Joe Keery has used his earnings from Stranger Things to build a music career without relying on a traditional record label. At 33 years old, the singer and actor is gaining major attention as an independent musician under the stage name Djo. His song “End of Beginning,” released in 2022, has found new popularity and topped global streaming charts in early 2026. The track is currently competing with other juggernauts on Spotify and Billboard, including singles by Taylor Swift and KPop Demon Hunters.
‘End of Beginning’ by Djo remains at #1 on the Global Spotify chart with 7.72 million streams.
It has now spent 18 days at #1. pic.twitter.com/vvh6WZtw54
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 17, 2026
Although “End of Beginning” does not appear in Stranger Things, the artist has acknowledged that the show probably helped introduce his music to a wider audience. As the series premiered its final season in 2025, renewed interest could’ve boosted attention around his work. Joe described the song as taking on new meaning as it became associated with the end of the year and the closing of the show. He explained that the track now represents both an ending and a fresh beginning.
The “Delete Ya” singer has openly stated that his financial stability from acting allowed him to stay independent. According to industry reports, he earned up to $30,000 per episode during the first two seasons of Stranger Things, totaling around $510,000. By Season 3, his salary increased to $150,000 per episode, and by Season 5 in 2026, he reportedly earned $750,000 per episode, or about $6 million total. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $4 million. Joe told Vulture that owning his music and funding his creative ideas has been more valuable than having a record deal with a label.
“I already came from a big point of privilege because I was using the money I was making working on Stranger Things and using that to fuel my music project. It afforded me the ability to be an independent artist and not have to sign to a label.”
