Emilia Clarke sets record straight on 'Game of Thrones' salary rumors

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYMon, June 1, 2026 at 12:25 PM UTC

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Emilia Clarke is ready to put one "Game of Thrones" rumor to rest.

In a conversation with Variety, the Daenerys Targaryen actor, 39, shot down claims about how much money she was paid to star on the Emmy-winning HBO show. Reports have suggested that she and the rest of the main cast were paid $300,000 an episode, but Clarke said this isn't accurate. In fact, she suggested the figure isn't even close.

"We didn't earn that much," she told Variety. "Can you imagine? I'd have been driving a couple of Porsches."

Emilia Clarke attends the New York premiere of "Ponies" on Jan. 14, 2026, in New York City.

Deadline reported in 2014 that Clarke, as well as her costars Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau were being paid "close to $300,000 an episode." By 2017, the outlet said the stars had received a salary bump and would be paid "north of $500,000 an episode" for the seventh and eighth seasons. The final two seasons consisted of seven and six episodes, respectively.

Clarke starred on "Game of Thrones" from 2011 to 2019 as the fiery Daenerys Targaryen, who sets out to claim the Iron Throne of Westeros with her dragons. She received four Emmy nominations for the show, but never won. Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister, was the only member of the show's cast to win an Emmy for their role.

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Speaking with Variety, Clarke admitted she was crushed after losing the Emmy for the final time in 2019. Jodie Comer won the award that year for "Killing Eve."

"I'm embarrassed to admit that not winning an Emmy was a really significant thing," she told the outlet, adding that it made her feel like, "Everyone's over 'Game of Thrones' now – you're old news." Clarke said she was so upset about losing that she skipped the Emmys afterparties and went straight home, though when she woke up the next morning, she was embarrassed and vowed to never "behave that way again."

Emilia Clarke attends the "Secret Invasion" launch event in Hollywood, California, on June 13, 2023.

But Clarke could be back in the Emmy race this year for her performance on "Ponies," the Peacock show about CIA operatives that pairs her with Haley Lu Richardson. The series, which premiered in January, has not yet been renewed for a second season.

The "Thrones" universe, meanwhile, continues to expand, with the prequel series "House of the Dragon" set to return for its third season on June 21.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emilia Clarke talks 'Game of Thrones' salary, refutes rumor

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