Kevin Costner’s role as John Dutton in Yellowstone made him a fortune, with earnings far surpassing even the impressive net worth of Sydney Sweeney. Curious about the numbers? Find out how much the Yellowstone star made from the hit series and why it puts him ahead of many Hollywood stars!

“Kevin Costner’s earnings from Yellowstone are more than some stars’ entire net worth”

In the world of Hollywood, Kevin Costner’s paychecks from Yellowstone have become legendary. The actor, best known for his role as the tough, yet lovable patriarch John Dutton, made a fortune while starring in Taylor Sheridan’s hit Western drama. But how much did he make? Let’s break down his earnings, and why Yellowstone made him one of the highest-paid TV actors.

Kevin Costner’s Role in Yellowstone
Kevin Costner played the iconic role of John Dutton, a Montana rancher and the head of the Dutton family, for five seasons of Yellowstone. The series became a global sensation, with Costner becoming a major face of the show. However, after the fifth season, Costner left to pursue other projects, including his own Western film Horizon, where he serves as both actor and director.

Across five seasons, Costner appeared in 47 episodes of Yellowstone. With the show’s increasing popularity, his pay went up dramatically. In the first season, he earned $500,000 per episode. By Season 5, that amount had skyrocketed to $1.3 million per episode, an impressive increase reflective of the show’s immense success.

How Much Did Kevin Costner Make from Yellowstone?
Costner’s pay began at $500,000 per episode when Yellowstone first aired in 2018. In the later seasons, his salary saw a major bump, especially in Seasons 4 and 5, where he earned $1.3 million per episode. But that’s not all – the actor was reportedly set to receive $12 million for each part of Season 5 alone, which means he made a total of $19.2 million for the season.

Let’s break down his earnings by season:

• Season 1 (9 episodes) & Season 2 (10 episodes): If Costner was earning $500,000 per episode during these seasons, he would have made around $9.5 million for 19 episodes.

• Season 3 (10 episodes): With a renegotiated contract, Costner likely made around $500,000 per episode, bringing his total earnings for Seasons 1 to 3 to about $14.5 million.

• Seasons 4 & 5: At $1.3 million per episode, Costner earned approximately $33.6 million for these two seasons.

Altogether, Kevin Costner made $48.1 million from Yellowstone alone – more than Sydney Sweeney’s net worth of $40 million!

The Comparison: Costner vs. Sweeney
While Sydney Sweeney is one of the hottest stars in Hollywood today, especially after her breakout roles in Euphoria and her ventures like her lingerie brand, she’s nowhere near the financial empire that Costner has built. Sweeney’s net worth stands at $40 million as of 2025, but Costner’s earnings from Yellowstone alone surpass that by a significant margin.

In contrast, Kevin Costner’s total net worth, which includes his long-standing career in film (from Dances With Wolves to The Bodyguard), is a massive $250 million.

So, while Yellowstone may have introduced a new wave of fans to Costner’s incredible talent, the earnings he raked in during his time on the show solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.

Do you think Kevin Costner deserves such a massive payday for his role in Yellowstone? How does his salary compare to other TV stars in your opinion? Share your thoughts below!