Stranger Things Star Gaten Matarazzo’s Surprising Netflix Paycheck Revealed

So, Stranger Things finally wrapped up in 2025, and after almost a decade as Netflix royalty, the cast is officially on to new adventures (and, in some cases, even bigger paydays). Gaten Matarazzo—aka Dustin Henderson, the kid with the hat, the smile, and pretty much all the best one-liners—has definitely had a glow up in both fame and finances since the series kicked off. Let's break down exactly how Gaten got here, what's next for him, and a curious twist involving Dead by Daylight and more upside-down action.

Gaten Matarazzo: From Hawkins Geek to Million-Dollar Star

When Stranger Things started back in 2016, Gaten and his castmates weren’t exactly cashing TV exec-level checks. Reportedly, the original per-episode pay for the main kids hovered between $20,000 and $30,000. Not exactly Monopoly money, but nowhere near the Netflix pay mountain they’d start scaling as the show snowballed in popularity. By Season 3, Deadline says their earnings jumped up to $250,000 per episode, and by the final season, Gaten was allegedly banking a wild $875,000 for every episode—that’s over $7 million just for the last season, if you’re keeping track.

Thanks to Stranger Things, a stint on Broadway, and various brand deals, the current word on Gaten’s net worth is around $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Not bad for a kid from Hawkins who just wanted to play Dungeons & Dragons and eat pudding.

New Chapter: Gaten’s Pivot to Pizza (Seriously)

With Stranger Things in the rearview, Gaten isn’t wasting any time moving on. His latest gig? The appropriately titled Pizza Movie. This comedy is making its debut at South by Southwest between March 12 and 18 and sounds like a massive tonal shift from all the monster-fighting and telekinetic drama. Here’s the official setup for what is, frankly, a very weird-sounding ride:

'It’s a Friday night and college students Jack and Montgomery have got big plans: They’re going to do drugs and order pizza. But when the home-made drug they ingest turns out to be MUCH wilder than they thought, the simple journey down two flights of stairs to retrieve their pie becomes a mind-bindingly transformative quest. Still though, how hard can it be? The only thing in their way is a broken elevator, Montgomery's social anxiety, the fact that everybody in the school hates Jack, a sociopathic RA, a vengeful butterfly, a robot with a dream, and this insane drug that has absolutely no regard for the basic laws of reality.'

Let’s just say, this isn’t a gentle coming-of-age comedy. And yes, that 'vengeful butterfly' bit is apparently real. Gaten’s got a double role here, which is a nice way to flex some acting muscles after being defined as Dustin for so long. There’s no announcement yet on when or how Pizza Movie will hit streaming or theaters, so for now it’s festival-only.

Stranger Things Fans, Prepare to Dive Back In—Via a Video Game

Just when you thought the Stranger Things gravy train had rolled off into the sunset, here comes a new video game crossover. Dead by Daylight—the asymmetric horror game where you and your friends frantically try not to get murdered—originally dropped Stranger Things-themed DLC in 2019. Now, a second chapter is coming out on January 27, 2026, for both PC and consoles.

• Play as: Eleven, Dustin, Nancy, Steve
• Main villain: Vecna (the Killer, unsurprisingly)
• What’s new: More Hawkins favorites as playable characters; brand new evil shenanigans from Vecna; story has Eleven and Dustin trying to stop Vecna’s machinations

Even though the TV show’s over, this game chapter keeps the Upside Down alive for anyone not ready to let go. No word yet on whether there’s a cameo from the Mind Flayer, or if you can win a bonus pudding cup.

Quick Refresher: Stranger Things by the Numbers

Just to recap:

• Title: Stranger Things (2016–2025)
• Creators: The Duffer Brothers
• Main Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, David Harbour
• Premise: A group of kids uncover supernatural weirdness, government conspiracies, and demon monsters after Will Byers disappears into the Upside Down
• Where to stream: Netflix (all five seasons out now)

And for anyone still craving more Hawkins hijinks, an animated spinoff called 'Stranger Things: Tales from '85' is officially confirmed for 2026. Because apparently, nostalgia never dies.

Let’s Hear It:

So, Gaten’s about to go full trippy pizza journey, and Stranger Things fans get another shot to survive Vecna’s evil plans in video game form. What’s your take? Looking forward to Gaten’s new comedy career, or are you just here for the next round of Upside Down chaos?

Stranger Things is, as always, waiting for you on Netflix (binge responsibly).