How Much the Young Harry Potter Cast Was Paid for Their Roles as Harry, Hermione, and Ron
The Harry Potter film series not only launched the careers of its young stars but also brought them substantial financial rewards as the franchise grew into a global phenomenon. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) started as child actors earning modest sums that increased dramatically with each successive film.
Daniel Radcliffe’s Earnings
Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the titular character Harry Potter, began his journey with a surprisingly high salary for a child actor. For the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), Radcliffe earned about $1 million (£1 million), a significant amount for an 11-year-old newcomer.
As the series progressed, his paychecks grew exponentially:
Philosopher’s Stone: $1 million
Chamber of Secrets: $2-3 million
Prisoner of Azkaban: $6 million
Goblet of Fire: $11 million
Order of the Phoenix: $14 million
Half-Blood Prince: $24 million
Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2 (combined): approximately $50 million
By the end of the franchise, Radcliffe had earned around $109 million in total from the films alone.
Emma Watson’s Earnings
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, started with a salary of less than $1 million for the first film. Her pay increased steadily as her character became more central to the story and as her star power grew:
First film: under $1 million
Order of the Phoenix: around $4 million
Final two films (Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2): approximately $30 million combined
Watson’s total earnings from the franchise are estimated to be in the tens of millions, boosted further by her successful post-Harry Potter career and lucrative endorsement deals.
Rupert Grint’s Earnings
Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron Weasley, also started with a salary under $1 million for the first film. His pay rose similarly to Watson’s, with mid-franchise salaries around $4 million and a final payday of about $30 million for the last two films combined. Despite this, Grint’s net worth remains lower than Radcliffe’s and Watson’s, partly because he has taken fewer high-profile roles and endorsements after the series ended.
Other Cast Members
Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, reportedly earned close to $18 million over the eight films.
The late Alan Rickman, who portrayed Severus Snape, had a net worth of about $16 million at his death, much of which came from his Harry Potter salary.
Background extras on the films earned significantly less, reportedly around $45 per day, reflecting their limited roles and the young age of many extras.
New HBO Series Cast Salaries
The upcoming Harry Potter HBO series, featuring new young actors Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Stout (Ron), is expected to offer substantial paychecks as well. Reports suggest these young actors will earn around £1 million for the first series, with potential increases to £10-20 million per season if the series continues for multiple seasons, drawing comparisons to the original films’ escalating salaries.
This detailed financial progression highlights how the Harry Potter franchise not only became a cultural and cinematic milestone but also a life-changing financial opportunity for its young stars, with their salaries reflecting their growing fame and the franchise’s massive success.
