The Impressive Sum Kevin Costner Would Have Earned in Yellowstone Season 6

For fans of “Yellowstone,” it might come as no surprise that Kevin Costner, who plays the rugged John Dutton, commanded a hefty salary for his role in the hit drama. With an Oscar to his name, Costner’s involvement in the series didn’t come cheap. Reports from Puck reveal that for Season 5 of “Yellowstone,” Costner’s contract demanded a whopping $1.2 million per episode, a figure that was poised to increase to $1.5 million with the approval of Season 6. Given the season’s 16 episodes, Costner stood to earn over $16 million, not to mention a comprehensive deal with MTV Entertainment Studios that would extend until 2025, making him a veritable tycoon of the small screen.

However, Costner’s financial windfall has been jeopardized by his ongoing dispute with the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, and the Paramount Network. This disagreement has led to Costner bowing out from the latter half of Season 5, and with Season 6 no longer on the table, a significant portion of his potential earnings is at stake. It’s reported that during Season 2, Costner sought to recover promotional fees, a request that Sheridan reportedly was hesitant to honor.

But the intrigue doesn’t end there. Costner’s Season 5 contract includes another clause that could stir the pot as “Yellowstone” resumes its production. A so-called moral death clause restricts how John Dutton can be written off the show, specifically barring any demise that could tarnish the character’s legacy in a demeaning or humiliating manner.

Sheridan has voiced his intention to avoid giving John Dutton a dishonorable exit. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he expressed his reluctance to abruptly end Dutton’s storyline, referencing his own character’s fate in “Sons of Anarchy” as an example of what he aims to avoid.

Sheridan’s comments suggest a commitment to respecting Dutton’s character arc, leaving fans in suspense about whether Dutton will simply fade away or if Sheridan will navigate this contractual labyrinth to give the character a fitting send-off. As “Yellowstone” navigates these behind-the-scenes dramas, viewers are left to eagerly anticipate the fate of the iconic John Dutton.