Walking Dead Rich List: The Wealthiest Actors in the Zombie Apocalypse, Ranked

The success of The Walking Dead transformed a close-knit group of actors into worldwide stars, leading to substantial earnings from numerous seasons and related shows. Key actors benefited from leading roles, lengthy contracts, and some even became producers, allowing them to build a lasting financial foundation. This continues to generate income through reruns (syndication), streaming services, and appearances at fan events and conventions.

This countdown evaluates an actor’s entire career. It takes into account their most successful TV seasons, any spin-off series they’ve done, leading roles in popular shows and movies, voiceover work, and consistent roles that provide a steady income. It also factors in income from appearances at events, endorsements, and any production companies they own, which all contribute to their earnings beyond just acting on screen.

20. Alanna Masterson

Alanna Masterson earned a reliable income thanks to her time on ‘The Walking Dead’, where she appeared in many popular episodes and was a consistent part of the main cast. Being a regular on the show for several seasons means she continues to receive payments – called residuals – whenever the show is re-aired or streamed, providing a consistent source of income for years to come.

She supplemented her income with guest appearances and smaller roles in other TV shows, which helped maintain her visibility between fan conventions. This mix of consistent work on television and attending fan events creates a reliable income stream that lasts long after the original episodes have aired.

19. Josh McDermitt

Josh McDermitt’s portrayal of Eugene made the character incredibly popular throughout ‘The Walking Dead’ franchise, ensuring consistent income season after season. Because of his long-term contract, he received steady paychecks and ongoing residuals from episodes being shown again on television and through streaming services worldwide.

Both before and while working on the series, he pursued other comedy gigs and television projects to earn extra money. He also supplemented his income with voiceover work, live performances, and appearances at conventions, which all complemented his continued involvement with the franchise.

18. Ross Marquand

Ross Marquand’s extended role as Aaron on ‘The Walking Dead’ provided him with income for multiple seasons, and he continues to receive payments through streaming services. His ability to perform well in both action and dramatic scenes helped him remain a valuable cast member as the show’s cast changed over time.

I’ve always been impressed with how versatile this actor is! He’s not just a face on screen; he does a ton of voice work and even pops up in little cameos in big superhero franchises, which is great for his income beyond just those end-of-the-world type roles. What’s really smart is the voice acting and impressions – it’s work he can keep coming back to, fitting easily around filming and all those convention appearances.

17. Seth Gilliam

Seth Gilliam had a substantial history of television work before joining ‘The Walking Dead’, and this experience was key to him earning consistent salary payments throughout several seasons. Income from previous, well-regarded shows, along with earnings from the Walking Dead franchise, combine to give him a diverse and reliable income stream.

I’ve been watching his career, and it’s smart how he keeps working consistently. He’s still active in TV and those fun genre projects that his fans really love – it keeps him visible. It’s not just about big roles, though. He supplements his income with guest appearances on shows, stage work, and appearances at fan events, which is a really solid way to ensure long-term financial stability. It’s a great strategy to stay working between bigger screen roles.

16. Khary Payton

As a critic, I’ve always been impressed with Khary Payton. His work as Ezekiel on ‘The Walking Dead’ really paid off – he was a consistent presence for multiple seasons. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that he’s also a powerhouse voice actor! He’s built a fantastic second career voicing characters in long-running animated shows like ‘Teen Titans Go’ and ‘Young Justice’. Those shows mean consistent work and, importantly, residuals that really add up over the years. It’s a smart and successful path for any actor.

He juggles being on camera with attending conventions for both animation and the zombie series. Having fans of two different genres boosts income from signing merchandise and participating in panels, which improves his yearly earnings and prevents him from depending on just one project.

15. Cailey Fleming

Cailey Fleming joined ‘The Walking Dead’ in its later seasons and rapidly became a key part of the storyline, leading to significant pay per episode for a rising star. She continues to earn income from residuals earned on popular episodes and through international streaming platforms.

I’m so excited to see her career taking off! She’s already landed parts in some big film and TV projects, which is awesome and helped her earn more money early on. And it’s not just acting – as she gets more and more credits, she’s attracting brand deals and opportunities for fan events. It’s great because it creates lots of different ways for her to make money, and those income streams can grow even bigger as she lands more leading roles in the future!

14. Christian Serratos

Christian Serratos has built a steady income stream from her work on ‘The Walking Dead’, combined with earnings from her earlier role in the popular ‘Twilight’ films. This combination provides ongoing income from streaming and licensing deals, creating a long-term financial benefit.

She starred in ‘Selena The Series’, which not only gave her a leading actress salary but also opportunities to promote the show through music. Because she has a strong following across many fandoms and is frequently asked to appear at conventions, she also earns consistent income from appearances, in addition to her income from television and film work.

13. Chandler Riggs

Chandler Riggs played Carl for many seasons, earning him years of salary and significant income from reruns of a very popular cable show. Even though he left the show while still young, he had enough credited episodes to continue earning money from replays and streaming services.

You know, he’s really smart about his career. He doesn’t just stick to acting; he’s gotten into music and takes on smaller roles to keep the money flowing while he’s waiting for bigger projects. And honestly, it’s brilliant because his character is so iconic – people *still* want to meet him at conventions! Those photo ops and panel discussions? They bring in a really solid extra income, which is great to see. It’s a smart way to stay working and connect with fans, and it really adds up.

12. Lennie James

Lennie James earned money from both ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ over a long period, increasing his overall income from the franchise. Appearing in both shows raised his profile and broadened the amount of money he received from reruns and other uses of the shows’ content – his residual base – across two different collections of episodes.

After the success of ‘Beyond the Apocalypse’, he went on to create and star in the highly praised drama ‘Save Me’, which also brought him income as a writer and creator. He continues to broaden his financial portfolio with international projects and voice acting roles, all while staying popular with fans across different countries.

11. David Morrissey

David Morrissey’s portrayal of the Governor was very successful, leading to significant income and continuing payments from some of the most popular episodes of the series. He also had a well-established career in British television and film before joining the show, which provided additional, long-lasting income streams. This helped ensure financial stability both during and after his time playing the character.

I’m really impressed with how he consistently works. He’s still a key player in shows like ‘Britannia’, which not only provides steady income but also gets his work seen internationally. And it’s smart of him to balance that with theater – both performing and directing – because it means he’s not relying on just one thing for his career. It’s a really well-rounded approach, giving him a stable and diverse portfolio.

10. Sonequa Martin-Green

As a critic, I’ve been watching Sonequa Martin-Green’s career trajectory with interest. She really leveraged her success on ‘The Walking Dead’ to land a starring role on ‘Star Trek Discovery’ – and it paid off, quite literally. She received substantial compensation for multiple seasons, putting her in a very strong position. Beyond the salary, leading a major sci-fi franchise like that also opened doors to increased residuals and lucrative licensing opportunities, which is fantastic to see.

She continues to work in both film and video game adaptations, which helps increase her income from various sources. Additionally, promotional work for brands and appearances at conventions for fans of science fiction and horror provide a steady income alongside her on-screen roles.

9. Lauren Cohan

Lauren Cohan successfully balanced extended work on ‘The Walking Dead’ with a starring role in ‘Dead City’, resulting in consecutive opportunities within the same franchise. Taking on a co-lead role not only increases her pay per episode but also provides a more involved, producer-level role that could lead to additional earnings from the show’s overall success.

She earns ongoing income from her film and TV appearances, like her roles on ‘Supernatural’. Throughout the year, she also makes money from things like public appearances, collaborations with fashion and beauty brands, and traveling for international press events.

8. Melissa McBride

As Melissa McBride developed her character Carol into a central figure, her salary steadily increased, particularly in the later seasons of the show. This positive trend continues with the new series focusing on the team-up between Daryl and Carol, and she now receives top-billing pay as a result.

Having worked on the show for so long, she’s accumulated one of the highest numbers of episodes in the entire franchise, which results in significant residual payments. She also earns income from appearances, carefully chosen projects, and select endorsements, all while managing a schedule that allows her to continue working on the ongoing series. This approach ensures a consistent income stream and maintains her availability for the show.

7. Michael Rooker

While Michael Rooker first gained recognition with his work on early seasons of The Walking Dead, the majority of his income now comes from starring in huge film franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy. Being involved in large, popular superhero movies means higher initial salaries and ongoing income from television broadcasts and streaming services.

I’ve noticed he really sticks to what works for him – lots of action movies, appearances on genre TV shows, and voice work that fits his usual style. Plus, he’s super popular at conventions! It’s great to see consistent demand from so many different fandoms, which means he’s got a steady income from appearances all year round.

6. Jon Bernthal

Jon Bernthal became well-known thanks to his role in The Walking Dead, which led to him starring in The Punisher and having memorable appearances in Daredevil. He’s also been in leading and important supporting roles in both thrilling films and highly-regarded TV dramas, resulting in a consistently strong income each year.

He creates and leads the interview show ‘Real Ones’, which provides income similar to owning a business in addition to his earnings from acting. Thanks to consistent work in movies and prominent parts on TV, he earns money immediately and continues to receive payments over time.

5. Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jeffrey Dean Morgan began playing Negan with a substantial salary, which continued when he starred in ‘Dead City’. Heading a spin-off series means earning even more per episode, and it often includes a role as a producer – which can also lead to sharing in the show’s profits.

He earns ongoing income from past roles on shows like Supernatural and Grey’s Anatomy, as well as films such as Watchmen. This income, called residuals, combines with his earnings from current projects. Additionally, a significant presence on social media and regular appearances at fan events boost his income through autographs and partnerships with brands.

4. Danai Gurira

As a huge fan of The Walking Dead, I was always blown away by Danai Gurira’s performance as Michonne. It’s fantastic to see she didn’t just get paid really well for it – she earned top-tier money for the series – but also stepped into an executive producer role on ‘The Ones Who Live’. That’s a big deal because producing can add even more to her income each season, beyond her acting salary. It’s great when talent gets recognized both in front of and behind the camera, and it’s clearly paying off for her!

Let me tell you, Danai Gurira isn’t just a fantastic actress – I mean, landing central roles in both ‘Black Panther’ and its sequel is huge, and that translates to some serious residuals and bonuses from a global franchise! But she’s so much more than that. She’s an award-winning playwright, and that creative work brings in income all on its own, through play productions and licensing deals. It’s really impressive to see someone thriving on so many levels.

3. Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun moved from his role as Glenn to receiving praise for leading performances in films like ‘Minari’ and the popular series ‘Beef’. This success has led to increased fees for future work and opportunities to become a producer.

He also plays the main character in ‘Invincible’, which gives him consistent earnings from the show itself and other connected projects. Collaborations with brands and carefully chosen sponsorships further expand his income sources, meaning he’s no longer reliant on just one type of work.

2. Andrew Lincoln

For many years, Andrew Lincoln was the main star of the series and came back to co-lead ‘The Ones Who Live’, continuing to earn a high salary. Because he’s so well-known as a key figure in the franchise, he receives substantial payments for appearances and remains in demand worldwide.

He continues to earn money from past projects like ‘Love Actually’, which adds to his income from what he’s working on now. By carefully planning his work on shorter TV series and one-off events, he can maintain a good rate of pay even with fewer episodes.

1. Norman Reedus

Norman Reedus transitioned from being a popular member of a larger cast to a central figure in the franchise, ultimately becoming the lead actor and a producer on ‘Daryl Dixon’. These kinds of positions usually come with significant salaries and extra payment for taking on creative duties.

He also presents ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’, which provides an additional income stream and maintains his public profile during breaks from acting roles. Income from licensing deals, merchandise partnerships, and a dedicated global fanbase contribute substantially to his earnings outside of his on-screen work.

Share who you think belongs higher or lower on this list in the comments.

2025-09-29 15:48