• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Arts & Entertainmentgame of thrones

Welcome to the Game of Thrones Economy

By
Krishna Thakker
Krishna Thakker
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Krishna Thakker
Krishna Thakker
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 19, 2017, 5:56 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

As Game of Thrones‘ seventh and penultimate season gets underway, we’re looking at how the series has affected the world outside of Westeros and Essos. The show surpassed the Sopranos in 2014 to become the most popular series ever on HBO. But reach its extends beyond HBO subscriptions. From swag to wine to tourism dollars, GoT fans have fueled a few different cottage industries on the backs of the original novels.

First, the swag. It doesn’t stop at the HBO store. The internet abounds with GoT products (some licensed by the network, some likely not). Amazon and Etsy both have thousands of items available. From the customizable mug that says “That’s what I do. I drink and I know things”; to the handmade House Stark drinking horn; to a whole series of all-out costumes.

Then there’s the stuff you put in the drinking horn. Ommegang Brewery partnered with HBO to produce beer inspired by the Emmy award-winning show. Ommegang’s Allison Capozza tells Fortune that the 14,000 cases in the brewery’s first batch of a beer called Iron Throne Blonde Ale released in the Spring of 2013, “sold out like lightning.” The latest batch, called Bend the Knee Golden Ale, after a common refrain on a show about kingdoms, was twice as large as the first and also sold out after its release this spring.

Vintage Wine Estates sells GoT-inspired wines, including a chardonnay, red wine blend, and cabernet sauvignon. The vintners declined to provide Fortune with sales figures due to contractual reasons. But since shipping began in March, “We have been pleased by the robust response that continues to build,” says Hannah Perkins, a spokeswoman for the brand.

But some GoT fans aren’t satisfied by a mere glass of vino, many are also visiting the locations where the show was filmed. Iceland, which is “beyond the wall” in the show, has reported a major spike in tourism since the program’s start, tourism group Promote Iceland told CNBC. Morocco, too, where Yunkai and Astapor were filmed, has also become a pilgrimage destination for HBO watchers. Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Croatia, Malta, and Scotland all have similar stories.

Production of the show is pricey: It’s estimated to be the third most expensive show of all time, with an average per-show budget of $6 million. Dubrovnik, Croatia’s top vacation city, and the setting of GoT’s King’s Landing, has profited by hosting the crew itself—bringing in money by providing transportation, hotels, and more by hosting production staffers. The tourism uptick hasn’t hurt either: Croatia’s economy depends almost entirely on the industry.

To lure the film crews, Northern Ireland Screen agency has invested $18.28 million so far in the show. The result, the agency says, is that GoT has brought more than $224 million to the area in the form of filming expenses, tourism, and more.

And finally, there’s the book industry, where the current mania got its start. George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire has had a dramatic increase in sales since the launch of the series, has been a boon to publisher Random House. Books sales tend to spike during pivotal episodes, according to Nielson’s BookScan. (This may be because the TV show spurs the audience to try to read ahead of the show’s timeline, BookScan says.) Before the TV series began in 2011, the books had sold about five million copies to date. During the 2011-2012 season alone, A Song of Ice and Fire sold nine million copies.

 

About the Author
By Krishna Thakker
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today
Arts & EntertainmentMusic
The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today
By Ted Olson and The ConversationJuly 4, 2026
4 hours ago
mp
Arts & EntertainmentWorld Cup
FIFA engineered a plan to get the USMNT and their fans singing ‘Country Roads’ — and it worked
By R.J. Rico and The Associated PressJuly 4, 2026
5 hours ago
wh
PoliticsWhite House
Trump visits Mount Rushmore on 250th July 4th to declare communism a ‘mortal threat to American liberty’
By Steven Sloan, Steve Peoples, Michelle L. Price and The Associated PressJuly 4, 2026
5 hours ago
loco
Travel & LeisureEntrepreneurship
The World Cup is just now discovering Middle America’s big heart. These Irish bingo kingpins built a $24 million business knowing it all along
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 4, 2026
8 hours ago
s
Personal FinanceSports
The sports economy is unaffordable at the bar, let alone the stadium
By Catherina GioinoJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
t
Arts & EntertainmentNew York
No holiday for New York City cops, who get a heat wave, World Cup and a Taylor Swift wedding at MSG
By Anthony Izaguirre and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
AI
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
10 hours ago
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
Economy
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
Success
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
Economy
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
By Jim EdwardsJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.