How Much Did Andrew Lincoln Make per Episode of The Walking Dead?
The former lead star of TWD used to make quite a living from his iconic TV show.
The Walking Dead used to be among the world’s biggest TV shows back in the day, but even despite its popularity steadily declining over the years, the franchise is still spawning spin-offs, prequels, and sequels left and right in its wake. The original series’ first seasons still stand unmatched in terms of their quality and novelty, and that’s also thanks to the original cast, among other things.
Andrew Lincoln was the face of The Walking Dead for many years before retiring from the series (and coming back recently for The Ones Who Live spin-off). Just how much money was he making, and how do these numbers compare with his co-stars?
How Much Did Lincoln Earn From TWD?
While he started from “just” $10k per episode in The Walking Dead Season 1, Andrew Lincoln’s paycheck spontaneously exploded alongside the TV show’s popularity. With every passing season, his salary kept increasing, reaching a whopping $650k per episode in Lincoln’s final seasons as the series regular.
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After Lincoln dropped from The Walking Dead, he wasn’t part of the franchise for quite a few years until finally reprising his iconic role as Rick Grimes in The Ones Who Live in 2024. The actor’s salary on the new show hasn’t been officially confirmed, but it’s rumored to have remained on the same level due to his absence from the franchise and therefore, losing his central role in it.
Lincoln’s Not TWD’s Biggest Earner Anymore
While Andrew Lincoln was the lead star of the franchise, he was making the biggest buck of the bunch — but after his exit from The Walking Dead, it didn’t take long for the new lead actor, Norman Reedus, to take over the crown. By the final seasons of the show, Reedus was taking home $1M per episode, which was a significant increase compared to Lincoln’s best deal.
Interestingly enough, just as Andrew Lincoln didn’t get a better offer for The Ones Who Live, Norman Reedus is also rumored to have remained at the $1M cap for his own standalone spin-off, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Admittedly, the decrease in the franchise’s popularity put a cap on how much it can pay its lead actors.