How Much Were Actors Paid for Stranger Things Season 5? Inside the Final Payday
Here’s the thing about Stranger Things Season 5 salaries: it’s not like Netflix dropped a sheet stating who earned what. They never do. So what we’re left with is a mix of confirmed past contracts, industry reporting, and some very educated guesses based on how Hollywood works when a show becomes a global phenomenon.
And Stranger Things isn’t just a hit show.
It’s the hit show.
By the time Season 5 rolled into production, the kids weren’t kids anymore, the adults were household names again, and Netflix knew it was sitting on the final chapter of one of the most valuable TV franchises ever made.
How much were the actors paid?
Let’s find out!
Why Season 5 Pay Was a Big Deal
Season 5 is the final season, and that is the end of the road.
When a show is at its peak, actors and agents understand things are now in their favour. Netflix needed everyone back. The story couldn’t work without them. And walking away simply wasn’t an option for the streamer.
That’s how paydays explode.
And they did.
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The Original Kids: From Unknowns to TV’s Highest-Paid Young Stars
Stranger Things premiered in 2016, and what started as a starter pay has grown to become a jaw-dropping paycheck. Most of them, who earned $20,000 per episode, ended up earning millions a decade later.
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)
Let’s start with the biggest name. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she was initially at the B tier, starting with only $20,000.
Millie Bobby Brown later stood in a different pay bracket even before Season 5. By Season 4, she was earning $250,000 per episode, making her the highest-paid of the younger cast.
For Season 5?
Her salary rose again, landing somewhere between:
$300,000 to $350,000 per episode
Multiply that across an estimated 8 episodes, and you’re looking at:
$2.4 million to $2.8 million for the final season alone. She’s not just an actor on the show anymore. She’s a brand. A producer.
Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will)
By Season 4, this group was earning roughly $250,000 per episode as well.
For Season 5, they all negotiated together as a unit. This is common with costars, which is invaluable and is already making an impact.
Their estimated Season 5 earnings:
$250,000 to $300,000 per episode
That puts each of them around:
$2 million to $2.4 million total
Not bad for a show that started with bikes, flashlights, and basement D&D games. They grew up on this show. And it paid them like it knew that mattered.
Sadie Sink (Max): The Breakout Star Boost
Sadie Sink joined later, but by Season 4, she was stealing scenes left and right. Max became one of the emotional centres of the entire series.
That matters in negotiations.
While she reportedly earned slightly less than the original kids in earlier seasons, Season 5 likely closed that gap significantly.
Estimated Season 5 salary: $200,000 to $250,000 per episode
That’s roughly: $1.6 million to $2 million total
And given her rising film career outside Stranger Things, this was probably Netflix’s way of making sure she stayed firmly on board until the end.
The Adults: Where the Real TV Money Lives
Now let’s talk about the veterans.
Because this is where things get serious.
Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers)
Winona Ryder came into Stranger Things as the biggest name on the call sheet. Early on, she was reportedly earning $100,000 per episode, significantly more than everyone else.
By Season 3 and 4, that number had climbed to around $350,000 per episode.
For Season 5?
Most estimates place her salary at:
$350,000 to $400,000 per episode
Total payout:
$2.8 million to $3.2 million
A full-circle moment for an actor whose career helped define the ’80s, just like the show itself.
David Harbour (Jim Hopper)
David Harbour’s transformation into a fan-favourite action hero worked wonders for his paycheck.
By Season 4, he was earning similar money to Ryder, around $350,000 per episode.
Season 5 likely kept him in that same elite bracket, if not slightly higher.
Estimated total:
$2.8 million to $3 million
And worth every dollar, if you ask most fans.
Supporting Cast: Still Very Well Paid
Actors like:
- Natalia Dyer (Nancy)
- Charlie Heaton (Jonathan)
- Joe Keery (Steve)
- Maya Hawke (Robin)
- Priah Ferguson (Erica)
Aren’t usually discussed in headline salary reports, but by this point in the series, they weren’t earning “supporting actor” money anymore either.
Most industry estimates place their Season 5 pay between:
$150,000 to $250,000 per episode
That’s anywhere from:
$1.2 million to $2 million total
Which explains why no one was eager to walk away before the final curtain.
How Much Did Netflix Spend on Cast Salaries Alone?
For both the main cast and the supporting ones, Netflix likely spent:
$25 million to $30 million on cast salaries for Season 5 alone.
And that’s just the actors’ pay.
Not visual effects. Not marketing. Not production.
Just the people on screen. And it’s safe to say it was worth the investment.
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Why Season 5 Was the Biggest Payday of All
Here’s the quiet truth.
Season 5 salaries weren’t just about performance. They were about loyalty. Longevity. And acknowledging that this cast carried Netflix through an entire era of streaming wars.
These actors grew up together. The audience grew up with them. And by the end, Netflix paid accordingly.
Was it expensive?
Absolutely.
Was it worth it? With fans raving over it and the show turning into one of Netflix’s greatest hits, it is definitely worth every penny.
