Joe Keery
- Net worth $5.5 million
- Birthday April 24, 1992
- Status -
- Country United States
- Source(-s) of wealth Actor, Musician
How much is Joe Keery Worth? Joe Keery Net Worth in 2026
Joe Keery’s net worth is estimated at $5.5 million as of October 2026. Joe Keery is an American actor and musician best known for playing Steve Harrington in Netflix’s Stranger Things and for making music as Djo. The biggest drivers of his wealth are his Stranger Things pay, which rose from $10,000 an episode in season 1 to a reported $250,000 an episode by season 3 and more later, and a hit single, End of Beginning, that reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
| Net worth | $5.5 million (our estimate; public figures run from $2 million to $5.5 million) |
|---|---|
| Estimated annual income | About $2 million a year, from acting and music (our estimate) |
| Born | April 24, 1992, Newburyport, Massachusetts (age 34) |
| Country | United States |
| Known for | Steve Harrington in Stranger Things and the music project Djo |
| Main income sources | Stranger Things salary, film and television roles, music and touring |
How much is Joe Keery worth in 2026?
We estimate Joe Keery’s net worth at about $5.5 million. It is an estimate, because streaming salaries are private and the figures reported for them are secondhand.
The documented pay is the starting point. A profile page lists $10,000 per episode in season 1, $30,000 in season 2 and $250,000 from season 3 on, about $2 million a season. One report claims a rate of $750,000 an episode (about $6 million) for the fifth and final season, which we treat as unconfirmed. Adding seasons 1 through 5 gives roughly $8 million to $12 million gross over about ten years, before management, agent and tax deductions.
Music adds a second layer. The single End of Beginning, from the 2022 album Decide, went viral on TikTok, was released as a single in 2024, and reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 in the UK, Italy, Sweden and on the Billboard Global 200. Streaming royalties and headline tours follow from that.
After taxes and professional fees, that supports a figure in the mid single-digit millions, which matches public estimates of about $4 million to $5.5 million. We pick the upper end because the music success and the season 5 raise came late and many trackers predate them.
How Joe Keery built it
- Grew with one long-running show. His Stranger Things pay rose from $10,000 an episode in season 1 to a reported $250,000 from season 3.
- Made music on the side. He releases music as Djo, and End of Beginning reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Toured as a musician. Streaming royalties and headline tours follow from the hit single.
Learn the wealth mindset behind Joe Keery’s career in the Alux app.
Get the Alux appJoe Keery in 2026: what they have been working on
- 2026: Supporting Tame Impala on its Deadbeat tour, with headline dates added in the summer and a South America and Mexico run announced in November 2025.
- 2026: Appearing in the film Cold Storage opposite Liam Neeson and on stage in Other Desert Cities, according to a reference page.
- 2026: Co-wrote Funny Mouth for the soundtrack of Wuthering Heights, per the same page.
- September 12, 2025: Surprise-released The Crux Deluxe, with 12 new tracks.
- 2025: Released The Crux on April 4 and rejoined his old band Post Animal, whose album Iron came out on July 25.
How Joe Keery makes money
Keery earns from two careers, acting and music, and the second grew quickly after 2024.
- Stranger Things: The core earner, with pay rising from about $80,000 for season 1 to roughly $2 million a season from season 3, and more reported for season 5.
- Film and television: Spree (2020), Free Guy (2021), Fargo season 5 (2023 to 2024), Pavements (2024) and Cold Storage (2026).
- Music as Djo: Streaming royalties from albums such as Twenty Twenty (2019), Decide (2022) and The Crux (2025).
- Touring: Headline and support slots on major tours in 2025 and 2026.
- Songwriting: Co-writing credits, including a track on the Wuthering Heights soundtrack.
What Joe Keery teaches (and what to take from it)
Keery’s career shows how to keep a creative side project alive until it matters. Four lessons, in our own words.
Keep the side project going for years
Djo started with Twenty Twenty in 2019 and only broke through in 2024 when a song from 2022 went viral. Work you ship regularly gives luck something to land on. Pick one project and set a weekly time to move it forward, however small.
Separate your identity from the big job
He plays Steve Harrington, but his stage name Djo gives him a different outlet. Having an outlet that is yours reduces the risk of being typecast. This week, list two things you do that are not tied to your main title.
Treat a raise as a signal, not an end
His episode pay went from $10,000 to $250,000 in three seasons. When pay jumps, save the difference and keep your costs low. Put your next raise into savings before you change your spending.
Go back to the people who knew you early
He rejoined his Chicago band in 2025, years after leaving for acting. Early collaborators often give the best work. Reach out to one past collaborator this week.
Career timeline
- 1992: Born in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
- 2014: Graduates from DePaul University’s theatre school and co-founds the band Post Animal.
- Late 2015: Cast as Steve Harrington.
- 2016: Stranger Things premieres.
- September 2019: Releases the Djo album Twenty Twenty.
- 2021: Appears in Free Guy.
- September 2022: Releases the album Decide.
- 2024: End of Beginning is released as a single and reaches number 6 on the Hot 100.
- April 2025: Releases The Crux.
- 2026: Tours with Tame Impala and appears in Cold Storage.
Early life and background
Joseph David Keery was born on April 24, 1992, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, the second of five children. He attended Newburyport High School and graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago in 2014 with a degree in acting.
In Chicago he co-founded the psychedelic rock band Post Animal in 2014. He left it in 2018 because of acting commitments, and rejoined it in 2025. He was cast in Stranger Things in late 2015, after first auditioning for another part.
Joe Keery net worth FAQ
What is Joe Keery’s net worth?
Joe Keery’s net worth is estimated at $5.5 million as of October 2026. This is our estimate, built from his Stranger Things pay, film work and music.
How much did Joe Keery make from Stranger Things?
A profile lists $10,000 per episode in season 1, $30,000 in season 2 and $250,000 from season 3, about $2 million a season. One report claims $750,000 per episode for season 5, which is unconfirmed.
How old is Joe Keery?
He was born on April 24, 1992, so he is 34 in October 2026.
What is Joe Keery known for?
He is known for playing Steve Harrington in Stranger Things and for making music as Djo.
What is Joe Keery’s best-known song?
End of Beginning, from the album Decide, reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
How do you estimate Joe Keery’s net worth?
We add his reported episode pay, film work and music income, subtract taxes and fees, and compare with public estimates of $2 million to $5.5 million.
Related profiles
- Tom Holland: young actor in a major franchise
- Timothee Chalamet: young actor with growing film pay
- Harry Styles: performer across music and film
- Ryan Reynolds: actor with side businesses
- Bradley Cooper: actor who crossed into music
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: October 2026.