HBO’s The Gilded Age ends Season 3 with biggest viewership in series history

Julian Fellowes' American period drama The Gilded Age has recorded the biggest viewership for its Season 3 finale on HBO Max, which premiered on August 10, 2025.

The twists and turns on 61st Street charmed the audience's hearts and ruled the small screen, garnering a total of 5 million U.S. cross-platform viewers in just three days of its premiere. These numbers are a combination of Nielsen’s linear viewers on HBO‘s cable channel and Warner Bros. Discovery's tally of HBO Max's streams.

Additional stats prove that Season 3 is on the way to becoming the most-watched season of the show yet, recording an impressive high with every episode.

The Gilded Age stars Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, and many more cast members in the lead roles. The Emmy-nominated series premiered its Season 3 in June 2025 and was already renewed for another season by HBO Max.

More on this in our story.

HBO's The Gilded Age Season 3 finale marks a record-breaking viewership

The numbers are finally in and The Gilded Age Season 3 finale has recorded 5 million viewers in just three days of its availability. This marks an 88% increase from the Season 3 premiere, which debuted with 2.7 million viewers back in June 2025. In addition, Season 3 has consistently recorded growth with each new episode, and the finale was up from 4.6 million viewers of the penultimate episode.

At least five episodes of The Gilded Age Season 3 have set a new viewership high, with the latest season pacing with 30% growth from Season 2. According to stats provided by Warner Bros., Season 3 is on its way to becoming the most-watched season of the series yet.

Thanks to its buzz on social media, Season 3 also managed to garner new viewers, as catch-up viewing the week before the Season 3 finale was higher (70%) when compared to the Season 2 finale in 2023. Additional stats prove that Season 3 of the period drama series managed to match the viewership high of Season 2 by Episode 3, recording new highs and an increased viewership with each consecutive episode.

Bertha Russell's victory came at a huge cost in The Gilded Age Season 3 finale

The Gilded Age Season 3 finale was an intense hour of television, which changed the trajectory of many couples on 61st Street. Dr. Kirkland managed to save George after the shooting in the penultimate episode, following which he even attended his wife's ball. Bertha Russell's ball was a lavish event, and Mrs. Astor's shocking arrival even made it a huge success, launching her as the most influential leader in New York society.

However, trouble soon followed the Russell household as George dropped a bombshell on his wife in the morning. Blaming her for Gladys' arranged marriage to the Duke, George announced that the shooting had given him a new perspective and he does not wish to live with Bertha anymore.

The Gilded Age Season 3 finale hinted that Bertha and George are likely heading for a divorce in Season 4. Discussing the trajectory of her character, Coon said in an interview with Variety,

“It’s always interesting to get to explore the vulnerability of a character. She’s usually so confident in her actions, but this season she really didn’t anticipate the consequences of what she’s done and she’s blindsided. It’s very rattling for her.”

On the other hand, Junior Russell reconciled with Marian and the duo discussed their flaws, finally agreeing to work on their differences and giving their relationship another try.

The Gilded Age is available on HBO Max.

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