Behind The Paychecks: How Much Each Vampire Diaries Actor Made
Behind the Paychecks: How Much Each Vampire Diaries Actor Made
The lead actors in The Vampire Diaries, including Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder, earned approximately $40,000 per episode by the later seasons of the show, which ran from September 10, 2009, to March 10, 2017, across 171 episodes. Supporting cast members like Kat Graham made $35,000 per episode toward the end, while others such as Steven R. McQueen received $15,000 per episode. These figures reflect negotiations, episode counts per season (ranging from 16 to 23 episodes), and the CW network's budget constraints during the supernatural drama's eight-season run.
Salary Rankings
Per-episode pay varied significantly based on billing status and tenure, with top earners consistently at $40,000 amid the series' peak viewership of 5.7 million for its pilot episode on September 10, 2009.
- Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert/Katherine Pierce): $40,000 per episode by Season 6.
- Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore): $40,000 per episode.
- Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore): $40,000 per episode.
- Kat Graham (Bonnie Bennett): $35,000 per episode by series end.
- Kayla Ewell (Vicki Donovan): $30,000 per episode in Season 1.
- Michael Trevino (Tyler Lockwood): $15,000-$20,000 per episode.
- Steven R. McQueen (Jeremy Gilbert): $15,000 per episode.
Per-Episode Pay Table
| Actor | Character | Per-Episode Pay | Seasons Active | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nina Dobrev | Elena Gilbert | $40,000 | 1-6,8 | |
| Ian Somerhalder | Damon Salvatore | $40,000 | 1-8 | |
| Paul Wesley | Stefan Salvatore | $40,000 | 1-8 | |
| Kat Graham | Bonnie Bennett | $35,000 | 1-8 | |
| Kayla Ewell | Vicki Donovan | $30,000 | 1 (main) | |
| Michael Trevino | Tyler Lockwood | $15k-$20k | 1-6 | |
| Steven R. McQueen | Jeremy Gilbert | $15,000 | 1-6 |
Lead Actors' Earnings Breakdown
The trio of Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, and Paul Wesley commanded the highest salaries, peaking at $40,000 per episode as the show's love triangle drove ratings, with Season 1 averaging 3.6 million viewers weekly. Dobrev's pay reached this level by her exit in May 2015 after Season 6's 22 episodes, though early seasons likely started lower around $30,000 amid initial negotiations.
Calculating Total Hauls
- Determine episodes per actor: Use season breakdowns-e.g., Seasons 1-3: 22 eps each, Season 4: 23, Seasons 5-7: 22, Season 8: 16.
- Apply average pay: Leads at ~$40k/ep for later years; estimate $20k-30k early on based on CW scales.
- Factor tenure: Somerhalder/Wesley in all 171 eps (~$6.8M at flat $40k); Dobrev ~130 eps (~$5.2M).
- Adjust for bonuses: Reports suggest residuals added 20-30% post-syndication since 2017.
- Net impact: Somerhalder's $8M+ from show boosted his $12M net worth as of 2025.
Paul Wesley directed 19 episodes from Season 4 onward (starting October 11, 2012), potentially earning extra directing fees of $50,000-$100,000 each, per industry standards for CW series.
Supporting Cast Compensation
Actors in recurring roles earned less but still substantial sums given the series' 171-episode longevity, with Season 8's shortened 16-episode run announced July 23, 2016. Kat Graham's Bonnie Bennett arc elevated her to $35,000 per episode by 2017, reflecting her character's growth from 22 episodes in Season 1 to full-series staple.
- Candice King (Caroline Forbes): Estimated $30k-$40k, undisclosed officially; net worth ~$4M tied to role.
- Zach Roerig (Matt Donovan): Unknown exact pay; consistent across 171 eps, net worth $4M.
- Matt Davis (Alaric Saltzman): Mid-range, post-recurring promotion; no public figures.
Seasonal Episode Counts
| Season | Episodes | Air Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Sep 10, 2009 - May 13, 2010 |
| 2 | 22 | Sep 9, 2010 - May 12, 2011 |
| 3 | 22 | Sep 15, 2011 - May 10, 2012 |
| 4 | 23 | Oct 11, 2012 - May 16, 2013 |
| 5 | 22 | Oct 3, 2013 - May 15, 2014 |
| 6 | 22 | Oct 2, 2014 - May 14, 2015 |
| 7 | 22 | Oct 8, 2015 - May 13, 2016 |
| 8 | 16 | Oct 21, 2016 - Mar 10, 2017 |
Pay Disputes and Negotiations
Nina Dobrev fought for equal pay throughout six seasons, revealing in a 2025 oral history book that her Season 7 finale offer was "five times less" than her Season 6 rate, leading to a one-episode deal after Julie Plec's intervention. She stated, "It wasn't about the money-I didn't care about the money at all-it was about the principle," highlighting gender disparities on The CW shows pre-2017.
"I sensed that the studio did not value my contributions to the show, and it was upsetting to feel that I wasn't regarded as an equal to my male peers." - Nina Dobrev, on Season 3 talks.
Initial salaries for all were undisclosed, but leads negotiated raises post-Season 2's renewal on April 2, 2012, as ratings hit 3 million weekly. Dobrev played dual roles (Elena/Katherine), yet pay lagged until finale equality on March 10, 2017.
The Vampire Diaries pay structure mirrored CW economics: modest per-episode but multiplied by volume, yielding life-changing sums for a 2009-2017 run that spawned spin-offs. Statistics show leads' earnings correlated with 70% of fan-voted top episodes on IMDb.
Expert answers to Behind The Paychecks How Much Each Vampire Diaries Actor Made queries
Who Earned the Most Overall?
Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley topped totals due to full 171 episodes at peak $40k, estimating $6.84 million each before taxes/residuals (20% uplift post-Netflix deal). Dobrev's ~$5.2M reflected her exit after 130+ appearances, per 22-episode Seasons 1-6 plus finale.
How Did Salaries Evolve?
Salaries ramped post-pilot success: Season 1 ~$20k-30k leads, rising to $40k by Season 4 (23 eps, October 11, 2012 start). Supporting pay followed, with Graham hitting $35k as Bonnie became central post-Dobrev.
Did Guest Stars Get Paid Well?
Kayla Ewell's $30k for Season 1's 22 episodes totaled ~$660k, strong for recurring Vicki Donovan despite limited later arcs.
What Boosted Net Worths?
Residuals from 171 episodes in syndication added millions; Somerhalder's $12M net worth leads, fueled by $40k/ep and post-show ventures.
Impact of Episode Cuts?
Season 8's 16 episodes (announced July 23, 2016) reduced final-year pay, but leads still banked ~$640k each.