By playing a main role in one of the most prominent film franchises ever created, actors in the Harry Potter Series earned substantial salaries and royalties for their time, effort, and talent.
Although Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II ended the original series 12 years ago, it doesn’t mean the main cast is not earning money on the films. Because Harry Potter continues to be a successful film franchise, you may wonder how much each actor makes in royalties.
The royalties actors in the Harry Potter Series earn depend on language and rates in their respective contracts, plus how big or small of a part they played in the series. Daniel Radcliffe receives a higher payout than someone who only appeared in a supporting role for a single movie.
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What Should You Understand About Royalties?
Every time a film is used for commercial profit, actors may receive a royalty, which is outlined in the terms of a contract. Not all actors earn royalties, as they are limited to those performing primary speaking roles, stunts, or if they receive significant screen time.
When an actor does not receive royalties, they receive a specific sum of money, from a minimum of $65,000 per shoot if they are in a lead or supporting role, and as little as $187 per day if they are mere extras.
If an actor receives royalties for a film, the percentage they earn also varies based on what was outlined in their contract. A well-known actor who stars in a popular film traditionally earns more than a starring actor who, until that film was released, was rather unknown.
This was the case with actors like Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, also known as the Golden Trio.
Gain more insight into their overall earnings during their time on the Harry Potter set in the next section, where we will discuss how much the Golden Trio earned, and the earnings of select supporting actors.
How Much Does the Golden Trio Earn in Royalties?
While the Harry Potter books were successful, it didn’t mean the films would reach the same success. Therefore, when Daniel Radcliffe first signed on to play Harry Potter, he received just $1,000,000 for his efforts.
Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, like Radcliffe, were not well-known, and they earned just under $1,000,000 for their roles as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
Royalty-wise, however, there is little information to go on, and there is, unfortunately, nothing listed publicly about their respective royalty rates, as Radcliffe, Grunt, and Watson have not spoken about their respective royalties.
However, we can estimate their royalty earnings if we check their overall earnings during their time portraying Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
As new Harry Potter movies were released, the trio’s respective salaries increased, and Radcliffe eventually received $50 million for the final two films. Grint and Watson never reached that lofty number, but they brought in roughly $30 million apiece.
The $50 million Radcliffe made in Deathly Hallows Parts I and II was 50 times more than his initial salary in Sorcerer’s Stone. Since the same held true for Grint and Watson, we can make an educated guess that their respective royalties skyrocketed as the films gained popularity.
How Much Does the Supporting Cast Earn in Royalties?
Like the Golden Trio, there is nothing public about the royalties that the supporting characters made. However, we can make a few hypotheses given the respective salaries and overall net worths that are available.
Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, earned just $14 million across all eight films, and his net worth sits at $20 million, well under that of Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson.
There is also information available on select actors who played supporting roles in some or all of the Harry Potter movies. Robbie Coltrane, who portrayed Hagrid, had a net worth of just $4 million, while Matthew Lewis’ net worth sits at $10 million.
So, the supporting cast made nowhere near what the Golden Trio made from a salary standpoint.
The supporting cast would have had little in the form of royalties and those playing the most minor characters may have had no royalty agreement and they would have instead operated on a specific salary during their time on the set.
This situation would have especially held true for the actors who were lesser known and played smaller roles in the films.
For example, Evanna Lynch played Luna Lovegood in the final four films, but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was her first stint in acting. Ditto for Bonnie Wright, whose first acting experience came in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Therefore, whether they were first-time actors like Lynch and Wright, or even experienced actors like Coltrane, their overall royalties would be far less than that of the Golden Trio.
Harry Potter Actors and Royalties
Since there is no information available online about the cast’s royalties, we cannot pinpoint an exact number of what they earned and continue to earn.
However, we know the Golden Trio made significant money in salary, so it’s easy to conclude that as their salaries increased, like Daniel Radcliffe’s $1 million to $50 million and Rupert Grint and Emma Watson’s roughly $1 million to $30 million, so did their royalties.
The supporting characters made far less in salaries, and they may or may not have earned royalties for their respective roles in the film, or at least long-term royalties.
Sion Fawkes has been covering Star Wars since January 2022, expanding his expertise in Star Wars Canon, Legends, and MCU. When not writing, you can find Sion in the gym or running trails. He also likes watching sports and listening to audiobooks.