Who’s the richest Gossip Girl star? The OGs’ net worths, ranked – from Blake Lively and Marvel’s Sebastian Stan, to Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford ... and don’t forget Kristen Bell’s Frozen millions
“Hello, Upper East Siders” … the phrase alone is enough to conjure up visuals of “New York’s elite” as interpreted by six drama-filled seasons of Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012. An emotional roller coaster that took us on a ride through the lives, loves and tensions between the uber rich, the television series holds nostalgic value for many who grew up watching the cast. It even got celebrity guest stars such as Elizabeth Hurley, Hilary Duff, Tyra Banks and Gina Torres.
Nearly a decade later, in 2021, HBO Max released a stand-alone extension of the sequel and, according to the show’s Instagram, season two is now in the works since it began filming again in February. But while they may portray the ultra-wealthy in the show, what are the cast members’ real net worths in 2022?
1. Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl voice): US$40 million
You only get to see her in the last moments of the series, but you hear her purring voice in every episode. The American actress needs no introduction, raking in millions from her many years in the industry including films and TV series like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Veronica Mars and, notably, Disney’s Frozen phenomenon. Away from the big screen, she also runs a baby care brand, Hello Bello, and owns two residential buildings in LA together with her husband through their company Pringus Property.
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2. Blake Lively (Serena van der Woodsen): US$30 million
3. Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf): US$8 million
The Queen B herself has earned a pretty from numerous acting gigs over the years, including recent stints on How I Met Your Father in 2022 and in Netflix’s The Weekend Away. She’s known for her philanthropic endeavours too, volunteering for causes like Feeding America and Many Hopes, a charity that builds homes and schools for children in Kenya. Her real-life personality is a far cry from her character’s incomparable egotistical traits. She even dipped her toe into the world of music in 2009 and 2010 – one of the highlights being when she lent her vocals to Cobra Starship’s Good Girls Go Bad.
4. Penn Badgley (aka Dan Humphrey): US$8 million
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5. Sebastian Stan (Carter Baizen): US$8 million
6. Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina Sparks): US$7 million
Trachtenberg began acting from a young age, appearing in adverts as young as three. In the following 33 years, she’s managed to keep the cash flowing thanks to prominent roles in classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Disney’s Ice Princess and 17 Again with Zac Efron.
7. Chace Crawford (Nate Archibald): US$6 million
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8. Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass): US$6 million
Watching the show’s playboy turn over a new leaf to demonstrate his heartfelt love for Blair Waldorf couldn’t have been more satisfying to watch. In real life, however, the British actor was accused of – but never charged with – sexual assault back in 2017, which undoubtedly affected his career. He now seems to be back on track, starring in Enemy Lines in 2020, Me You Madness in 2021, and TV series like White Gold.
9. Taylor Momsen (Jenny Humphrey): US$4 million
10. Jessica Szohr (Vanessa Abrams): US$4 million
Apparently an entrepreneurial spirit at heart, Szohr started a cleaning company with her friend while still a teenager. Once she got into acting and modelling, however, it seems like she hasn’t looked back. Getting several advertising gigs as a child (for Kohl’s, Crate & Barrel and Mountain Dew, among others) she then began appearing in TV shows from 2003 onwards. After playing Dan’s best friend on GG, you might also have spotted her in The Internship, Twin Peaks and The Orville.
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11. Matthew Settle (Rufus Humphrey): US$4 million
Besides GG, the Humphrey patriarch is also known for playing characters in Into the West, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and Band of Brothers, which all contribute to his US$4 million fortune, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
12. Kelly Rutherford (Lily Bass): US$1 million
Though Rutherford’s single digit million doesn’t compare to the wealth of her on screen uber-rich character, she’s still done well for herself with gigs like Dynasty, Melrose Place and Pretty Little Liars. She’s the co-founder of Sovereign Collective, a global shopping platform, and has also invested in German social media app Whyzzer. Impressively, the veteran’s acting career goes back 34 years to 1988.
- Kristen Bell is the richest OG cast member, in no small part thanks to Disney’s Frozen, but if we’re counting guest stars too, Tyra Banks and Hilary Duff would top the list
- Met Gala goddess Blake Lively is the second richest from the series and if you combine her net worth with husband Ryan Reynolds, it shoots up to US$180 million