The Vampire Diaries: How Much Was The Cast Paid For The First & Final Episode

Though The Vampire Diaries has been off the air since 2017, the legacy of the hit CW series has been long-lasting, with many returning to revisit the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia and the endless troubles of Elena Gilbert and her friends in the years since, especially as the franchise has spun off into continuations like The Originals and Legacies.

Naturally, the staggering success of the supernatural drama show resulted in some sky-high salaries for its core cast members. Using Celebrity Net Worth and The Richest as sources, it’s easy to look back on the changes from The Vampire Diaries‘ first episode to its last.

10 Matt Davis: Salary Unclear

Matt Davis made an immediate impact on audiences in the role of history teacher and vampire hunter Alaric Saltzman, and the character was so popular that he’s even been brought back in a supporting capacity in spinoffs The Originals and Legacies.

While specific reports for his salary per episode are currently unavailable, considering his extensive catalogue of work prior to joining the show, it was probably fairly high, and at the moment, he has an estimated net worth of $2 million.

9 Zach Roerig: Salary Unclear

Zach Roerig was a continually compelling presence on The Vampire Diaries throughout the entirety of its run, playing the part of Matt Donovan, Elena’s childhood friend and ex-boyfriend who is often at odds with the supernatural shenanigans taking place in Mystic Falls.

Like Davis, his specific salary reports aren’t public at the moment, but given that he was also a well established actor before being cast in the show, it’s fair to say that he was compensated appropriately for his work. He currently has an estimated net worth of $4 million.

8 Candice King: Salary Unclear

Candice King captivated audiences around the world as Caroline Forbes, Elena and Bonnie’s best friend who served as a foil for many of the male characters over the course of the series. She ended up carrying the twins of Davis’ Alaric (which allowed her to make guest appearances on The Originals and be mentioned on Legacies).

King’s specific salary reports aren’t common knowledge at this point in time, but with a formidable background in film and television, it’s likely that she received adequate compensation, and her net worth is currently estimated to be $4 million.

7 Steven R. McQueen: $15,000 Per Episode

Steven R. McQueen made quite a mark in his appearances as Jeremy Gilbert, Elena’s younger brother who transitions from a troubled teen to a malicious member of The Five (a vampire hunting group) over the course of the series, constantly challenging the audience’s loyalties.

For his work, McQueen reportedly received a salary of $15,000 per episode, which may be lower than some of his co-stars but feels appropriate given his filmography prior to joining the series. His current net worth is estimated to be $3 million.

6 Michael Trevino: $15-20,000 Per Episode

Michael Trevino’s Tyler Lockwood was a standout character of the series when The Vampire Diaries was on air, amassing acclaim and adoration from audiences as everyone’s favorite werewolf heartthrob.

Tyler Lockwood was Trevino’s breakout role, which partially explains his reported $15-20,000 salary per episode, but the star still made off quite well, with a current estimated net worth of $4 million.

5 Kayla Ewell: $30,000 Per Episode

Though Kayla Ewell was only a main cast member in season 1 of The Vampire Diaries as Vicki Donovan, the drug-addicted older sister of Roerig’s Matt, she continually made guest appearances until the end of the series, and her role has remained well-regarded ever since.

When featured, Ewell made a reported $30,000 per episode, and at the moment, it is estimated that she has a $2 million net worth.

4 Kat Graham: First Episode – Unclear / Last Episode – $35,000

Kat Graham’s Bonnie Bennett was Elena’s best friend throughout the entirety of The Vampire Diaries, and she won over viewers with her powerful prowess as a witch, especially as her abilities often helped her friends stay out of harm’s way.

While it’s unclear what Graham made at the start of the show, by the end of its run, she was reportedly earning $35,000 per episode, and she has a current estimated net worth of $3 million.

3 Ian Somerhalder: First Episode – Unclear / Last Episode – $40,000

Ian Somerhalder set hearts aflutter as the sullen but sexy Damon Salvatore, and his flirtatious back-and-forth with Nina Dobrev’s Elena Gilbert served as the foundation of many fans’ fascination with the series.

As one of the three main leads, Somerhalder received one of the highest salaries of the cast, reportedly earning $40,000 per episode by the show’s finale (while his initial payday is unreported at the moment). Currently, he has an estimated net worth of $8 million.

2 Paul Wesley: First Episode – Unclear / Last Episode – $40,000

Paul Wesley starred as the “sweeter” Salvatore sibling, Stefan, throughout the entirety of The Vampire Diaries, with his kind-hearted compassion causing viewers to constantly reconsider who would be a better love interest for Elena between him and Damon.

Like Somerhalder, Wesley too reportedly received a salary of $40,000 per episode by the series end, and while his pay for the first episode is also unreported, it has been revealed that his current estimated net worth is $6 million.

1 Nina Dobrev: First Episode – Unclear / Last Episode – $40,000

As the star of the show, Dobrev enchanted audiences around the world as the engaging Elena Gilbert, a young orphan who finds herself drawn into the drama of the supernatural world after becoming embroiled in a love triangle with the Salvatore siblings, Stefan and Damon, and eventually transforming into a vampire herself.

Her salary for the start of the series is unknown, but she too reportedly was receiving $40,000 per episode by the time she left the show, and her current estimated net worth is a towering $10 million.