Ever wondered how much Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint made from the Harry Potter movies?

The magical world of Harry Potter isn’t just famous for its spells, broomsticks, and talking portraits. What made this fantasy world truly come alive were the three stars who stepped into the shoes of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint weren’t just characters in a story — they became household names, with millions of fans growing up alongside them.

But while we were busy learning spells like Accio and cheering for Gryffindor, these three young stars were racking up some serious cash as their fame skyrocketed.

The Harry Potter franchise, based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling books, didn’t just give us unforgettable stories — it also built a fortune for its young leads. As the movies rolled out one by one, the trio’s paychecks grew, showing their growing stardom and the franchise’s insane success. Curious about just how much these wizards-in-training made? Let’s check it out.

How much did the trio earn from the Harry Potter franchise? 

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Let’s start with the boy who lived, Daniel Radcliffe. Back in 2001, an 11-year-old Radcliffe was cast as Harry Potter, and his paycheck for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was $1 million. That’s quite a lot for a kid, right? But it was just the beginning. With each movie, as Harry became braver, faced darker threats, and pretty much carried the whole wizarding world on his little shoulders, Radcliffe’s salary shot up through the roof.

By the time Chamber of Secrets hit theaters, he was banking $3 million. The Prisoner of Azkaban took that up to $6 million, and The Goblet of Fire handed him a hefty $11 million. The biggest paydays came in the final stretch. For The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2, filmed back-to-back, Radcliffe earned a jaw-dropping $50 million combined. When all eight movies wrapped up, Radcliffe had pocketed an eye-watering $109 million in total from the series alone.

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Now, onto Emma Watson — the brainy, sharp-tongued Hermione Granger. Watson was just 10 years old when she joined the Harry Potter world, and while she made under $1 million for her first movie, her earnings grew alongside her character’s reputation as the cleverest witch at Hogwarts. By the time The Order of the Phoenix rolled around, Watson was taking home $4 million.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
But the big money came in at the end. Just like her co-stars, Watson was paid $30 million for the two-part finale. While exact numbers for every single film in between aren’t public, it’s clear that she was very much in the same earnings league as Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley.

Speaking of Rupert Grint, the beloved, ginger-haired Ron Weasley was also earning big. Like Watson, Grint earned less than $1 million for the first film, but things quickly picked up. By the middle of the series, his pay rose to $4 million, and just like Watson, Watson earned $30 million for the final two movies combined.

And that, dear muggles, is how you turn ‘Expelliarmus’ into ‘Expensive-armus.’

What about Draco, Snape & the rest of the magical cast? 

Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
While the Golden Trio took home the largest slices of the magical pie, there were plenty of other witches and wizards in the cast who made good money, too — though their paychecks varied widely.

Take Tom Felton, who played the smirking, sneering Draco Malfoy of the Slytherin house. His total earnings across the eight films reportedly came close to $18 million—not too shabby for playing one of Hogwarts’ most famous troublemakers. Felton stayed a supporting character throughout, but his consistent presence across all the films meant a steady paycheck that added up over the years.

Then there’s the unforgettable Alan Rickman, who brought Severus Snape to life with his icy glares and complicated loyalty. While exact numbers for Rickman’s salary per film aren’t out there, we do know that at the time of his passing, his net worth was about $16 million. A significant chunk of that came from his role in Harry Potter. The late actress Maggie Smith had a net worth of $20 million, and we know that a huge chunk of it is thanks to the franchise as well.

However, beyond these big names, salaries for other cast members dropped off considerably. While supporting actors playing Hogwarts teachers and other characters made decent money, it wasn’t in the millions.

And as for the background cast — well, life on set wasn’t nearly as magical for them, at least financially. Extras, including young students running through the halls of Hogwarts or sitting in the Great Hall during feasts, reportedly made around $45 a day only. It’s a far cry from the leading stars’ multimillion-dollar paychecks. However, part of this pay gap also came down to the fact that many extras were kids who weren’t permitted to work long, grueling hours on set, which meant fewer working days and less overall income.

Daniel Radcliffe felt guilty about earning such a hefty amount from the Harry Potter franchise 

Daniel Radcliffe | Credit: Instagram\@daniel9340
While Daniel Radcliffe’s bank account ballooned thanks to the Harry Potter films, it turns out he’s had some pretty complicated feelings about it over the years. Even though acting had been in his blood — his parents were both involved in the entertainment world in some way — young Radcliffe couldn’t have possibly imagined how this would turn out. He had no idea, in terms of fame and fortune, how huge this role would be.

Radcliffe’s entry into the Hollywood world wasn’t a fluke. The man knew from a young age that acting was what he wanted to do. Before dressing up as Harry Potter, the wizard got his first role in a BBC adaptation of David Copperfield in 1999. But it was the Harry Potter films that transformed him from an ordinary school kid into an international superstar with an extraordinary salary to match.

As the paychecks got bigger, so did Radcliffe’s awareness of just how surreal it all was. It wasn’t something every teenager could relate to — watching millions of dollars land in your bank account before you even turned 20. Over time, Radcliffe admitted feeling somewhat awkward and guilty about having so much wealth so young, especially when comparing his life to those less fortunate. He admitted in an interview (via Parade),

I got paid so well for doing the Harry Potter films, it’s ridiculous. If somebody asked me, ‘Did you think you deserve that money?’ No, of course I didn’t. ‘But would you have taken it anyway?’ Of course. I happened to have found this industry where people get paid stupid amounts of money. That’s the reality. I feel almost guilty for having done so well out of Potter.

But instead of just sitting with those feelings, he’s done something meaningful with his money. Radcliffe has quietly donated large amounts to charity, especially organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and people in need. He’s used his fortune to make a difference, driven by a sense of responsibility that came with his fame and privilege.

There you have it. The Harry Potter films weren’t just a dream come true for fans but also a huge financial gain for the trio who brought the beloved characters to life. While their paths have all taken different turns since Hogwarts, their time in the Wizarding World continues to be a big part of their lives in more ways than just the size of their bank accounts.