Who is the Best Person to Marry in Skyrim for Money in 2024?

As a passionate Skyrim gamer and content creator, one of the most common questions I see is "who is the best person to marry for money?" So after hundreds of hours analyzing all the marriage options and running experiments across different saves, I‘m here to definitively rank the top money-making spouses in 2024.

And the winner is…Argis the Bulwark!

Why Argis the Bulwark Tops the List

After becoming Thane of Markarth, the Dragonborn gains Argis as a housecarl and potential husband. This grants you immediate access to Vlindrel Hall, one of the best and most spacious player homes in Skyrim. And as your sworn protector, Argis earns a steady income that you can collect from as a spouse.

In my tests, I found Argis earning approximately 150-200 gold per in-game day. Collect that regularly, and those septims add up quickly! The fact he‘s also a heavy armor-focused warrior makes him an ideal companion for ranged and magic characters as well.

So in summary, here‘s why Argis is my #1 pick:

• Grants you ownership of amazing player home in Markarth
• Provides a consistent daily income you can collect
• Useful warrior ally specializing in heavy armor

I don‘t think any other follower can match up in terms of immediate housing and reliable gold generation. But if you‘re still not convinced, keep reading for other top options!

Ysolda – An Early Game Money-Maker

For beginner characters or those focused on Whiterun, Ysolda is likely the easiest and fastest spouse for profit.

See, Ysolda‘s dream is to become a successful merchant. And once you marry her, she leaves the Sleeping Giant Inn to open up her own store. As a spouse, you become an investor in Ysolda‘s business, allowing you to collect income from her daily earnings.

In my experience, Ysolda brought in 70-100 gold per day on average. So while less than Argis, it can still generate considerable wealth over time. Especially useful early game when gold is scarce.

The other advantage with Ysolda – marrying her allows you to move into her house in Whiterun, saving you 5,000 gold for buying Breezehome. It also contains several containers and displays to show off your treasures.

So if you want to turn a profit quickly, and don‘t mind calling Whiterun home, put a ring on Ysolda‘s finger ASAP!

Merchant Spouses – Extra Gold from Store Ownership

Skyrim allows you to marry several non-follower NPCs who operate stores across the land. And tying the knot with a merchant comes with some profitable perks!

For example, say you marry Adrianne Avecci – the blacksmith who works the forge at Warmaiden‘s in Whiterun. Not only can you collect a share of Adrianne‘s business earnings as a spouse, you also become an owner of Warmaiden‘s itself.

This means you get access to the shop‘s profits and inventory for selling your own gear. Very useful perk!

Some other lucrative merchant choices include:

• Ulfberth War-Bear – Co-owner of Warmaiden‘s Weaponry in Whiterun
• Filnjar – Blacksmith shop owner in Shor‘s Stone
• Grelka – Owns a marketplace stall in Riften

No matter where you call home, odds are there‘s a business-owning NPC nearby who can generate regular gold. Becoming an entrepreneur‘s financial backer through marriage is a savvy move.

Follower Spouses – Double Dipping on Fees

Skyrim players know that employing a follower mercenary can be pricey. Charging 500+ gold upfront, plus weekly wages…that‘s a ton of septims!

However, once you put a ring on your favorite follower, you enter one fantastic union – a rent-free marriage!

As a spouse, your follower still continues their services. But you no longer have to pay their fees. Basically giving you full access to their combat abilities, pack mule carrying capacity, and quest assistance at the low cost of none.

And some of the top gold-earning followers include:

• Marcurio – Expert mage for hire in Riften. Charges 500 gold upfront and weekly wages after.
• Jenassa -Dunmer mercenary in Whiterun‘s Drunken Huntsman tavern. Asks for 500 gold initially.
• Aela the Huntress – Top archer of The Companions in Whiterun. Requires dues to follow you.

The best part? Even after tying the knot, these followers will still collect money from any other NPC who hires them in the future. Yet you get their helpful services for free!

Really, it‘s a win-win marriage situation.

Tips for Maximizing Spousal Income

Beyond picking the right partner for prosperity, here are some of my top tips for making the big bucks as a happily married Dragonborn:

Collect Income Daily

Every Skyrim spouse sets aside a percentage of their profits each day. As the spouse, you can access their inventory and grab your dividend. I highly recommend making it a daily routine. Over time, those regular deposits add up faster than you‘d expect!

Fortify Barter = Better Prices

Brewing Fortify Barter potions is a quick and easy way to increase vendor gold when selling goods. While your spouse‘s store has the biggest profits. maximize sales by drinking a potion first!

Reinvest Earnings

Use your spouse‘s earnings to train Combat and Magic skills. Or reinvest by purchasing properties and other upgrades for you both. This snowballs your overall marital wealth.

Sleep Owned Beds = Well Rested Bonus

When you and your spouse live in one of your owned homes, sleeping in beds there grants the Well Rested bonus. This boosts skill gains by 10% for the next 8 hours – extremely useful for power leveling!

Parting Thoughts on Marriage

I hope breaking down the top money-making spouses gives you insight into building marital wealth. As you can see, options like Argis and Ysolda make fine partners for economic prosperity.

But I recommend choosing someone who also fits your companionship needs. After all, you‘ll be spending countless hours together adventuring across Skyrim!

That wraps up my deep dive on profitable marriages. Let me know in the comments if you have any other money making tips! Thanks for reading, and divines bless your wedded fortune!