Harry Potter child actors’ $660k salaries aren’t protected by strict legal rule in the UK

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So, I’m hearing the kid actors playing Harry, Hermione, and Ron in the new HBO show are getting a huge £500,000 (around $660,000!) for the first season. But here’s the weird part – apparently, the laws protecting young actors aren’t as strong over there as they are in the US, which is kinda concerning. Hopefully they’re being taken care of properly, even without that extra legal safety net.

Last May, Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout were cast as Harry, Hermione, and Ron. We recently got our first look at them in character in a new trailer for the upcoming series.

Similar to the actors in the Harry Potter films – like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint – these young stars rose to fame quickly through a hugely popular franchise, and their pay will likely reflect that success.

I’m hearing from someone on the inside that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are each getting a whopping £500,000 for the first season of the show, which is based on ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’! Apparently, if the show does well, they could become millionaires before they even turn 18 – that’s incredible!

Harry Potter child actors’ salaries aren’t protected by law

Becoming a young star might seem like a quick path to wealth, but the truth is more nuanced, particularly for child actors. US law requires that a percentage of their earnings be legally protected.

The Coogan Law protects young performers by requiring that 15% of their earnings be placed in a special, secure account—called a Coogan Account—and held until they reach adulthood at age 18.

California passed a law in 1939 after the experiences of Jackie Coogan, a young actor who lost his entire $4 million fortune – about $70 to $80 million in today’s money – due to his mother and stepfather’s mismanagement.

Unlike some countries, the UK – where the Harry Potter films are being made – doesn’t have a law specifically requiring money to be saved for the young stars. However, this doesn’t mean Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint won’t have financial security.

New look at Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter in the new HBO Harry Potter series

— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 25, 2026

Many performers have a clause in their contracts that sets aside a portion of their earnings in a trust. This protects the money until the child actors reach a certain age and can manage it themselves.

Even though child stars earn the money, their parents can’t just spend it as they please. UK laws against theft and fraud still protect the child’s earnings, meaning the money legally belongs to the child, not the parents.

Just like adults, young people will need to pay income tax on any earnings above £12,570. However, they won’t have to pay National Insurance until they turn 16.

I just learned that Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout are both twelve years old, which is so cool! And Arabella Stanton is eleven – they’re all so young and talented!

Because of their young ages, the parents or guardians of the new Harry Potter actors are likely to set up trust funds for them. These funds will become available when the actors turn 18, allowing them to withdraw money for things like education or living expenses.

How much did the original Harry Potter trio earn?

To understand how current salaries compare, let’s remember how much Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint made when they first started working on the Harry Potter films.

Daniel Radcliffe reportedly earned about $1 million for the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, released in 2001. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint likely earned a bit less than Radcliffe for their roles, though the exact amounts aren’t known.

Even though those early paychecks were already amazing for kids, things were about to get really big. The three of them really hit the jackpot when the last movies came out – their earnings went through the roof!

Daniel Radcliffe made approximately $50 million for the final two Harry Potter films, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint each earned around $30 million during the same time.

Throughout the eight Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe earned an estimated $95 million or more. Emma Watson reportedly made between $60 and $70 million, and Rupert Grint earned approximately $50 million.

While $660,000 seems like a lot of money today, the success of the original films indicates this could be just the start if HBO’s new series does well.

The movie ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ will be released on December 25, 2026. Before then, you might be wondering why a movie adaptation of ‘The Cursed Child’ isn’t likely, and you can also learn about Paapa Essiedu, the actor who will be playing Severus Snape.

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2026-03-31 12:51