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- The Walking Dead had exceptional production values, with each episode costing over $3.4 million.
- The main show drew in 17 million viewers during its peak, setting new broadcast television standards.
- Many Walking Dead cast members, like Norman Reedus, grew their net worth substantially during and after their time on the show.
The Walking Dead has been a pop-culture phenomenon since it first aired in 2010.
Based on the acclaimed comic book series, the show's thrilling blend of zombie horror and gripping human drama kept audiences on the edge of their seats for an incredible eleven seasons.
The production value was exceptional, with each episode reportedly costing more than $3.4 million to bring the apocalyptic world to life.
At its peak, the show drew in 17 million viewers, setting new standards for broadcast television. The series' success went far beyond the main show, spawning an entire multimedia franchise.
Spin-offs like Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond continue to thrive, and the latest addition, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, aired in 2024.
During its eleven seasons, The Walking Dead witnessed a revolving door of characters.
As a result of the show's immense popularity, many of the cast members saw substantial growth in their net worth during and after their time on the zombie apocalypse drama.
The series propelled its talented cast to widespread fame – stars like Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, and Danai Gurira became household icons through their roles on The Walking Dead.
Let's dive into The Walking Dead cast's net worths, and explore their Hollywood journeys:
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Lauren Cohan's Net Worth (Estimated) - $4 Million
Lauren Cohan is best known for her portrayal of the resilient Maggie Greene (later Rhee) on The Walking Dead, a role she is reprising in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City.
She launched her career with roles in popular franchises like Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries. Her film debut came in Van Wilder: The Rise Of Taj, and she has since starred in films like The Boy, All Eyez On Me, and Mile 22.
Her films have collectively grossed over $1.1 billion at the global box office. Her talent and versatility have graced both the big and small screens in over 20 film and television projects.
Cohan's critically acclaimed performances and dedication to her craft have helped her build a successful career spanning almost two decades.
Following the conclusion of The Walking Dead main series, she moved onto the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City, with co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan, where she serves as both star and executive producer; no doubt the role will elevate her estimated $4 million net worth in the coming year.
9 Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun's Net Worth (Estimated) - $5 Million
Steven Yeun won hearts as the resourceful Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead.
His breakout performance on the show launched his Hollywood career, which has taken a fascinating trajectory. Yeun's role in the critically acclaimed South Korean thriller Burning demonstrated his dramatic range.
He made history with his performance in Minari, earning him an Academy Award nomination for "Best Actor" – the first Asian American actor to receive this honor.
Additionally, Yeun has lent his voice to animated series and films, including Avatar Wan in The Legend Of Korra and Steve Palchuk in Trollhunters and 3Below, and he starred alongside Ali Wong in the A24 Netflix original, Beef.
Yeun's body of work across film, television, and voice acting has contributed significantly to his estimated $5 million net worth.
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Danai Gurira's Net Worth (Estimated) - $5 Million
Danai Gurira is widely recognized for her portrayal of Michonne, the katana-wielding warrior in The Walking Dead.
Gurira is also an accomplished playwright, with her award-winning play Eclipsed making history as the first production with an all-female, all-black cast and creative team to premiere on Broadway.
Transitioning to film and television, she appeared in projects like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Visitor, and Ghost Town.
Gurira's breakthrough came with her role as Michonne in The Walking Dead, where she became a mainstay character, earning up to $60,000 per episode by the series' end.
Gurira gained further recognition for her role as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring in blockbuster hits like Black Panther and its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which grossed over $1.3 billion and $859.2 million, respectively.
In 2017, Gurira played rapper Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, in All Eyez On Me, a 2017 biopic about the rap star. The biopic grossed just $55 million against a budget of about $40 million.
Following the conclusion of The Walking Dead, Gurira reunited with co-star Andrew Lincoln in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
7 Tom Payne
Tom Payne's Net Worth (Estimated) - $6 Million
Tom Payne first appeared in Waterloo Road for the BBC, playing sixth former Brett Aspinall.
His portrayal of George Best in Best: His Mother's Son highlights his ability to embody real-life figures.
Before joining the zombie apocalypse, he also starred in period dramas like Marple: They Do It With Mirrors and Wuthering Heights.
In 2012, Payne landed the title role in The Physician, alongside Stellan Skarsgård and Ben Kingsley. The historical drama grossed $57 million at the global box office.
His career-defining role came when he was cast in a recurring role in season six of The Walking Dead, as Paul "Jesus" Rovia. He played the character until midway through season nine.
After his time on The Walking Dead, he landed the starring role of Malcolm Bright, a criminal profiler with a unique family history, in the series Prodigal Son.
This multi-faceted talent has built him an impressive net worth of $6 million, through a successful acting career spanning over a decade.
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Chandler Riggs' Net Worth (Estimated) - $8 Million
Chandler Riggs began acting at age four. His early work included stage productions of The Wizard of Oz, where he played a Munchkin in his theater debut.
In 2009 (at the age of nine), he was cast in his first two feature film roles, in Get Low as Tom, and in the television film The Wronged Man. Riggs will forever be remembered as Carl Grimes, the young survivor who grew up before our eyes in The Walking Dead.
His breakout role launched his career at the age of ten, and he held down the role until Carl's tragic exit during season eight. Riggs earned acclaim for his portrayal of Carl's complex journey in the apocalyptic world.
His salary on The Walking Dead reportedly reached $100,000 per episode during his later seasons. Riggs has also starred in films like Mercy, Keep Watching, and Inherit The Viper.
In addition to his acting career, Riggs has demonstrated his creative range by venturing into music production. Riggs started releasing electronic music under his stage name, Eclipse.
Currently, he appears in a recurring role on the popular drama series A Million Little Things.
5 Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride's Net Worth (Estimated) - $9 Million
Melissa McBride's impressive career began long before The Walking Dead. With roles in Walker, Texas Ranger and Dawson's Creek, she steadily built her acting resume.
Her breakthrough performance came as Carol Peletier, a character whose extraordinary transformation mirrors McBride's own rise as a leading actress in the series.
McBride's portrayal of Carol's evolution from meek survivor to fearless warrior has garnered critical acclaim and earned her multiple awards.
Throughout her tenure on The Walking Dead, McBride's paycheck grew with her screen time, starting at $8,500 per episode and reaching $300,000 towards the show's conclusion.
Following the conclusion of The Walking Dead, McBride reprised her role as Carol in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, alongside Norman Reedus's character, Daryl Dixon.
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Jon Bernthal's Net Worth (Estimated) - $12 Million
Jon Bernthal is recognized for his intense, emotionally charged performances.
His breakout role as Shane Walsh, Rick Grimes' troubled best friend in The Walking Dead, garnered critical acclaim and put him on the map. During his time on the show, he earned $80,000 per episode.
Bernthal achieved further recognition as Frank Castle (Punisher) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Daredevil and The Punisher. For his work in The Punisher, the actor earned $350,000 per episode.
His film roles include Snitch, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Sicario, The Accountant, Baby Driver, Ford v Ferrari, and the heist film Widows, which earned him a salary of $1.6 million.
Bernthal has been in at least 30 films, which have collectively grossed over $2.4 billion worldwide.
3 Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Net Worth (Estimated) - $12 Million
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is known for his roles in Supernatural, Grey's Anatomy, and the comic-book adaptation Watchmen.
However, his portrayal of Negan, the charismatic yet ruthless leader of the Saviors in The Walking Dead, propelled him to another level of stardom.
Morgan's complex performance breathed life into one of the franchise's most iconic villains, and his salary reportedly peaked at $200,000 per episode during his time on the show.
With an estimated net worth of $12 million, Morgan's success extends beyond his role on The Walking Dead.
He continues to make waves in the industry, recently joining the cast of Amazon's satirical superhero series The Boys in its fourth season.
Morgan reprised his role in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City from 2023. Morgan also serves as an executive producer for the show.
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Andrew Lincoln's Net Worth (Estimated) - $30 Million
Andrew Lincoln's portrayal of Rick Grimes, the steadfast sheriff leading a group of survivors in The Walking Dead, made him a recognizable figure.
Before this role, Lincoln gained recognition in British television shows like This Life and Teachers. He also brought his range to the big screen in films like Love Actually and Penguin Bloom.
Lincoln's time as Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead spanned nine seasons, earning him critical praise and a peak salary of $650,000 per episode.
His commitment to the franchise brought him back to reprise his role in the 2024 spin-off The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, alongside Danai Gurira, with both co-producing the show.
Lincoln's net worth of $30 million highlights his successful acting career, which includes his contributions to The Walking Dead franchise and other projects on his resume.
1 Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus' Net Worth (Estimated) - $40 Million
Norman Reedus found his breakout role as the brooding, crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead.
Reedus' career, however, began long before the zombie apocalypse with roles in films like the cult classic The Boondock Saints, Blade II, and Mimic.
His longevity in the industry is reflected in his extensive filmography and $40 million net worth. Reedus has modeled for high-profile designers, including Prada and Levi's.
Reedus launched his own production company called Bigbaldhead Productions in 2020. Reedus is also a painter, sculptor, and photographer who has shown his artwork in galleries in major cities across the United States and Europe.
A true multi-hyphenate, he even expanded into video game voice acting with projects like Death Stranding. Reedus was featured in 175 out of 177 total episodes of The Walking Dead.
By the series' end, Reedus was earning $1 million per episode, making him the highest-earning cast member on the show.
Reedus's popularity led to his own spin-off series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which premiered in 2023, with Reedus also serving as an executive producer.
Additionally, he hosts the AMC show Ride With Norman Reedus, and has the highest estimated net worth among The Walking Dead's cast.
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