The Ultimate Ranking of Westeros' Wealthiest Houses in Game of Thrones

Highlights

The Targaryens, Baratheons, and Lannisters have held the hereditary monarchy in Game of Thrones, with power passed down through ruling families.

The Great Houses, such as Lannister and Stark, hold dominion over vassal Houses and formerly enjoyed political autonomy over their own realms.

Lannister House, renowned for their immense wealth acquired through gold mines, is widely recognized for its unofficial creed, "A Lannister always honors their debts." Additionally, the Tyrells of Highgarden were affluent allies of the Lannisters.

In the Game of Thrones, the throne in the hereditary monarchy is passed down from one monarch to the next within ruling families such as the Targaryens, Baratheons, and Lannisters. Aegon Targaryen and his sister-wives united the continent of Westeros with force and bloodshed. While they achieved political unity over most of the continent, the Principality of Dorne remained independent until the marriage of Princess Daenerys to Maron Martell in 187 AC.

In Game of Thrones, House Targaryen, later Baratheon/Lannister, holds the ultimate power and authority over the Great Houses of Westeros. These Great Houses have control over the lesser vassal Houses under their rule. Some of these Great Houses were once ruling Houses with political sovereignty over their respective kingdoms. Examples of these include House Lannister in the Westerlands, House Arryn in the Mountain and the Vale, and House Stark in the North. After Aegon's Conquest, the King on the Iron Throne relied on the nobility, particularly the wealthier Great Houses, to govern the Seven Kingdoms.

The Lannisters Of Casterly Rock

In the beginning of Game of Thrones, King Robert I Baratheon admits to being heavily indebted to Lord Tywin Lannister, Cersei's father, to the extent of half his kingdom, as mentioned by Lord Baelish. Robert had overthrown the ruling Targaryen dynasty and claimed the Iron Throne about sixteen years ago, which marked a new era in Westeros' history. However, Robert was a lazy and self-indulgent king, openly admitting his desire to live a reckless lifestyle and ultimately meet an early demise. His negligence in attending small council meetings, extravagant spending, and mountainous debts allowed the Lannisters to gain significant influence not only in their own territory but also in the capital city of King's Landing. Consequently, Robert's misrule made the wealthy Lannisters the most powerful House in the Seven Kingdoms.

In season 3, episode 3 of Game of Thrones, titled "Walk of Punishment," Tyrion, the youngest of the Lannisters, confides in Bronn that the crown owes his father millions. Symbolically, the Lannisters possess immense wealth, with their House benefiting from the goldmines beneath their lands. This substantial fortune serves as the root of their arrogance and superiority, reflected in their unofficial motto of always repaying their debts. Tyrion, from the start of the series, always maintained solvency for himself and his House. However, Tywin's father, Tytos, nearly brought ruin to the family and their prestigious name. Tywin persevered and built up their army and status, ultimately establishing the Lannisters among the wealthiest families in Westeros. As a result, they could afford to engage in wars to secure the future of their House. Lannisport, the primary city in the Westerlands, stands as one of the major ports in the Seven Kingdoms, facilitating trade and further bolstering the Lannisters' prosperity.

Their Wealthiest Allies - The Tyrells Who Ruled Over The Fertile Reach

Wars are costly, and the War of the Five Kings significantly affected House Lannister's financial stability. Following the Battle of the Blackwater, the Tyrells of Highgarden provided both military and financial assistance to the crown. In Game of Thrones season 4, episode 2 "The Lion and the Rose," it is revealed that Lady Olenna, the matriarch of House Tyrell, contributed financially to Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell's wedding, commonly referred to as the Purple Wedding. In the middle of season 4, Tywin informed Cersei that the gold mines were depleted, which necessitated maintaining a close relationship with the wealthy Tyrells. To achieve this, he arranged for Cersei to marry the heir to Highgarden, Ser Loras. As the late Tywin Lannister once said:

The Tyrells are the only rivals to the Lannisters in terms of resources, and we need their support. After Tywin's death, the Lannisters' enemies grew stronger and emerged. The issue of the massive debt owed by the crown, which is led by House Lannister, to the Iron Bank still remained. Cersei's manipulations against House Tyrell forced Olenna to assert her authority. Olenna questioned, "Does the crown no longer require the troops, gold, and wheat that my House provides?" After the imprisonment of Ser Loras and Margaery Tyrell, and the destruction of the Sept of Baelor, the wealthy Olenna openly rebelled against the crown. In the final phase of the conflict between the Lannisters and the Tyrells, the financially struggling Lannisters looted Highgarden, transferred their gold to King's Landing, and used it to repay their substantial debts to the Iron Bank of Braavos. Cersei assured the bank's representative, Tycho Nestoris, "The Lannisters may owe the Iron Bank a considerable amount, but we always repay our debts." Although Cersei made the largest repayment in the Iron Bank's history during Game of Thrones season 7, the reality is that the Tyrells' treasury was depleted.

The Starks from the bleak North faced economic challenges, but they were not as wealthy as the Lannisters or the Tyrells in Game of Thrones. Both of these Houses were involved in the conflict, and ultimately, Bran's Master of Coin, Bronn, played a crucial role in securing the realm's financial stability.