Nobody could have possibly anticipated the cultural and commercial impact Netflixโs Stranger Things would achieve when it first landed in our streaming queues. Not The Duffer Brothers. Not Co-CEOs Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos. And certainly not the key players who brought one of the modern eraโs most successful shows to life, which begs the question: what has the Stranger Things castโs salaries swelled to over the past decade?
There have been several indications that the paycheques of each cast member, ranging from child stars now-adult actors Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard to the more established Winona Ryder and David Harbour, are, shall we sayโฆ considerable. After all, this is a sci-fi drama that reportedly cost US$30 million per episode for its XXL-sized fourth season.
For comparison, that figure dwarfs the budgets of Netflixโs other flagship properties such as Orange Is The New Black (US$4 million per episode), House of Cards (US$5 million per episode), Bridgerton (US$7 million per episode), The Witcher (US$10 million per episode), and The Crown (US$13 million per episode). The only potential competition in this department? The most expensive series of all time: Amazon Prime Videoโs The Rings of Power (US$465 million for season 1 alone).
And at the opening of 2023, ahead of cameras rolling for Stranger Things season 5, almost every major cast member participated in contract negotiations, which resulted in meaningful pay rises. Hereโs what everyone is getting paid for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things.
Stranger Things Cast Salary (2025)
Note: All $$$ = USD
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)
Season 1: $20,000 per episode
Season 2: $20,000 per episode
Season 3: $300,000 per episode
Season 4: $300,000 per episode
Season 5: Unknown (exclusive overall contract with Netflix)
Millie Bobby Brown โ the Netflix seriesโ breakout star behind Eleven / Jane Hopper โ has received the most significant pay rise out of everyone in the Stranger Things cast to date.
For season 1, the showโs child actors were all classified as B Tier, which only earned them approximately $20,000 per episode, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though itโs worth noting the entire cast was eventually gifted $60,000 bonuses when it proved to be a global smash hit.
The Stranger Things cast members enjoyed the exact same salaries heading into season 2. When it came time for season 3, however, Brownโs team played hardball. Not only did she successfully negotiate her way out of the B Tier โ she forced the money suits to classify her in a bracket completely separate from everyone else (because thereโs no Stranger Things without Eleven).
Based on last reports, Millie Bobby Brown was drawing a salary ranging from $250,000 to $350,000 per episode, with inside sources claiming itโs somewhere in the middle at the $300,000 benchmark (or $2.4 million for the third season). Now, itโs no longer within the same classification as the rest of her co-stars โ she retains an undisclosed exclusive contract with the streaming giant that spans multiple projects.
Between this, her gig at Netflixโs other hit property Enola Holmes, and all the sponsorships, unsurprisingly, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Millie Bobby Brown to be valued at $20 million.
Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler)
Season 1: $20,000 per episode
Season 2: $20,000 per episode
Season 3: $250,000 per episode
Season 4: $250,000 per episode
Season 5: ~$875,000 per episode (over $7 million total)
Similar to Millie Bobby Brown and the other more junior cast members, Finn Wolfhard (who portrays Mike Wheeler) was initially earning a salary of $20,000 per episode with a $60,000 bonus after Stranger Things season 1.
Where the It and Ghostbusters 3 star diverged from Brown has everything to do with what happened during the pre-production stage of season 3. While the latter sits in her own category, Wolfhard and the rest of the kids from Hawkins are still B Tier.
Currently, this entails a salary of more than $7 million for the eight-episode season 5 or approximately $875,000 per episode.
Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson)
Season 1: $20,000 per episode
Season 2: $20,000 per episode
Season 3: $250,000 per episode
Season 4: $250,000 per episode
Season 5: ~$875,000 per episode (over $7 million total)
Similar to Millie Bobby Brown and the other more junior cast members, Gaten Matarazzo (who portrays Dustin Henderson) was initially earning a salary of $20,000 per episode with a $60,000 bonus after Stranger Things season 1.
Where the Broadway star diverged from Brown has everything to do with what happened during the pre-production stage of season 3. While the latter sits in her own category, Matarazzo and the rest of the kids from Hawkins are still B Tier.
Currently, this entails a salary of more than $7 million for the eight-episode season 5 or approximately $875,000 per episode.
Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair)
Season 1: $20,000 per episode
Season 2: $20,000 per episode
Season 3: $250,000 per episode
Season 4: $250,000 per episode
Season 5: ~$875,000 per episode (over $7 million total)
Similar to Millie Bobby Brown and the other more junior cast members, Caleb McLaughlin (who portrays Lucas Sinclair) was initially earning a salary of $20,000 per episode with a $60,000 bonus after Stranger Things season 1.
Where the Dora & The Lost City of Gold and Concrete Cowboy star branched from Brown has everything to do with what happened during the pre-production stage of season 3. While the latter sits in her own category, McLaughlin and the rest of the kids from Hawkins are still B Tier.
Currently, this entails a salary of more than $7 million for the eight-episode season 5 or approximately $875,000 per episode.
Noah Schnapp (Will Byers)
Season 1: $20,000 per episode
Season 2: $20,000 per episode
Season 3: $250,000 per episode
Season 4: $250,000 per episode
Season 5: ~$875,000 per episode (over $7 million total)
Similar to Millie Bobby Brown and the other more junior cast members, Noah Schnapp (who portrays Will Byers) was initially earning a salary of $20,000 per episode with a $60,000 bonus after Stranger Things season 1.
Where The Peanuts Movie and Hubie Halloween star diverged from Brown has everything to do with what happened during the pre-production stage of season 3. While the latter sits in her own category, Schnapp and the rest of the kids from Hawkins are still B Tier.
Currently, this entails a salary of more than $7 million for the eight-episode season 5 or approximately $875,000 per episode.
Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield)
Season 2: Unknown
Season 3: Unknown
Season 4: $250,000 per episode
Season 5: ~$875,000 per episode (over $7 million total)
Given that Sadie Sink (who portrays Max Mayfield) didnโt join the cast of Stranger Things until season 2, itโs unclear where her salary began. Itโs safe to assume she was receiving roughly the same paycheque at $20,000, though she wouldnโt have seen a cent of that $60,000 bonus.
As another star in the second-tier classification, Sink is banking $7 million for the eight-episode season 5 or approximately $875,000 per episode.
But what about everyone else who isnโt a child? Check out what we know below.
Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers)
Season 1: $100,000 per episode
Season 2: $100,000 per episode
Season 3: $350,000 per episode
Season 4: $350,000 per episode
Season 5: $1,187,500 per episode ($9.5 million total)
The two-time Oscar nominee was by far the most prolific cast member when Stranger Things premiered in 2016. As youโd expect, Winona Ryder signed on to portray frazzled mother Joyce Byers in season 1 with the highest salary at $100,000 per episode. Both she and co-star David Harbour are classified as A Tier.
During the negotiations prior to cameras rolling for season 3, however, the 90s icon of Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and Heathers fame ensured she received $350,000 per episode โ essentially tripling her salary. That was $2.8 million for the eight episodes of season 3 and around $3.15 million for the nine episodes of season 4.
For Stranger Things season 5, Winona Ryder is reportedly banking $9.5 million for all eight episodes or just under $1.2 million a pop.
David Harbour (Jim Hopper)
Season 1: $80,000 per episode
Season 2: $80,000 per episode
Season 3: $350,000 per episode
Season 4: $350,000 per episode
Season 5: $1,187,500 per episode ($9.5 million total)
Although David Harbour was already known for his roles in a handful of major films, such as Brokeback Mountain, Quantum of Solace, The Equalizer, and Black Mass โ in addition to HBOโs The Newsroom, Manhattan, and State of Affairs โ prior to Stranger Things, he wasnโt exactly a leading man. Hence why he was only receiving a relatively paltry $80,000 per episode to inhabit Hawkins Chief of Police Jim Hopper,
He and fellow A Tier thespian Winona Ryder earned a salary of $350,000 per episode for seasons 3 and 4, making them among the highest-paid cast members of Stranger Things at the time (next to Millie Bobby Brown). That was $2.8 million for the eight episodes of season 3 and $3.15 million for the nine episodes of season 4.
For Stranger Things season 5, the newly-divorced David Harbour is reportedly banking $9.5 million for all eight episodes or just under $1.2 million a pop.
Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler)
Season 1: Unknown
Season 2: Unknown
Season 3: $150,000 per episode
Season 4: $150,000 per episode
Season 5: $750,000 per episode (over $6 million total)
What Natalia Dyer banked for portraying Nancy Wheeler in seasons 1 and 2 has never been publicly disclosed, but in light of the fact that sheโs classified as C Tier alongside Joe Keery and Charlie Heaton, it was probably less than the Stranger Things kids.
After the season 3 negotiations, she secured a guarantee of $150,000 per episode or $1.2 million for that instalment and $1.35 million for season 4. Stranger Things season 5, on the other hand, involves a contract worth over $6 million or approximately $750,000 per episode.
Joe Keery (Steve Harrington)
Season 1: Unknown
Season 2: Unknown
Season 3: $150,000 per episode
Season 4: $150,000 per episode
Season 5: $750,000 per episode (over $6 million total)
Joe Keeryโs financial compensation is identical to Natalia Dyerโs. Payment for his dramatic efforts as โteen momโ and Hawkinsโ best babysitter, Steve Harrington, across the first two seasons has never been disclosed. As previously mentioned, however, the C Tier classification probably meant it was less than the Stranger Things kids.
After the season 3 negotiations, he also secured a guarantee of $150,000 per episode or $1.2 million for that instalment and $1.35 million for season 4. Stranger Things season 5, on the other hand, involves a contract worth over $6 million or approximately $750,000 per episode.
Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers)
Season 1: Unknown
Season 2: Unknown
Season 3: $150,000 per episode
Season 4: $150,000 per episode
Season 5: $750,000 per episode (over $6 million total)
And finally, we arrive at Charlie Heaton. You know the whole C Tier classification spiel by now. Unconfirmed figures for seasons 1 and 2โฆ probably less than the kidsโฆ $150,000 per episode or $1.2 million for season 3 and $1.35 million for season 4โฆ $6 million or approximately $750,000 per episode for Stranger Things season 5.
Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley)
Season 4: $150,000 per episode
Season 5: $750,000 per episode (over $6 million total)
Since joining the cast in Stranger Things season 3 to become an instant fan favourite, there has been zero word on what Maya Hawke was initially paid. One can only assume it was on par with her fellow C Tier players above.
Similar to Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, and Charlie Heaton, based on last reports, Hawke inked a contract worth over $6 million or $750,000 per episode for Stranger Things season 5.
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