Wicked is the buzziest film of the year and you would need to hide under a rock the size of Shiz University to ignore the impact of Jon M. Chu’s latest film. Ariana Grande stars as Glinda (formerly Galinda) alongside Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba while Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Peter Dinklage round out the cast. The film’s reported $145 million budget helped afford the cast of top-billed actors — not to mention the $165 million budget for its second installment coming in 2025. However, signing on for the project wasn’t all about a big payday. 

Casting for Wicked was extensive and competitive with stars like Dove Cameron, Reneé Rapp, and Nick AND Joe Jonas all going out for coveted roles. Erivo said after landing the part, she felt a “huge responsibility” to bring the character to life in an honest way, and she and Grande became “mad women” during training to achieve their goal.

You might think Grande was able to snap her fingers to become Glinda thanks to her star power, but the director admitted she had a “higher bar than everyone else” during auditions because of her fame. 

“She had such a public persona, and I really didn’t want it to overshadow this role of Glinda,” Chu said of Grande, revealing after her first audition he asked her to come back with no makeup on in an effort to strip away her pop star image. 

Taking on Wicked might not have been all about the pay day — it took a lot of time and dedication — but the big pile of money probablyyyy helped the decision making process. These actors have all been in show business for a very long time and have amassed their own fortunes. Keep reading to see the Wicked cast’s net worths. 

Wicked Cast Net Worths

Ariana Grande

Grande said the road to becoming Glinda helped her rediscover “little Ari,” or pieces of herself that she felt like she lost during her years in show business. She got her start on Nickeldeon’s Victorious before landing the spinoff Sam & Cat. In 2013, she released her first album, Yours Truly, and became pop royalty with the release of six more albums. 

In addition to her work in entertainment, Grande has released several fragrances, r.e.m. beauty, and has been the face of several brands over the years.

Grande’s net worth is estimated to be $230 million. 

Cynthia Erivo

Erivo’s resume is prestigious. After gaining notoriety for starring in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017, she went on to star as Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film Harriet and Aretha Franklin in the 2020 television series Genius.

If Wicked does in fact make it to the Academy Awards nomination list, Erivo might earn a place on the list of EGOT winners. In addition to two past Academy Award nominations for her starring role and Original Song in Harriet, Erivo’s appearance in The Color Purple previously scored her a Daytime Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony.

Erivo’s net worth is estimated to be $3 million.

Jonathan Bailey

Whether you know him as Fiyero Tigelaar in Wicked or Lord Anthony Bridgerton from the Netflix series, Bailey is having a well-deserved moment. He started his career as a child actor in London’s West End and has called the theater home for years after starring in several critically acclaimed productions. He’s found popularity on screen in Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers, and Crashing.

Bailey’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million.

Michelle Yeoh

Yeoh has been in the industry long before she signed on for the role of Madame Morrible. After beginning her career in the 1980s, she found worldwide fame in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies of the James Bond franchise followed by 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 

She also has a history with Wicked’s director after working with Chu on the film Crazy Rich Asians.

Yeoh’s net worth is estimated to be $40 million.

Jeff Goldblum

If it feels like Goldblum is in everything … it’s because he kind of is. Before becoming The Wizard in Wicked, he appeared in several major franchises, including Jurassic Park and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s a favorite of director Wes Anderson, appearing in three of his films, and several of Goldblum’s past projects have amassed hundreds of millions in box office profits. 

Goldblum’s net worth is estimated to be $40 million.