How Much Does Matt Smith Reportedly Earn per Episode of ‘House of the Dragon’?

Matt Smith has spent years building one of the most eclectic résumés in British acting, moving from the Eleventh Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’ to a scene-stealing turn as Prince Philip in ‘The Crown’ before landing his current role as Daemon Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Each project has come with its own payday, and fans have long been curious just how much the actor pockets for playing one of Westeros’s most complicated Targaryens.

That curiosity has only grown as ‘House of the Dragon’ has cemented itself as one of HBO’s biggest ongoing productions, with Season 3 currently airing its final stretch of episodes ahead of the finale on August 9. Given the show’s massive scale and budget, speculation about cast salaries has followed Smith and his fellow stars throughout the series’ run.

Reports on Smith’s exact ‘House of the Dragon’ salary have varied over the years, but most early estimates placed his per-episode pay at around $25,000 during the show’s first season. That figure is notably modest compared to some of the eye-popping numbers speculated for other major HBO fantasy productions, though industry insiders have suggested his pay likely climbed as the show’s popularity grew across subsequent seasons.

Broader estimates for HBO’s flagship dramas typically put lead actors somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000 per episode once a series proves its staying power, a range some reports have speculated Smith could now be approaching given his prominence within the show. Without official confirmation from HBO, though, the exact current figure remains speculative rather than definitively verified.

Smith’s history with big per-episode paychecks stretches back well before ‘House of the Dragon.’ During his run on ‘The Crown,’ he reportedly earned $52,000 per episode playing Prince Philip, a figure that actually outpaced what co-star Claire Foy was making at the time despite her playing the title role of Queen Elizabeth II.

That pay discrepancy became a notable talking point once it came to light, with producers eventually acknowledging the gap and instituting a new policy moving forward that no one on the show would be paid more than the actress playing the Queen. Smith’s earlier work on ‘Doctor Who’ also contributed significantly to his overall earnings, with reports estimating he made around $50,000 per episode across his 54-episode run as the Eleventh Doctor.

With ‘House of the Dragon’ already renewed for a fourth and final season expected to arrive in 2028, Smith’s per-episode earnings will likely remain a topic of interest as the show heads toward its conclusion. Given the series’ continued popularity and HBO’s reputation for rewarding long-running lead actors as a show’s stakes and audience grow, it wouldn’t be surprising if his compensation has increased substantially since those early Season 1 estimates.

For now, the exact current number remains unconfirmed, leaving fans to rely on industry speculation rather than official figures from HBO itself.

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