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- Stranger Things is Netflix's crown jewel, with viewers spending 1.15 billion hours watching season four.
- The Stranger Things cast is rolling in cash, with stars like David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown earning millions per episode.
- Young stars like Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and Finn Wolfhard are making a fortune, with net worths ranging from $3 million to $4 million.
When a bunch of nerdy kids on bikes stumbled into a parallel dimension called the Upside Down, they did not just unleash monsters – they launched a sensation.
Stranger Things is one of Netflix's most expensive shows ever made, with season four reportedly costing $30 million per episode. However, the investment paid off, as it is the streaming giant's crown jewel.
To put it in perspective, since the first installment of season four dropped, viewers have spent a cumulative 1.15 billion hours watching its nine episodes.
Naturally, the stars who battle Demogorgons and sinister government agents have not been left destitute.
From Winona Ryder and David Harbour (established stars when the show began) to the kids we have watched grow up on screen, the Stranger Things cast is rolling in cash.
Stranger Things season five is slated to air on Netflix in early 2025, and while we wait, let's take a peek at their bank accounts to identify the wealthiest resident of Hawkins, Indiana.
Speaking Of 80s Fantasy HorrorThe Cast Of Beetlejuice 2, Ranked By Net Worth
Beetlejuice became an instant cult classic, grossing $74 million in 1988. Its sequel will debut in 2024, with returning and new stars.9 Caleb McLaughlin
Caleb McLaughlin's Net Worth (Estimated) - $3 Million
Caleb McLaughlin is best known as the level-headed Lucas Sinclair, another Stranger Things breakout young star.
McLaughlin began his career playing Young Simba in the Broadway musical The Lion King, coupled with small television roles.
McLaughlin appeared in guest spots on popular series like Blue Bloods, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and Shades Of Blue.
His breakout role in Stranger Things led to film opportunities, including starring alongside Idris Elba in the Netflix film Concrete Cowboy, and in Steven Soderbergh's sports drama High Flying Bird.
For his role as Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things, McLaughlin earns around $250,000 per episode on the sci-fi series.
Caleb McLaughlin has an estimated net worth of $3 million; do not be fooled by that modest figure – this multi-talented star is just getting started.
8 Noah Schnapp
Noah Schnapp's Net Worth (Estimated) - $4 Million
The enterprising Noah Schnapp brought Will Byers to life in Stranger Things, taking on a massive role in its debut season.
Schnapp started young, with a supporting role in Steven Spielberg's historical drama Bridge Of Spies at just eleven years old.
He then voiced Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie, which grossed $246 million worldwide against a $99 million budget.
However, it was Stranger Things that brought Schnapp both stardom and money, earning him a reported $250,000 per episode in seasons three and four.
Leveraging his fame from Stranger Things, Schnapp launched a YouTube channel which amassed over 4.2 million subscribers.
In 2021, Schnapp co-founded To Be Honest, a sustainability-focused snacking company that has undoubtedly added to his net worth.
For the upcoming fifth and final season, Schnapp and his co-stars are set to pocket a $7 million paycheck, which will certainly bolster his estimated $4 million net worth.
All Grown Up For GhostbustersThe Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Cast, Ranked By Net Worth
Since 1984, Ghostbusters has been a pop culture hit, grossing over $943 million worldwide. The latest sequel, Frozen Empire, has a star-studded cast.7 Finn Wolfhard
Finn Wolfhard's Net Worth (Estimated) - $4 Million
Finn Wolfhard played the resolute Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things.
Wolfhard also started young, landing a role in the post-apocalyptic television series The 100 at just 13.
He then went on to feature in the roles of Richie Tozier in the horror film It, and its sequel It Chapter Two; both movies grossed over $701 million and $473.1 million, respectively.
Wolfhard also starred in the supernatural film Ghostbusters: Afterlife. In addition to acting, Wolfhard pursued his passion for music as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock band Calpurnia.
He also made his directorial debut with the comedy short film Night Shifts in 2020.
Wolfhard was initially earning about $10,000 per episode for the first season of Stranger Things, before being bumped up to approximately $2.8 million for season three.
He, too, is set to earn over $7 million for the upcoming final season, along with his co-stars in the show.
Finn Wolfhard currently has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
6 Joe Keery
Joe Keery's Net Worth (Estimated) - $4 Million
Joe Keery's blockbuster role as the (eventually) endearing Steve Harrington in Netflix's hit series Stranger Things launched him to stardom.
He made his film debut in a full-length film in Stephen Cone's indie, Henry Gamble's Birthday Party.
He also played the role of Walter McKey, a game developer, in Ryan Reynolds' action comedy film Free Guy, which grossed over $331.5 million worldwide.
Keery was cast opposite Liam Neeson in the sci-fi action film Cold Storage, before appearing in the fifth season of Fargo.
Aside from acting, Keery's passion for music led him to the Chicago-based band Post Animal. He currently works solo under the name Djo; he has performed at festivals and went on tour in April 2022.
Originally cast as a recurring character in Stranger Things, Keery's charisma, chemistry with the cast, and glorious head of hair earned him a permanent spot on the show.
Following negotiations after season three of Stranger Things, Keery secured a guaranteed rate of $150,000 per episode, totaling $1.35 million for the latest season.
Netflix's Deep PocketsOriginals: The Most Expensive Netflix Movies To Date
Netflix, a cinematic giant, reshaped the industry with colossal funding. In 2022, it spent $16.7 billion, aiming for $17 billion in 2024.5 Gaten Matarazzo
Gaten Matarazzo's Net Worth (Estimated) - $5 Million
Gaten Matarazzo began his career on Broadway, before making his screen debut in Blacklist, before he gained recognition for his role as Dustin Henderson in the hit series Stranger Things.
Matarazzo's talents extend beyond acting, as he also hosted and served as an executive producer for the Netflix show Prank Encounters.
In addition to his television work, he appeared in a supporting role in the comedy film Honor Society, and voiced Boris The Dragon in My Father's Dragon.
Gaten Matarazzo has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Matarazzo's salary on Stranger Things has notably increased over the seasons.
He earned $10,000 per episode in the first season, rising to $30,000 in the second season, and reaching $250,000 per episode for the third season.
4 David Harbour
David Harbour's Net Worth (Estimated) - $6 Million
Before joining Stranger Things, David Harbour was a seasoned character actor who has graced screens for over two decades.
With supporting roles in acclaimed films like Brokeback Mountain and Suicide Squad, Harbour's career got a massive boost with his portrayal of Police Chief Jim Hopper in the sci-fi series.
He has since headlined films like Hellboy (2019) and Black Widow, both of which grossed $55 million and $379.8 million, respectively.
Harbour's net worth of an estimated $6 million reflects his consistent work, and the massive success of Stranger Things and other big projects with which he has been involved.
For his role in Stranger Things, Harbour earned around $100,000 per episode for the first two seasons — before it was increased to $350,000 for subsequent seasons.
This considerable rise highlights Stranger Things' impact on Harbour's net worth.
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Also In Lord Of The RingsKing Of Motion Capture: The Highest-Grossing Andy Serkis Movies
Andy Serkis is renowned for motion-capture roles. His films have grossed $15 billion in total, though he's often hard to spot on screen.3 Sean Astin
Sean Astin's Net Worth (Estimated) - $10 Million
Sean Astin's career spans generations: older audiences remember him as Mikey in The Goonies, millennials as Samwise Gamgee from Lord Of The Rings, and younger viewers as Bob Newby from Stranger Things.
He has starred in over 50 films, collectively grossing more than $3.86 billion. Sean Astin currently has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
Astin has demonstrated his versatility through a diverse range of characters. He appeared in the rom-com 50 First Dates, the comedy film Click, and the dramedy iMordecai.
Astin's career has also expanded to include voice-over roles. He voices the title character in Special Agent Oso, and Raphael in the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series on Nickelodeon.
While Lord Of The Rings helped elevate Sean Astin's career prospects, his direct earnings from the films were limited. He earned $250,000 for the first movie, with minor raises for the sequels.
Astin does not receive ongoing royalties, but earns income from merchandise sales, and he received a one-time payment for promoting the third film.
2 Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown's Net Worth (Estimated) - $14 Million
Millie Bobby Brown kicked off with a breakout role in Once Upon A Time In Wonderland at just nine years old.
However, it was Millie Bobby Brown's performance as Eleven in Stranger Things that earned her global recognition and opened doors to major film projects.
These include appearances in the blockbuster Godzilla franchise, and starring in the Netflix films Enola Holmes and Damsel, on both of which she holds a producer credit.
Brown earned around $30,000 per episode for the first two seasons, and somewhere between $200,000 and $250,000 for the third.
By the fourth season, she had negotiated a salary increase, which saw her compensation jump to $300,000 per episode. Millie launched her beauty line, Florence by Mills, in 2019.
Alongside her brand business, her collaborations with major brands like Samsung, Converse, Vogue Eyewear, and EA Games have significantly contributed to her estimated $14 million net worth.
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Another Netflix BangerThe Cast Of Netflix's 'The Gentlemen,' Ranked By Net Worth
Guy Ritchie's 2019 film, The Gentlemen, grossed $115M globally on a $22M budget. Now, a TV spin-off brings the same vibe ... with a new cast.1 Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder's Net Worth (Estimated) - $18 Million
A Hollywood mainstay for over three decades, Winona Ryder rose to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s, with a string of critically acclaimed films.
Debuting in Lucas, she quickly gained stardom with her quirky charm in Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Edward Scissorhands. These box-office successes elevated her status to that of a leading actress.
Her films have grossed over $2 billion combined at the global box office, and Winona Ryder has an estimated net worth of $18 million.
She earned two consecutive Oscar nominations, for her roles in The Age Of Innocence and Little Women.
While box office success marked her early years, her career evolved with independent films and acclaimed dramas like Girl, Interrupted.
Joining the cast of Stranger Things as Joyce Byers in 2016, Ryder received her third Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of the character.
Ryder's earnings on Stranger Things have seen significant increases over the seasons, starting at $100,000 per episode for the first two seasons, and $350,000 per episode for the third season.
For the upcoming season five, Ryder received a big pay bump, to a reported $9.5 million, and she is the wealthiest among the Stranger Things cast.
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