“Game of Thrones” was a cultural phenomenon that ended in disaster. But even though the last season was a major disappointment for fans, the cast probably didn’t think so. Some of the most notable stars of the series, including Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady, and Kit Harington, earned $2 million per episode.
Honestly, the large paycheck was probably in part a congratulation for not dying during the show. In a series known for killing off characters at random, the fact that these stars survived until the end was a feat in itself. And they got paid richly for their survival.
Ray Romano – $1.7 million
Ray Romano starred in the massively popular "Everybody Loves Raymond." During nine seasons, the show won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards. The finale alone premiered to an audience of 32.94 million viewers. Considering those large numbers, Romano’s salary also had to be hefty to mimic the success of the show.
He actually earned the place of the second-highest TV earner of all time, raking in $1.7 million per episode. His net worth now stands at $130 million, in large part a reflection of his massive earnings on the sitcom. Since then, Romano has starred in a few movies such as "The Big Sick" and "The Irishman."
Mindy Kaling – $140,000
After starring in multiple Judd Apatow movies that got her name out into the public, Mindy Kaling took her talent to the next level when she joined the cast of the classic sitcom "The Office." After starring in the hit show for many years, networks decided to give Kaling her own show.
On "The Mindy Project," Kaling brought home $140,000 per episode. The show was a success, but it ended in 2017 after six seasons. Of course, Kaling has been in and around some of the biggest comedy movies of all time. Do you remember when she played Paul Rudd's ex in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin?" No? Probably not the best example.
Jason Momoa – $600,000
While the characters who made it all the way through "Game of Thrones" earned millions of dollars per episode, Jason Momoa wasn’t one of the lucky stars to escape death. When the series was still new, Momoa starred as Khal Drogo, a character that vaulted him to fame.
Unfortunately, Drogo died in the first season. Momoa didn’t stop, however, and now stars in a new Apple TV+ show called "See." For his work on this new series, Momoa made $600,000 per episode. It’s not $2 million, but it’s certainly something. And of course, Momoa did pretty well in the "Aquaman" film series.
Meryl Streep — $825,000
While TV actors used to be in an entirely different class than film actors, those lines are blurring. As streaming services become more popular, most are looking for big-name actors to draw an audience to their original content. Although it hasn’t been released yet, Meryl Streep is set to star in a new series called The Nix.
The show is based on a novel adapted for TV by J.J. Abrams. As one of the most well-respected actresses in the world, it comes as no surprise that Streep made $825,000 per episode for her work on the show.