Ariana Grande’s Salary for Wicked Revealed and It’s Probably More Than You Expected 

The much-awaited movie Wicked is finally on its way, and we’ve got the scoop on everything you want to know. Based on the famous Broadway musical, Wicked is a story that flips the classic Wizard of Oz on its head and shows us the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West.

For this film, the star, Ariana Grande, is getting paid big money for her role as Glinda. As you may already know, Ari is playing Glinda, the bubbly, popular witch, and now we know how much she’s making to bring the character to life.

And trust us, it’s no less. But that’s not all – in this article, we will not only discuss Grande’s salary, but we’ll also talk about the salaries of the other cast members, how much it costs to make Wicked, and why this movie is such a big deal.

What is Wicked About?

So, before we get into Ariana Grande’s paycheck, let’s talk about what Wicked is all about. If you haven’t seen the musical, or read the book by Gregory Maguire, let us give you a quick rundown. 

Wicked is set in the magical Land of Oz, where we get to see a different side of the famous witches: Elphaba Thropp (the “wicked” witch) and Glinda Upland (the “good” witch). Grande’s character, Glinda (the blonde one), is a pampered, popular student at Shiz University.

She’s cute, she’s got a ton of friends, and everyone loves her. But, of course, it’s not all perfect. Enter Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo—an intelligent, but socially outcast student with green skin.

The movie explores the unlikely friendship between Glinda and Elphaba. The two might seem like total opposites—Glinda with her perfection and Elphaba with her rebellious streak—but they form a bond that changes their lives forever.

Over the course of the movie, we watch these two women evolve into the characters we know from the Wizard of Oz: Glinda the Good Witch and the infamous Wicked Witch of the West.

How Much Did Ariana Grande Get Paid for Wicked?

Here’s the big question everyone’s been asking: how much is Ariana Grande making to play Glinda? Grande, being the queen of pop she is, didn’t just get a casual paycheck. No, no. Girl’s making serious bank.

According to Spoiler Bolavip, the 7 Rings star reportedly earned around $15 million for her role as Glinda in Wicked. Yep, you read that right—$15 million. Considering how iconic the queen of pop is, and the fact that she’s probably the most bankable name in the cast, it makes sense she’d rake in the big bucks.

Now, if you’re thinking that’s a bit much, let’s break it down. Grande isn’t just showing up for a few scenes—she’s the star of the film, and she’s also singing many of the iconic songs from the musical. From Defying Gravity to Popular, the songstress will be belting out some huge hits.

Plus, there’s the whole acting thing, too. And don’t forget about all the promo work! The 31-year-old will be all over social media, doing interviews, and hyping up the movie. So, for all the singing, acting, and promoting, it makes sense why she’s getting paid so much.

After all, she’s a major star, and Wicked is one of the most anticipated movies of 2024. So while some of the other cast members (like Erivo and Michelle Yeoh) are also making good money, they’re definitely not pulling in her paycheck.

Salary of Other Wicked Cast Members

Now, let’s take a look at how much the rest of the Wicked cast is making. We already know Grande is earning big bucks, but what about the other stars? Well, let’s just say she isn’t the only one walking away with a nice paycheck (as reported by MSN).

Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, is reportedly making around $1 million for her role. Erivo is an amazing actress and singer (have you heard her sing I’m Here in The Color Purple?), so it makes sense that she’s getting a solid salary.

Then there’s Michelle Yeoh, the Academy Award-winning actress who plays Madame Morrible. She’s reportedly earning $2 million, which makes her the second-highest-paid star after Grande. And who could forget Jeff Goldblum, who is playing the Wizard of Oz? He’s also reportedly getting $2 million as well. That’s a pretty solid salary for these A-list actors.

Now, not everyone is making quite as much. Jonathan Bailey, who plays Fiyero Tigelaar, is reportedly earning around $450,000. Ethan Slater, who plays Boq, is reportedly making $350,000, and Marissa Bode (Nessarose Thropp) and Bowen Yang (Pfannee) are each reportedly getting around $250,000.

What is the Overall Budget of Wicked?

So, we’ve talked about salaries, but now let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. How much did it actually cost to make Wicked? As reported by IMDb, the budget for this movie is a huge $145 million. And it’s no surprise, given how massive this production is.

You’ve got huge stars like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, a ton of special effects, elaborate sets, and—of course—all that magic. And don’t forget about the music. It’s Wicked, after all. The iconic songs like Defying Gravity and Popular need to be performed, choreographed, and captured perfectly.

That’s a lot of work, and it costs big bucks. Even with such a big budget, though, Wicked is expected to make a lot of money at the box office. In fact, the movie has already made history with its ticket sales. 

According to Deadline, Wicked had the best-selling PG-rated movie on Fandango’s first day of ticket pre-sales for 2024. It’s also one of the best-selling PG-rated movies of all time. All signs point to Wicked being a major hit, and we wouldn’t be shocked if it ended up making a ton of cash at the box office.

Wicked is set to hit theaters in the U.S. on November 22. And the sequel, Wicked Part Two, will drop on November 21, 2025.