When Aaron Spelling's Dynasty premiered in 1981, it did more than become a hit soap opera: it helped define the look and mood of the decade.
Brash, glossy and fabulously excessive, the saga of the mega-wealthy Carringtons and Colbys was peak 80s TV, packed with shoulder pads, furs, champagne, caviar, boardroom battles, catfights, shocking twists and wildly melodramatic storylines.
The original series fittingly ended in 1989 before the franchise was rebooted for a new generation in 2017.
Click or scroll on to discover the 11 richest stars from the Dynasty universe, based on wealth estimates from Celebrity Net Worth.
All dollar values in US dollars
A number of familiar Dynasty faces sit just below the main rich list. John Forsythe, who played Carrington patriarch Blake, had an estimated net worth of $5 million (£3.7m) when he died in 2010. At its peak, Forsythe was the show's highest-paid actor, reportedly earning $85,000 (£64K) per episode in 1986, totalling $1.5 million (£1.1m) per season, the equivalent of $4.6 million (£3.4m) today.
Tracey Scoggins, who portrayed Monica Colby, is also reckoned to be worth $5 million (£3.7m).
Most of the reboot stars fall into this group too, including Elizabeth Gillies and Alan Dale, whose fortunes are each estimated at $4 million (£3m).
Heather Locklear joined Dynasty in 1981 as Sammy Jo Carrington, Krystle's spoilt and scheming niece. The role made her one of the show's breakout younger stars, while her parallel turn opposite William Shatner in T.J. Hooker cemented her status as a quintessential 80s TV face.
Locklear's biggest success came later as ruthless Amanda Woodward in Melrose Place, another Aaron Spelling hit, which earned her four Golden Globe nominations. She also starred in Spin City and a string of Lifetime movies.
Billy Dee Williams played Brady Lloyd, Dominique Deveraux's estranged music exec husband. Williams was already a major name when he debuted on the show in 1984, thanks to Brian's Song, Lady Sings the Blues and, above all, Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars films.
Brady and Dominique made TV history as the first Black couple on a US night-time soap. They were doubly pioneering too: at a time when wealthy Black characters were still rare, they stood at the heart of the Denver elite. Post-Dynasty, Williams maintained a steady screen career, with later credits including Batman and a return to Star Wars.
Ana Brenda Contreras got her big break appearing on Mexican reality show Popstars in 2002, which launched a successful music career. She later moved into acting, becoming a huge telenovela name.
Contreras entered the Dynasty reboot in season two as Cristal Jennings. It marked the Mexican-American star's first English language part, though she left after one season for personal reasons and was replaced by Daniella Alonso.
One of several British stars to grace the Dynasty universe, Emma Samms took over the role of Fallon Carrington from Pamela Sue Martin in 1985. She also played Fallon in spin-off The Colbys, before returning for the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.
Samms had already made her name as Holly Sutton on General Hospital, a role she went on to reprise several times. Her later work includes a stint on UK soap Doctors, and she's renowned for philanthropy, having co-founded the Starlight Children's Foundation in 1986.
Liking this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveMONEY
Bona fide royalty joined Dynasty in 1984 when Catherine Oxenberg was cast as Amanda Carrington, Blake's long-lost daughter. The New York-born, London-raised actress is the daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, giving the show's aristocratic excess an unusually real-world twist.
Oxenberg had played Princess Diana in TV movie The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana, and later portrayed her again in Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After. The regal actress is also known for Acapulco H.E.A.T. and her fight to free daughter India from the NXIVM cult.
Diahann Carroll sashayed into Dynasty in 1984 as Dominique Deveraux, Blake Carrington's half-sister and Alexis Colby's perfect foil. Ultra-sophisticated, fabulously wealthy and armed with Olympic-level shade, Dominique gave the show some of its classiest confrontations, including her legendary burnt champagne encounter with Alexis.
Carroll was a trailblazer long before Denver, winning a Tony for No Strings, earning an Oscar nomination for Claudine and fronting the groundbreaking sitcom Julia. She had an estimated net worth of $20 million (£15m) when she died in 2019.
Hollywood's most famous perma-tan came to Dynasty in 1985. George Hamilton played Joel Abrigore, a washed-up director who helped Rita Lesley impersonate Krystle Carrington. The bizarre storyline saw the real Krystle kidnapped, Rita installed in her place and Joel becoming dangerously obsessed with Blake's wife.
Hamilton had been a screen fixture for decades, from Where the Boys Are to the hit vampire spoof Love at First Bite. His later credits have included The Godfather Part III, Dancing with the Stars and KFC ads.
If Dynasty had a real scene-stealer, it was Dame Joan Collins. Her arrival as Alexis Carrington Colby in season two turned the show into ratings gold, with the shoulder pads, venomous put-downs and catfights becoming central to its legend.
Despite being the number-one star of the series, Collins was reportedly pulling in $1.2 million (£897k) per season in 1986, around $3.7 million (£2.8m) today, compared to John Forsythe's $1.5 million (£1.1m), which is $4.6 million (£3.4m) now. She later said his contract required him to earn more than her.
A true Old Hollywood survivor, Collins has built an expansive career across film, TV, theatre and books, and is still working and looking fabulous in her 90s.
With Joan Collins' Alexis supplying the venom, Linda Evans gave Dynasty its angelic counterweight as Krystle Carrington, Blake's elegant and softly-spoken second wife. Her battles with Alexis helped make the show must-see TV, from icy drawing-room clashes to the infamous catfights.
Evans' salary reportedly matched Collins', underlining her importance in the cast. After Dynasty, she largely stepped back from regular acting, later focusing on fitness, cooking and occasional TV appearances.
Nicollette Sheridan brought Alexis Carrington back to life in the Dynasty reboot. Appearing across seasons one and two, she gave the new version a fresh take on the show's most popular character.
Sheridan was already a prime-time soap veteran, having starred as Paige Matheson in Knots Landing. Her biggest payday came from Desperate Housewives, where she reportedly earned $175,000 (£131k) per episode as Edie Britt.
As Sable Colby, Alexis' cousin and arch-rival, Stephanie Beacham brought serious British steel to the Dynasty universe, first in spin-off The Colbys and later in the original show. Cool, cutting and fabulously composed, Sable became one of the franchise's great late-era power players.
Beacham has enjoyed a flourishing career, with early credits including Dracula A.D. 1972, Tenko and Connie. Later roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, Bad Girls and Coronation Street, not to mention stints on the UK's Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing, have kept her in the spotlight.
Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveMONEY