5 Richest Characters & Houses In Westeros: HBO’s Game of Thrones Money Issues in 2024

If you are an avid viewer of the hit HBO fantasy drama series the Game of Thrones, then you know that wealth plays a very important role in the show’s political power play and the characters’ penchant for ambitious schemes, greed, and hey, even lust (and we’re not just talking about sex).

It is therefore not surprising that some of the richest families or noble houses in the world of Game of Thrones are also the ones at the Iron Throne ruling the Seven Kingdoms or considered among the most influential and powerful.

So if Forbes were to do its regular “Richest” list in the Game of Thrones world, who are the five richest men (and women) in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros? Freedom Finance, a UK-based loan broker, researched and ranked the real world wealth of the show’s families and characters. Gold Dragons, the form of currency used in the Seven Kingdoms, have been converted into pounds sterling using a conversion rate that involved cows. The real dragons in the series are also accounted.

5. House Martell (42 million USD)

“Yeah, we’re freaking filthy rich.” – Prince Oberyn of House Martell

Talk about having lots of millions of dollars. Not only is House Martell considered one of the Great Houses of Westeros, it is also one of the richest families—richer than the other Houses such as those of Stark, Baratheon, or Greyjoy. The rulers of the peninsula of Dorne have an uneasy and somewhat rocky relationship with the other families such as the Lannisters and Tyrells, although they are ardent vassals of the Iron Throne.

4. Petyr Baelish (58 million USD)

Baelish and his, ahem, employees

It is almost scandalous for just one man to have this extraordinary amount of money. Despite that he was not born to any of the Great Families in Westeros, Baelish has become one of the most influential and wealthiest figures in the Seven Kingdoms.

In the series, Baelish once served as the Iron Throne’s “Master of Coin”, which means he was responsible for the financial and economic matters of the entire realm. He also has three high-end “pleasure” houses where the prostitutes demand a hefty price for their services. Their customers? Kings, princes, lords, knighhts, and the rest of the who’s who in the Game of Thrones universe. Comparing Baelis to real-world equivalents of “Master of Coin” and owner of posh “pleasure” houses, he is estimated to have a net worth of more than 58 million dollars. Who needs the family name Lannister or Tyrell when you are this insanely rich by yourself?

3. Daenerys Targaryen (381.38 million USD)

Daenerys with one of her babies

She is pretty, young, strong, and comes from an old family that ruled the Seven Kingdoms for several generations. Did we also say she is also filthy rich? This Targaryen may not have (yet) the wide lands or plenty gold the other Great Families own, she commands a very large and loyal army of “Unsullied” soldiers ready to wage a war for her claim to the Iron Throne. The estimated worth of the entire 8,600 “Unsullied” army? More than 95 million USD.

Did we also mention that the “Mother of Dragons” (as Targaryen is also called) has, well, live fire-breathing dragons? One dragon has an estimated worth of 56.7 million GBP. By the way, she has not just one dragon, but three.

2. House Tyrell (4.9 billion USD)

“Aren’t you jealous how rich we are?” – Lord Loras of House Tyrell

At second place is the House Tyrell, one of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms. They own the biggest share of crops in all of Westeros, thanks to their fertile and rich farmlands. They also control the most populous region and thus could field the largest army in the entire realm. Only the Lannisters can better-equip the troops from House Tyrell. This makes the Tyrells fearsome enemies but also very excellent allies.

1. Tywin Lannister (10 billion USD)

Tywin Lannister in his happy mode

Although one could argue that since Tywin came from House Lannister and therefore it should be his noble House, it is his shrewdness and cleverness that made Tywin (and House Lannister) the richest figure and family in all of Seven Kingdoms. With his family owning many of the gold mines across the continent, Tywin is rich enough to continue the rule of his family after the debt-ridden reign of the Baratheons, fight in the deadly War of the Five Kings following King Robert Baratheon’s death, andan opulent marriage of his grandson King Joffrey to Margaery Tyrell. Now, that’s wealthy.

How do alliances and marriages affect wealth and power in Westeros?

In the world of Game of Thrones, alliances and marriages are strategic tools that often strengthen a noble house’s power and increase its wealth. These unions allow families to form powerful political and military bonds, providing access to new territories, resources, and wealth.

• Political Alliances: Marriage alliances between noble families often serve to cement political ties, ensuring loyalty and strengthening a house’s claim to power. For example, the marriage between Margaery Tyrell and King Joffrey Lannister was intended to unite two of the wealthiest houses, increasing their influence over the Iron Throne.
• Access to Resources: Marrying into a powerful family often provides access to valuable resources such as gold mines, fertile lands, or military forces. The Tyrell-Lannister alliance, for example, merged the Tyrells’ vast agricultural resources with the Lannisters’ gold mines.
• Strengthening Claims: Marriages can legitimize claims to thrones or territories, such as Daenerys Targaryen seeking alliances through potential marriages to strengthen her claim to the Iron Throne.

These alliances are not just about personal connections but also function as vital strategic moves that impact wealth and power dynamics in Westeros.

Key Insights

• House Martell (42 million USD)
  • Considered one of the Great Houses of Westeros.
  • Rulers of the peninsula of Dorne with a rocky relationship with other noble families.
  • Wealth estimated at 42 million USD.
• Petyr Baelish (58 million USD)
  • Not born to a Great Family but became highly influential.
  • Former Master of Coin, responsible for the realm’s financial matters.
  • Owns high-end “pleasure” houses catering to elite clients.
  • Wealth estimated at 58 million USD.
• Daenerys Targaryen (381.38 million USD)
  • Comes from an old ruling family with a claim to the Iron Throne.
  • Commands a large army of Unsullied soldiers valued at 95 million USD.
  • Possesses three dragons, each valued at 56.7 million GBP.
  • Total wealth estimated at 381.38 million USD.
• House Tyrell (4.9 billion USD)
  • Owns the largest share of crops in Westeros, thanks to fertile farmlands.
  • Controls the most populous region, enabling them to field the largest army.
  • Wealth estimated at 4.9 billion USD.
• Tywin Lannister (10 billion USD)
  • His shrewdness made him and House Lannister the wealthiest in the Seven Kingdoms.
  • Owns numerous gold mines, ensuring a steady flow of wealth.
  • Played a significant role in maintaining and expanding his family’s influence.
  • Wealth estimated at 10 billion USD.

FAQ

1. Who are considered the richest families in the Game of Thrones universe? The richest families in the Game of Thrones universe include House Martell, House Tyrell, and House Lannister. Individuals like Petyr Baelish and Daenerys Targaryen also hold significant wealth.
2. How did Petyr Baelish amass his wealth? Petyr Baelish, despite not being born into a Great Family, became wealthy and influential through his role as Master of Coin and by owning high-end “pleasure” houses. These ventures catered to the elite of the Seven Kingdoms, bringing him substantial income.
3. What is the estimated wealth of Daenerys Targaryen? Daenerys Targaryen’s estimated wealth is 381.38 million USD. This includes the value of her army of Unsullied soldiers and her three dragons.
4. What makes House Tyrell so wealthy? House Tyrell’s wealth comes from owning the most fertile farmlands in Westeros, which produce the largest share of crops. They also control the most populous region, allowing them to field the largest army, contributing to their estimated wealth of 4.9 billion USD.
5. Why is Tywin Lannister considered the richest in the Seven Kingdoms? Tywin Lannister’s wealth, estimated at 10 billion USD, comes from the numerous gold mines owned by his family. His strategic acumen ensured the continuation and expansion of his family’s wealth and influence, making him the richest figure in the Seven Kingdoms.

By Allan Jay

Allan Jay is FinancesOnline’s resident B2B expert with over a decade of experience in the SaaS space. He has worked with vendors primarily as a consultant in the UX analysis and design stages, lending to his reviews a strong user-centric angle. A management professional by training, he adds the business perspective to software development. He likes validating a product against workflows and business goals, two metrics, he believes, by which software is ultimately measured.