K.J. Apa vs. Cole Sprouse: Which ‘Riverdale’ Star is Worth More?
Riverdale revolves around a group of teen sleuths plucked from the pages of classic Archie Comics. Two such characters, Archie Andrews and Forsythe ‘Jughead’ Jones are besties in the books and on screen.
Archie and Jughead come from vastly different backgrounds, with one experiencing an archetypal home life and the other living on the marginalized South Side of Riverdale. But in reality, the actors who play them — K.J. Apa and Cole Sprouse — have each built substantial wealth. Here’s how the stars stack up when it comes to net worth.
Both ‘Riverdale’ stars have laid the groundwork for stardom
Like their characters Archie and Jughead, Apa and Sprouse appear to be headed for even greater success. When he earned the lead part of Archie, Apa was relatively new to Hollywood in comparison to Sprouse, who spent much of his adolescence on a high-profile television series (more on that later). But both Riverdale stars have racked up side gigs during their time on the show, adding to their individual fame and fortune.
Before Riverdale, Apa was best-known in New Zealand for stints on two dramas, Shortland Street and The Cul De Sac. After landing the role of Archie, Apa hit a hot streak and starred in several motion pictures during Riverdale’s breaks in filming. Movie buffs may remember him from such titles as A Dog’s Purpose, The Hate U Give, and I Still Believe.
Prior to Riverdale, Sprouse had already racked up dozens of on-screen appearances in TV shows, short films, and movies, along with voice acting gigs on animated projects. As a child actor, one of his most notable parts was the recurring gig on Friends as Ross Gellar’s son, Ben. Sprouse continued popping up in various projects before getting his big break.
Sprouse shot to stratospheric fame when he and his brother, Dylan Sprouse, scored co-lead parts on The Suite Life With Zack and Cody. The wildly successful program spawned spin-offs, TV movies, and specials. And the Sprouse brothers became stars.
Sprouse continues to juggle projects between seasons of Riverdale, including the teen romance flick, Five Feet Apart, and the forthcoming comedy, Undercover. The artist also makes a living as a working photographer, shooting high-fashion spreads for magazines such as Elle. Sprouse’s lucrative side-hustle adds to his growing net worth.
KJ Apa and Cole Sprouse have earned substantial wealth
On Riverdale, Jughead often references his humble beginnings, a stark contrast to Archie’s comfortable life. In reality, both Apa and Sprouse have amassed considerable wealth. But Jughead’s portrayer, Sprouse, has outearned his co-star so far.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates that Apa is worth $3 million. His scene partner’s total wealth nearly triples that amount. Sprouse has built a fortune of an estimated $8 million, according to the outlet.
The actors who play Archie and Jughead are real-life friends
We have compared the livelihoods of Apa and Sprouse side-by-side, but the co-stars have not shown any signs of rivalry toward one another. Their on-screen counterparts, Archie and Jughead, have such a tight camaraderie that their characters once lived together for a brief time. And life, it seems, has imitated art in the case of Apa and Sprouse.
As it turns out, the Riverdale stars get along so well that they followed suit with their characters by becoming roommates — at least for a while. Entertainment Tonight reported that the actors were quarantining together during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, that’s a ton of star power and money under one roof.
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