Inception: Cast, Roles, Net Worth, Height, Families, And Relationships

Inception (2010), written and directed by Christopher Nolan, is a sci-fi heist thriller exploring dream infiltration and subconscious secrets. Filmed in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Morocco, and Calgary, it grossed $837 million worldwide on a $160 million budget, ranking as 2010’s fourth highest-grossing film.

With an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score, it won four Oscars (Cinematography, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects) and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

Praised for its innovative narrative, Hans Zimmer’s score, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance, it faced criticism for convoluted plotting and emotional detachment. The ambiguous ending—centered on a spinning top—sparked debate over reality versus dream, cementing its cultural impact.

Main Cast and Their Roles

Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb

• Role: Cobb, a skilled thief who infiltrates dreams to steal secrets, is tasked with “inception”—planting an idea in a target’s mind. DiCaprio’s “intense” performance, refining Cobb’s torment over his late wife Mal, earned critical acclaim.
• Net Worth: $300 million
• Height: 6’0″ (1.83 m).
• Family: Born November 11, 1974, in Los Angeles, California, to Irmelin (legal secretary) and George DiCaprio (comic artist). Only child; parents divorced when he was one.
• Relationships: Dated models like Gisele Bündchen and Bar Refaeli; in a relationship with Vittoria Ceretti since 2023. No children reported.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur

• Role: Arthur, Cobb’s pragmatic point man, handles mission planning and research. Gordon-Levitt’s “resourceful” performance included most of his own stunts, notably the zero-gravity hallway scene.
• Net Worth: $35 million.
• Height: 5’9″ (1.76 m).
• Family: Born February 17, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, to Jane Gordon and Dennis Levitt. Had one older brother, Dan (died 2010).
• Relationships: Married to Tasha McCauley (scientist) since 2014; they have two sons (born 2015 and 2017).

Elliot Page as Ariadne

• Role: Ariadne, a graduate student architect, designs dreamscapes for Cobb’s team. Page’s “fresh yet savvy” performance, cast for maturity beyond his years, earned Saturn and MTV Award nominations.
• Net Worth: $8 million.
• Height: 5’1″ (1.55 m).
• Family: Born February 21, 1987, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Martha Philpotts (teacher) and Dennis Page (graphic designer). No siblings reported.
• Relationships: Married to Emma Portner (2018–2021). In a relationship with Julia Shiplett since June 2025. Vegan and outspoken LGBTQ+ activist.

Tom Hardy as Eames

• Role: Eames, a suave forger, impersonates others in dreams. Hardy’s “wry” performance, blending Shakespearean charm and Special Forces grit, marked his first Nolan collaboration.
• Net Worth: $55 million.
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m).
• Family: Born September 15, 1977, in London, England, to Anne (artist) and Edward Hardy (writer). Only child.
• Relationships: Married to Charlotte Riley since 2014; they have two children (born 2015 and 2018). Has one son (born 2008) with ex-partner Rachael Speed.

Ken Watanabe as Saito

• Role: Saito, a Japanese businessman, hires Cobb for inception to dismantle a rival’s empire. Watanabe’s “cyclical” emotional portrayal reflected the film’s layered narrative.
• Net Worth: $40 million
• Height: 6’0″ (1.84 m).
• Family: Born October 21, 1959, in Koide, Japan, to Ryoichi (teacher) and Yuriko Watanabe. Has one sister, Yuki.
• Relationships: Married to Kaho Minami (2005–2018); has two children, Dai (born 1984) and Anne (born 1986), from previous marriage to Yumiko Watanabe (1983–2005).

Cillian Murphy as Robert Fischer

• Role: Robert Fischer, the heir to a business empire, is the target of Cobb’s inception. Murphy’s “vulnerable” performance, modeled after the Murdoch family, added emotional weight.
• Net Worth: $20 million
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m).
• Family: Born May 25, 1976, in Cork, Ireland, to Brendan (educator) and a French teacher mother (name unreported). Has three siblings: Páidi, Sile, and Orla.
• Relationships: Married to Yvonne McGuinness (artist) since 2004; they have two sons, Malachy (born 2005) and Aran (born 2007).

Marion Cotillard as Mal

• Role: Mal, Cobb’s deceased wife, haunts his subconscious as a projection. Cotillard’s “haunting” performance, leveraging her Oscar-winning La Vie en Rose (2007) gravitas, was pivotal.
• Net Worth: $40 million
• Height: 5’7″ (1.69 m).
• Family: Born September 30, 1975, in Paris, France, to Niseema Theillaud (actress) and Jean-Claude Cotillard (director). Has two younger brothers, Quentin and Guillaume.
• Relationships: In a relationship with Guillaume Canet (actor/director) since 2007; they have two children, Marcel (born 2011) and Louise (born 2017).

Michael Caine as Stephen Miles

• Role: Miles, Cobb’s mentor and Mal’s father, recruits Ariadne. Caine’s “wise” cameo added gravitas, with Nolan joking scenes with Caine are “reality.”
• Net Worth: $60 million
• Height: 6’2″ (1.88 m).
• Family: Born March 14, 1933, in London, England, to Ellen (fish market porter) and Maurice Micklewhite (charwoman). Has one brother, Stanley (deceased).
• Relationships: Married to Shakira Caine since 1973; they have one daughter, Natasha. Has one daughter, Dominique, from previous marriage to Patricia Haines (1955–1962).

Dileep Rao as Yusuf

• Role: Yusuf, a chemist, crafts sedatives for deep dream states. Rao’s “smart and funny” performance avoided drug-dealer stereotypes.
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million.
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m).
• Family: Born July 29, 1973, in Los Angeles, California; family details private, no siblings reported.
• Relationships: Unknown.

Tom Berenger as Peter Browning

• Role: Browning, Robert Fischer’s uncle and a company executive, is impersonated in the dream. Berenger’s “tense” performance tied to the plot’s stakes.
• Net Worth: $4 million
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born May 31, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, to a printer father (name unreported). Has one sister, Susan.
• Relationships: Married to Patricia Alvaran since 1998; they have one daughter, Scout. Has five children from previous marriages: Allison, Patrick, Chelsea, Chloe, and Shiloh.

Lukas Haas as Nash

• Role: Nash, Cobb’s initial architect, betrays the team and is replaced by Ariadne. Haas’ “conflicted” performance set early tension.
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born April 16, 1976, in West Hollywood, California, to Emily Tracy (artist) and Berthold Haas (screenwriter). Has two brothers, Simon and Nikolai.
• Relationships: Unknown.

Pete Postlethwaite as Maurice Fischer

• Role: Maurice Fischer, Robert’s dying father, is central to the inception target. Postlethwaite’s “poignant” cameo added emotional depth.
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million.
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m).
• Family: Born February 7, 1946, in Warrington, England; family details private, no siblings reported. Died January 2, 2011 (cancer).
• Relationships: Married to Jacqueline Morrish (1987–2011); they had two children, William and Lily.

Talulah Riley as Blonde

• Role: Blonde, a woman Eames impersonates in a dream. Riley’s brief role was “adultish” and fun, per her comments.
• Net Worth: $40 million.
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m).
• Family: Born September 26, 1985, in Hertford, England, to Una (businesswoman) and Doug Milburn (TV writer). Only child.
• Relationships: Married to Elon Musk (2010–2012, 2013–2016); married to Thomas Brodie-Sangster since 2024. No children reported.

Additional Notes

Salaries: DiCaprio earned ~$20 million (including backend), reflecting his star power and script input. Gordon-Levitt, Page, Hardy, Watanabe, Murphy, and Cotillard earned ~$500,000–$2 million each, while Caine, Berenger, Rao, Haas, Postlethwaite, and Riley earned ~$50,000–$500,000. The $160 million budget covered global locations, 500 digital effects shots (low for a blockbuster), and intricate sets like the Penrose Steps, inspired by M.C. Escher.

Impact and Legacy: Inception’s $837 million box office and four Oscars cemented Nolan’s reputation for cerebral blockbusters. Its dream-layer narrative and Hans Zimmer’s “Time” score influenced films like Tenet (2020). The spinning top ending sparked endless debates, with Michael Caine claiming scenes with him are “reality.” Fans on X praise its rewatchability, calling it “Nolan’s masterpiece,” though some critique its emotional coldness.

Historical Context: The film’s dream-sharing tech and corporate espionage reflect early 2010s anxieties about technology and privacy. Nolan’s original script, initially a horror concept, evolved into a heist thriller, with DiCaprio pushing for deeper emotional stakes.

Post-Film Careers: DiCaprio starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and Don’t Look Up (2021). Gordon-Levitt directed Glass Onion (2022, voiceover). Page starred in Close to You (2023). Hardy led Venom: The Last Dance (2024).

Watanabe appeared in Tokyo Vice (2022–2024). Murphy won an Oscar for Oppenheimer (2023). Cotillard joined The Morning Show (2023). Caine retired after The Great Escaper (2023). Rao worked on Nightmare Alley. Berenger starred in Black Warrant (2022). Haas appeared in Babylon (2022). Postlethwaite passed away in 2011. Riley starred in Westworld and Pistol (2022).

Cultural Influence: Inception’s layered narrative and ambiguous ending made it a cultural touchstone, inspiring memes (e.g., “BWONG” for Zimmer’s score) and academic essays on dream theory. Its cast’s chemistry and Nolan’s practical effects (e.g., rotating hallway) set a high bar for sci-fi. Despite critiques of complexity, its 87% approval and fanbase on platforms like Letterboxd ensure its enduring legacy.

Conclusion

Inception’s stellar ensemble, led by DiCaprio’s tormented Cobb, brought Nolan’s mind-bending vision to life. Net worths range from $1–$2 million (Rao, Haas, Postlethwaite) to $300 million (DiCaprio), reflecting their varied careers.

Their personal lives, from DiCaprio’s high-profile romances to Page’s activism, add depth to their roles. With its Oscar wins, innovative storytelling, and lasting debates, Inception remains a defining sci-fi thriller of the 21st century.