Forget Iron Throne, These 5 Characters Really Won the Game of Thrones

The world of Westeros and Essos is an incredibly harsh place, full of political machinations and intrigue, unstable alliances and regular betrayals, large-scale battles and backstage assassinations. Life isn't worth much in this world, and with so many unexpected deaths of characters we've grown attached to, making it to the end is an incredible stroke of luck.

But even when a character survives to the end of the story, it's not a given that the character will have further success or prospects. Ned was executed, but despite the grief his family endured, his daughter became Queen in the North, ensuring a glorious future for the Starks. Jon, on the other hand, managed to live to see the finale, but sadly, his fate is rather unenviable, as he was sent back beyond the Wall.

At the end of the series, however, it is still possible to list the characters who were truly winners in life. Yes, they didn't get the main 'mascot' of the series, the Iron Throne (at least not directly), nor did they get the throne in the North, but that doesn't stop them from being the ones who truly emerged as winners from the cruel intrigues of Game of Thrones.

5. Hoster Tully

We start our list with a character who was already dead at the time of Season 3. But it was his death that made the head of House Tully and ruler of the Riverlands one of the winners. Firstly, he died at a ripe old age, and secondly, he was able to ensure a successful future for his descendants: through Catelyn, his grandchildren Sansa and Bran became monarchs of the North and the Seven Kingdoms. In addition, his family still maintains control of Riverrun and Eyrie through his son Edmure and grandson Robyn.

4. Robyn Arryn

When Robyn was introduced to the series, he was nothing: a frail child living in the shadow of his overprotective, near-mad mother. When she died, however, Robyn inherited control of the entire Vale of Arryn, a fertile area protected by a mountain range. Despite his mother's actions, he also managed to remain loyal to Bran and Sansa, his powerful cousins. And in the Season 8 finale, Robyn proved himself to be a very independent and thoughtful lord, capable of making his own judgments.

3. Gendry Baratheon

The mere fact that Robert's bastard lived through most of the events of Game of Thrones in ignorance of his parentage speaks volumes about his good fortune. After all, his job as a blacksmith's apprentice allowed him to remain unmurdered for a long time while living in the heart of Westeros, King's Landing. As a result, he was legitimized as the heir to House Baratheon and became the new Warden of the South.

2. Tyrion Lannister

Not infrequently, Tyrion was on the brink of death, but he not only managed to survive all of his loathsome relatives who despised and disrespected him (except for poor Jamie), but he also became the new Hand of the King. He became not only Bran's advisor, but his right-hand man, controlling all the southern Westeros.

1. Bronn

But the luckiest of the lot was the cunning Bronn, a small-time scoundrel yet a skilled swordsman who once made his living as a mercenary. His resourcefulness and ability to twist connections with the right people (mostly Tyrion) allowed him not only to get away with everything, but also to become a powerful Lord and Master of Coin despite his lowly origins.