Gaten Matarazzo Net Worth

Gaten Matarazzo became a household name after landing the role of Dustin Henderson on Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things in 2016 at just 13 years old. 

Now 21, Matarazzo has starred in films like Honor Society and The Christmas Chronicles 2, plus TV shows like Prank Encounters. 

With his early success and continued acting roles, it’s no surprise that sources estimate the young actor’s net worth is already in the millions. 

This article briefly highlights his impressive acting career and financial success.

Gaten Matarazzo’s net worth and earnings from ‘Stranger Things’

Matarazzo has become a multi-millionaire thanks to his breakout role as Dustin Henderson on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. 

When the show first debuted in 2016, sources reported that Matarazzo and his young co-stars were making around $20,000 per episode. While a healthy salary for a new show, it pales in comparison to what the cast makes today. 

After the first season became a surprise smash hit, he saw his per-episode fee jump to $60,000 for season 2. However, the big payday came with season 3 in 2019. 

With the show now firmly established as one of Netflix’s most popular and critically acclaimed original series, he and his fellow young cast members landed significant raises for the third season, with each earning $250,000 per episode. 

Gaten Matarazzo and Joey Keery in ‘Stranger Things’ (Source: IMDb)

Along with his grown-up co-stars, Matarazzo likely saw another salary bump for the recently released season 4. According to multiple reports, the 21-year-old actor now has a roughly calculated net worth of $5 million. 

Most of his wealth comes directly from his salary and backend points earned from Stranger Things. Considering each season contains 8-9 episodes, Matarazzo has likely made well over $2 million for his work on the show so far.

Outside of Stranger Things, Matarazzo has boosted his fortune through other acting roles, endorsement deals, and his hosting gig on Netflix’s Prank Encounters. 

Though just 21, he has already amassed a small fortune playing one of fans’ favorite characters on what has become Netflix’s most popular original series.

Comparing Gaten Matarazzo’s net worth with his girlfriend

Matarazzo’s girlfriend, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Yu, is just starting her acting career. She landed her first significant role in 2022, playing Princess Azula in the Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation. 

Some of her other early credits include films like Somewhere in Queens and Year One. Though her career is still new, sources estimate Yu’s net worth is already between $1-2 million.

Gaten Matarazzo with his girlfriend Elizabeth Yu (Source: J-14)

Despite the large gap in their net worth, mainly attributed to Matarazzo’s Stranger Things fame, the young couple still has an impressive combined net worth for their ages. Together, Matarazzo and Yu are estimated to have a joint net worth of around $8 million. 

While Matarazzo has found success and wealth early on, his girlfriend’s acting career is still in its early stages. If she continues booking significant roles, it’s likely Yu’s net worth will continue growing and closing the gap with her long-term boyfriend. 

For now, the couple seems focused on supporting each other’s careers and enjoying their life together regardless of who makes more.

Gaten Matarazzo started his career at the age of 9

Matarazzo discovered his passion for performing at a very young age. When he was just nine years old in 2011, he began pursuing vocal training at the Starlight Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. 

That same year, he competed in the Starpower Talent Competition Nationals with a vocal solo of “Ben.” He won third place, proving his impressive singing ability even as a child. 

His first professional credit came that year when he was cast as a replacement in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at only nine years old. 

Gaten Matarazzo in the 2013 movie, ‘The Blacklist’ (Source: IMDb)

The following year, in 2012, Matarazzo participated in an exceptional youth performance of Godspell on Broadway, showcasing that he was already a working actor and singer on the Great White Way before he was even a teenager.

At 11 years old in 2013, Matarazzo joined the U.S. national tour of the hit musical Les Miserables as Gavroche. He reprised the role again at 12 years old in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Miserables, earning a Tony nomination for the production. 

His television debut came in 2015 at age 13 with a guest spot on The Blacklist. Just a year later, he landed his career-making role as Dustin Henderson on the Netflix hit series Stranger Things at only 14 years old. 

Matarazzo’s dedication to honing his skills and pursuing professional theater from the exceptionally young age of 9 allowed him to quickly stack up impressive credits and land a star-making television role while still a child himself. Though just 21 now, he’s been a working actor for over a decade.

Gaten Matarazzo’s battle with cleidocranial dysplasia

In addition to his successful acting career, Matarazzo has also become known for being open about his health condition – cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). He was born with CCD, which affects the development of his bones and teeth. 

Matarazzo has used his social media to raise awareness about CCD, frequently posting on Instagram about his own experiences living with the condition for over 20 years. 

CCD impacts collar bones, which can be underdeveloped or absent, as in Matarazzo’s case. The condition also affects dental development and often requires multiple surgeries, which Matarazzo has documented undergoing over the years. 

When cast in Stranger Things, Matarazzo informed the Duffer Brothers about his CCD. Finding his openness admirable, they chose to incorporate the condition into his character Dustin Henderson’s backstory. 

By publicly discussing his own CCD and portraying a character with the disorder, Matarazzo has helped educate the general public on this little-known condition that impacts roughly 1 in 1 million people. 

He uses his fame to advocate for greater CCD understanding and medical research. Now 21, Matarazzo has said he hopes past surgeries will be his last needed for CCD. 

However, he continues to share his experiences. He proudly exemplifies how people living with CCD can still pursue their dreams with the proper treatment and support. He refuses to let the disorder define him.