Money Heist characters ranked by who actually deserved to survive

Money Heist (or La Casa de Papel for the cool kids) wasn’t just a show about red jumpsuits, Dali masks, and elaborate heists - it was a rollercoaster of emotions, ideologies, betrayals, and far too many heart attacks for any normal human to handle. From the mastermind Professor to the wildcards like Tokyo and Palermo, each character brought something unique to the table - and we loved (or loved to hate) every single one of them.

But amidst the bullets, betrayals, and some frankly questionable decision-making, one question looms large: Who actually deserved to survive? Let’s be honest - some characters went out like heroes, others met poetic justice, and a few? Well, we’re still recovering from their exits (looking at you, Nairobi).

So, put on your mask and cue Bella Ciao, because we’re diving into a list that ranks Money Heist characters based not on plot armor, fan service, or who had the coolest monologue, but on who truly earned the right to walk away from the chaos alive.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

Money Heist characters ranked by who actually deserved to survive

13) Arturo (Yes, just in case you didn’t boo hard enough the first time.)

Seriously, how did this man outlive smarter, stronger, and kinder characters? Arturo was the worst kind of parasite - always manipulating, always making things worse, and somehow, always surviving. The only purpose he served was to remind us how much rage a human can hold. Every second he was on screen felt like a personal attack.

12) Gandía (Survived way too long, and for what?)

If you ever wondered what would happen if a gym bro took a psychopath pill - here's your answer! Gandía brought unnecessary violence, sadistic energy, and ruined lives (Nairobi’s, most unforgivably). He was the kind of villain who wasn’t just evil, but obnoxiously so. The fact that he made it past multiple shootouts and somehow got to breathe air longer than some actual protagonists? Tragic.

11) Berlin (Charismatic devil with a death wish)

Berlin is tough to place. Was he entertaining? Hell yes. Was he problematic? Also, hell yes. He was a strategist, a poet of chaos, and an ego the size of the Bank of Spain. But he was also terminally ill, which gave him that tragic, Greek-hero edge. He chose to go out in a blaze of bullets, and honestly, that suited him. Did he deserve to survive? Maybe not. But did we want more of him anyway? Yes. Against our better judgment.

10) Rio (Baby-faced, but in over his head)

Rio was like the Gen Z tech guy who accidentally found himself in a Quentin Tarantino film. Sweet? Yes. Capable? Sometimes. Emotionally ready for war? Absolutely not. He endured torture, heartbreak, and the trauma of watching the world fall apart around him. While he didn’t always rise to the occasion, he didn’t deserve death - just therapy, a beach, and a very long digital detox.

9) Palermo (Brilliant, but also a flaming trash bin for half the show)

Look, Palermo was a complex character. Sharp, stubborn, and fiercely intelligent - but also selfish, egotistical, and very much that guy who ruins a group project because he has “a vision.” His actions directly endangered everyone, and yet...there was growth. Redemption. He eventually chose the team over his ego, even if it took too long. He deserved to survive, but not without a permanent timeout.

8) Tokyo (Iconic, infuriating, and finally self-aware)

Ah, Tokyo. The narrator. The wildcard. The human grenade. She made some very questionable decisions across the seasons (don’t get us started), but by the end, she showed genuine growth. Her final stand was raw, emotional, and sacrificial - not something the Tokyo of Season 1 would’ve considered. Did she deserve to die? Not really. But did she earn our respect by how she went out? Absolutely.

7) Bogotá (The metalhead romantic)

He was rough, rugged, and ready to weld - but also sensitive, loyal, and full of dad energy. His relationship with Nairobi gave us warm fuzzies in a series that mostly dealt in heartbreak. Bogotá had a moral compass, didn’t seek unnecessary violence, and wanted to build something more than just melt gold. That alone earns him a high rank on the survival wishlist.

6) Helsinki (The gentle giant we all needed)

Tough on the outside, teddy bear on the inside. Helsinki was loyal, dependable, and surprisingly philosophical. He had no delusions of grandeur, no thirst for fame - just a need to belong and protect those he loved. After losing Oslo and then Nairobi, this man deserved a peaceful life, far away from bullets and booby traps. A lakeside cabin and a dog, maybe?

5) Stockholm (Conflicted, yes. But she tried)

Stockholm went from hostage to heister, which sounds like the worst Tinder bio, but ended up being a surprisingly poignant arc. Her shift wasn’t out of thrill - it came from questioning her life, her captors, and the system. Did she struggle emotionally? Yes. Did she make some dumb choices? Also yes. But she showed remorse, grit, and motherly love in a group full of chaos. That’s worth survival.

4) Denver (The golden retriever of the gang)

Sure, he has the laugh of a hyena with hiccups, but Denver had a heart of gold from Day 1. He protected hostages (remember Monica?), defended the underdog, and tried his best not to become a monster in the madness. His love story with Stockholm had its dramatic moments, but Denver never stopped being loyal, caring, and emotionally raw - traits you don’t often find in a guy holding a machine gun.

3) Lisbon (Because she switched sides for the right reasons)

Lisbon, formerly Raquel, made a transformation arc that even Zuko would be proud of. She left behind law enforcement to fight against a corrupt system, and not just because of her feelings for the Professor (though, let's be honest, that helped). She learned, adapted, and never lost her core sense of justice. Lisbon brought strategy, empathy, and sanity to the chaos. And let’s be real - she was too smart to go down.

2) The Professor (Because chaos without him is just chaos)

Let’s face it - the guy planned two heists that danced on the edge of genius and madness. He never picked up a gun, always played the long game, and constantly tried to avoid bloodshed, even when the situation screamed, “Just shoot already!” He wasn’t in it for money or fame - he was in it for the cause. And for love (Hello, Lisbon). The Professor deserved to survive because without him, the gang was a rudderless ship. Also, have you seen that mind palace? It would be a crime against intellect to let that go to waste.

1) Nairobi (Deserved it the most, and we’re still not okay)

Oh, Nairobi, our queen of quality control and morale. She wasn’t just the heart of the gang - she was the heartbeat. Compassionate yet fierce, maternal yet razor-sharp in the middle of a heist, Nairobi gave us hope in a world filled with morally grey criminals. She wanted to live, love, and raise a son. And how was she rewarded? Sniped by Gandía in cold blood. Absolute injustice. She was the moral compass we didn’t deserve. No one, and I mean NO ONE, deserved survival more than Nairobi.

Money Heist didn’t just give us action, it gave us emotional investment. Some characters earned their survival with blood, sweat, and heartbreak. Others? Not so much. But whether they walked away or went out in flames, they made us care - and that’s the real heist!