Harry Potter and Ron Weasley first crossed paths on Platform 9¾. From there, they shared a seat on the Hogwarts Express and headed to the legendary school of magic. The moment they stepped into the castle’s corridors, they had their first run-in with Draco Malfoy. That was Tom Felton’s debut scene as the Slytherin student: he offered Harry his “friendship” which Harry flatly rejected – sparking instant animosity.
Interestingly, the actor behind Malfoy ended up being one of the highest-paid in the entire Harry Potter saga when you factor in screen time.
How much did Felton earn?
Despite Draco Malfoy being a key figure in the Harry Potter series, the character appears for just 31 minutes across all eight films. According to Metro, Felton pocketed roughly £14 million from his work in the franchise (about $18.5 million at today’s exchange rate). That works out at about $600,000 per minute on screen.
For comparison, Daniel Radcliffe (Potter) logged 539 minutes, Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) 205 minutes, and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) 211 minutes. Even Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort) and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) had more screen time than Felton, with 37 and 45 minutes respectively.
Felton as Draco Malfoy in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series.
“A scary two years”
Felton’s lifestyle was fast-paced, and at one point, financial trouble hit hard. His penchant for luxury cars nearly sank him, as he later admitted to the Daily Mail, per the Express: “There was a scary two years where it was madness because I was really in trouble with the taxman. I had been working for eight years and all I had to show for it was this horrible debt.” Fortunately, he managed to dig himself out of that hole.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
