household name. After this, Emmanuel moved on to the film industry, where she played various roles. In 2015, she joined the stellar ensemble of Fast and Furious 7 as Ramsey, a skilled hacker. After the success of Fast and Furious 7, she reprised her role in Fast and Furious 8, Fast and Furious 9, and Fast X.
Her other notable film role was in the dystopian trilogy Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and its sequel, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, where she played Harriet. Emmanuel has also provided her voice for the animated Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. As a result of her acting career, Nathalie Emmanuel has amassed a large fortune. As of 2023, various estimates predict her fortune to be about $6 million. The majority of money comes from her recurring role on Game of Thrones, where she reportedly earned five figures per episode in the show’s final seasons.
8. Maisie Williams: $8M
English actress and dancer Maisie Williams has a whopping $8 million in wealth as of 2023. She became famous after being cast as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones. Williams started in the industry as a teenager and enrolled at Bath Dance College to study the performing arts. She made her stage debut in several productions before obtaining her breakout role on the hit HBO series.
She has received numerous accolades for her performance, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Game of Thrones. Williams has also appeared in shows like Doctor Who and several films. Williams has collaborated with many companies and is a brand ambassador for Cartier in addition to her acting career. She is active on social media also having co-created a platform called Daisie. Williams’ net worth is estimated to have increased by approximately $150,000 for each episode of Game of Thrones she appeared in.
7. Sophie Turner: $8-10M
Sophie Turner’s reported $8-10 million net worth in 2023 reflects her prolific acting career and high-profile assignments. Turner, born on February 21, 1996, in the United Kingdom, shot to fame after being cast as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones. She received praise for portraying Sansa Stark, who grew from a naive young girl to a strong and influential woman. This part brought Turner instant recognition and a slew of nominations and awards.
Turner’s success on Game of Thrones helped her land parts in other major productions. She made her cinematic debut with Another Me and has since acted in Barely Lethal and The Thirteenth Tale. She has played the lead in two films in the X-Men series, X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix. Turner has also made money through endorsement deals and sponsorships in addition to her acting career.
6. Pedro Pascal: $10M
Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal has established himself as a major figure in Hollywood. Born José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal in 1975, Pascal’s net worth is projected to reach about $10 million in 2023. Pascal’s career began with guest appearances on hit television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and The Good Wife.
His role as Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones catapulted him to worldwide prominence. Pascal’s performance as the charming and vengeful Prince of Dorne was well-received, and his character’s shocking death in the fourth season was one of the show’s most iconic moments. Pascal later starred in Narcos as DEA agent Javier Pea and in films like Triple Frontier, Prospect, and If Beale Street Could Talk.
5. Lena Headey: $12M
Known for her work in both film and television, English actress Lena Headey has amassed a $15 million fortune as of 2023. Born in Bermuda in 1973, Headey had her big screen debut in films like The Brothers Grimm and 300 in the early 2000s. But her role as Cersei Lannister in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones made her a household name worldwide. She was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her performance as the multifaceted and strong Queen of Westeros.
Headey’s incredible career has brought her not only critical acclaim but also financial prosperity, and her $15 million in wealth attests to her long career in the acting business. The actress has also shown her shrewdness as a businesswoman by purchasing several homes in England and the United States. Additionally, her car collection, including brands like Jaguars, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Range Rover, further attests to her affluent lifestyle. As of 2023, Headey’s career shows no signs of slowing down. With her consistent performances and critically acclaimed roles, her net worth will likely continue to grow in the coming years.
4. Kit Harington: $14M
British actor Kit Harington shot to fame thanks to his portrayal of Jon Snow. Since his breakthrough role in 2011, Harington’s career has been on the rise. Since then, he has established himself as a successful actor with roles in films like Pompeii, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Eternals (2021), a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and on the London stage, where he has garnered critical acclaim on the West End. Harington also developed, produced, and starred as Robert Catesby in the 2017 BBC drama, Gunpowder.
Kit Harington’s wealth in 2023 is predicted to be around $14 million, mainly due to his success on Game of Thrones, which earned him a reported $500,000 per episode in the final season. Harington spent £1.75 million ($2.26 million) purchasing a Tudor manor house in the countryside of Suffolk, located just outside of Ipswich, in 2017. In 2011, Harington started dating Rose Leslie, his co-star on Game of Thrones. They tied the knot on June 23, 2018, and now have two children.
3. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau: $16M
Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has garnered international acclaim for his stellar performances. Coster-Waldau, born in Rudkbing, Denmark in 1970, began acting after attending the prestigious Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance in Copenhagen. The role of Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones, which he played superbly, launched his career and brought him international renown. This role aided his career and contributed significantly to his estimated net worth of $16 million as of 2023.
Coster-Waldau’s acting career, however, did not begin with Game of Thrones. Before this, he was already well-known in the Danish cinema and television industries. His Hollywood debut, however, was in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down in 2001. He continued to advance his career, dazzling viewers with roles in films such as Nightwatch, A Thousand Times Good Night, and Headhunters. Despite his $16M wealth, he remains dedicated to his acting career, continually seeking new roles in film and television.
2. Emilia Clarke & Sean Bean: $20M
Emilia Clarke and Sean Bean, two renowned actors in the English film and television industry, have made quite a name for themselves, both boasting a net worth of $20 million as of 2023. Both actors have had significant roles in the critically acclaimed TV series Game of Thrones. Emilia Clarke rose to prominence as Daenerys Targaryen, a performance that earned her four nods for the Primetime Emmys. Her fame on television led to cinema roles in blockbusters like Terminator Genisys and Solo: A Star Wars Story. A versatile performer, she was also seen in Breakfast at Tiffany’s on Broadway and The Seagull on the West End.
On the other hand, Sean Bean had established himself as a prominent actor long before Game of Thrones. Bean began his career on stage, but he quickly found fame as Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Bean played Eddard “Ned” Stark on Game of Thrones, whose unexpected death established the series’ premise. Bean’s appearance on the show was brief, but his performance was memorable. Bean’s career has flourished even after Game of Thrones, thanks to his appearances in The Frankenstein Chronicles and Snowpiercer.
1. Jason Momoa & Peter Dinklage: $25M
Long careers in Hollywood have rewarded both Jason Momoa and Peter Dinklage with projected net worths of $25 million. Jason Momoa’s rise to fame did not happen instantly. It was as lifeguard Jason Ioane on the popular TV show Baywatch Hawaii that he first gained widespread attention. However, his portrayal as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones gained international fame. After his success on the show, Momoa stepped into the role of Aquaman in the DCEU. The picture made over a billion dollars worldwide, contributing significantly to Momoa’s wealth and establishing him as a major box-office draw.
The other half of this duo, Peter Dinklage, had a similar rise to prominence. Early in his career, he succeeded in indie films. However, his portrayal as Tyrion Lannister catapulted him to fame. He won four Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe for his brilliant and nuanced performance as the character. Dinklage has shown versatility by providing his voice for animated films after Game of Thrones, including The Croods and The Angry Birds Movie. The critically praised film I Care A Lot, in which he starred, further solidified his standing in the business.