Among the selected Cobra Kai actors with published estimates, Ralph Macchio ranks first in Celebrity Net Worth’s figures checked on October 7, 2026, at an estimated $8 million. These are estimates, not verified personal fortunes, and another outlet puts Macchio at around $10 million or more. The ranking below uses one publisher’s figures consistently rather than blending conflicting estimates.
How the ranking works
This is a ranking of selected recurring or principal cast members for whom a published figure is available—not a complete list of every actor who appeared in the series. Netflix’s retrospective identifies Macchio and William Zabka as the central older-generation characters and highlights younger martial artists Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), and Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser). Netflix’s season-five cast feature also discusses Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand, and Gianni DeCenzo.
The order below uses Celebrity Net Worth (CNW) estimates for the actors with accessible profiles, checked October 7, 2026. CNW says its figures draw on public sources and, when available, private tips or feedback from celebrities or representatives; unless otherwise indicated, the figures are estimates. They are not audited balance sheets, and no authoritative statistical comparison of this cast’s personal wealth is available.
Cobra Kai cast net worth estimates, ranked
| Rank | Actor | Character | Published estimate | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ralph Macchio | Daniel LaRusso | $8 million | Celebrity Net Worth estimate; profile checked October 7, 2026. |
| 2 | William Zabka | Johnny Lawrence | $4 million | Celebrity Net Worth estimate; profile checked October 7, 2026. |
| 3 (tie) | Martin Kove | John Kreese | $2 million | Celebrity Net Worth estimate; profile checked October 7, 2026. |
| 3 (tie) | Xolo Maridueña | Miguel Diaz | $2 million | Celebrity Net Worth estimate; profile checked October 7, 2026. |
| 3 (tie) | Mary Mouser | Samantha LaRusso | $2 million | Celebrity Net Worth estimate; profile checked October 7, 2026. |
Why published estimates differ
Ralph Macchio
Celebrity Net Worth lists Macchio at $8 million, while TheStreet’s 2025 coverage says he is probably worth around $10 million or more. The figures should remain attributed to their respective publishers; averaging them would create a number neither source reports.
#1 Best Overall
William Zabka
Celebrity Net Worth lists Zabka at $4 million. An older cast roundup gives $3 million, another example of how third-party estimates can vary. The older figure is not used in this ranking.
Peyton List
Showbiz CheatSheet reported an estimate of $7 million for List, attributing it to Celebrity Net Worth in an older cast comparison. Because that is a dated secondary report and the underlying profile was not checked here, it is not mixed into the current ranking.
Rank #2
![Cobra Kai - Season 1 2 3 & 4 / The Karate Kid : 3-Movie Collection [Martial Arts DVD 4-Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/417qPJq6tAL._SL160_.jpg)
- The Karate Kid (1984) / Karate Kid: Part II / Karate Kid III
- Cobra Kai - Season 1 2 3 & 4
- Ralph Macchio
- William Zabka
- Martial Arts
Reported episode pay is not net worth
TheStreet reports that Macchio earned $100,000 per episode in the first two seasons and reportedly $200,000 per episode in the third. Celebrity Net Worth likewise reports $100,000 per episode for each of Macchio and Zabka in the first two seasons. These are press-reported compensation figures, not a record of total earnings or take-home pay: they do not establish taxes, expenses, other income, ownership interests, or current assets.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the estimates can—and cannot—tell you
The figures offer a rough comparison of estimates that circulate publicly, not a definitive measure of who is richest. Their underlying calculations are not presented as a shared, transparent method, and personal financial statements are not publicly verified here. Macchio’s conflicting published figures show why the publisher and date matter as much as the number.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For context on Macchio’s career and the franchise, his memoir is Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, identified by Forbes and discussed by TheStreet. The book is background reading, not evidence for any net-worth estimate.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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