My nephew binge-watched Stranger Things during lockdown and became obsessed with Dustin. He kept asking me how much money the actors made. I actually had no idea, so I looked it up. Well, as it happens, Gaten Matarazzo’s net worth is estimated to be around £4 million, or $5 million. Not too bad for a 23-year-old from New Jersey.
But here’s what surprised me most. It’s not just about Stranger Things. The bloke’s been working since he was a kid on Broadway, doing other shows, and landing sponsorship deals. Let me break down how he actually made all that money.
The Stranger Things Payday
Gaten accrued around $30,000 per episode when the show commenced in 2016. That’s roughly £24,000 in real money. Decent if you’re a teenager, but nothing earth-shattering.
By season three, though, everything changed. His pay soared to $250,000 an episode. That’s nearly £200,000. There were nine episodes of season four, so he banked around $2.25 million from that alone. Mental when you think about it.
Gaten Matarazzo age is 23 now, and he could be set for life if he doesn’t spend recklessly. The final season just started airing on 26th November 2025. They’re releasing it in three parts, which is new for them. His exact pay for this season hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s probably even more than before.
What About His Teeth?
Loads of people ask about this. Gaten has cleidocranial dysplasia, which is a really rare genetic condition. Only about one in a million people get it. It affects your bones and teeth mainly.
What happened to Gaten Matarazzo’s teeth is pretty full-on, actually. His baby teeth didn’t fall out when they should’ve. Adult teeth came through late or sometimes not at all. He had extra teeth growing inside his gums that shouldn’t have been there.
He’s had multiple surgeries to sort it out. In 2020, he had a massive four-hour operation where they removed 14 extra teeth and exposed six adult teeth that were stuck. Can you imagine? I get nervous about a basic filling.
Gaten Matarazzo’s teeth look quite different now compared to the early seasons. He wore dentures for years. Now he’s got most of his adult teeth thanks to the surgeries. They’re not perfect Hollywood teeth, and honestly, that’s part of his charm. My sister reckons his smile is more memorable because it’s real.
The writers actually put his condition in the show. Remember when Dustin gets bullied in season one and talks about it? Gaten said he was fine with that because it’s realistic. Kids do get picked on for being different. By including it in the show, they helped people understand what CCD actually is.
More Than Just Acting
Gaten’s been clever about building different income streams. He hosted the Netflix show Prank Encounters for two seasons. That would’ve paid pretty well. He’s been in films like Honour Society and done voice acting for animated stuff.
Then there’s the sponsorship money. He’s worked with Verizon Fios and Old Navy. When you’ve got millions of followers on social media, companies pay stupid money for partnerships. We’re talking hundreds of thousands per campaign sometimes.
Before Stranger Things, he was doing Broadway shows. He was in Les Misérables and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Broadway doesn’t pay Hollywood money, probably around $2,000 per show, but it gave him the skills that led to bigger opportunities.
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How Does He Compare to the Others?
Millie Bobby Brown net worth is way higher than everyone else’s. She’s got about $20 million. Makes sense, really. She’s become this huge global star with her own films and production company. She’s properly famous now, like A-list level.
The rest of the young cast are roughly in the same bracket as Gaten. They all negotiated together after season two, which was smart. Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp and Caleb McLaughlin are all around £4 to £5 million too.
The adult actors get paid more per episode. Winona Ryder and David Harbour reportedly get $350,000 per episode. But they’ve been in films and telly for decades, so that tracks.
What Does He Actually Do With It?
Gaten seems pretty sensible with his cash. He’s not buying ridiculous cars or posting photos from private jets. He still lives in New Jersey near his family, which is quite grounded considering how famous he’s become.
One thing he’s properly passionate about is CCD Smiles. It’s a charity that helps kids with the same condition get dental treatments their families can’t afford. That’s where a chunk of his time and money goes. Fair play to him for that.
He’s been with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Yu, since 2018. They were house hunting in New York last year, apparently. Buying property at 23 is sensible. My cousin’s 28 and still living with his parents, so Gaten’s doing alright.
The Final Season and What’s Next
Stranger Things season five started last week. It’s set in autumn 1987, with Hawkins basically turned into a quarantine zone. This is the big finale everyone’s been waiting for. Eddie Munson’s legacy comes back through flashbacks, which affects Dustin. It’s going to be emotional watching it all end.
For Gaten, this is one last massive payday from the show. After this, he needs to prove he can succeed outside of it. That’s the scary bit for child actors. Some make the transition brilliantly; others struggle and end up doing reality shows or pantomimes.
He’s shown he can do more than just Dustin, though. He’s got decent comedic timing, he can sing from his Broadway days, and he’s comfortable hosting. With £4 million in the bank, he can afford to be choosy about projects.
The Reality Check
When you see headlines about Gaten Matarazzo’s net worth being $5 million, that’s before taxes, agent fees and manager cuts. The actual amount sitting in his account is probably closer to half that.
Still, having £2 million at 23 is bonkers. Most people his age are drowning in student debt or working minimum wage jobs. My brother’s 25 and his biggest financial achievement last month was not going overdrawn.
The entertainment industry can be brutal, though. One minute you’re on the biggest show on Netflix, and the next minute your agent can’t get you auditions. Gaten seems aware of that, which is probably why he’s not gone mad with spending.
Why People Actually Like Him
There are loads of child actors who’ve made millions. What makes Gaten different is that he’s never tried to be someone he’s not. He’s been open about his condition, his surgeries and his struggles.
That authenticity is rare. Most celebrities carefully manage their image and only show you what their PR team approves. Gaten just posts silly videos with his mates, shares photos with his girlfriend and talks honestly about the medical stuff.
I reckon that’s why people love him. He seems normal despite the fame and money. You can imagine actually being mates with him, having a laugh at the pub, and playing FIFA together. You can’t say that about most celebrities.
My nephew reckons Dustin’s the best character on the show. Not because he’s the main character or the toughest or the coolest. Because he’s the most real. That’s Gaten basically. He’s just real.
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The Short Version
So there you go. Gaten Matarazzo’s got about $5 million waiting in the bank as of November 2025. He did so through Stranger Things salaries that went from $30,000 to $250,000 an episode, hosting jobs, films and sponsorships and by being savvy about opportunities.
His journey with his teeth from dentures to adult teeth through multiple surgeries has been public and inspiring. He has inspired many people with his candour about cleidocranial dysplasia. And through it all, he has somehow remained surprisingly normal. Not bad, for a kid from New Jersey who simply wanted to act. I showed my nephew all this information, and he just said, “That’s sick, innit?” Yeah mate, it is actually.
