Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, known for his role as The Mountain in Game of Thrones, reportedly was informed by HBO that he could retain the impressive $30,000 sword utilized during the show’s filming. However, the towering figure never actually received the weapon, and it recently appeared in an auction.
At 35 years old, the Icelandic powerhouse Björnsson is often regarded as one of the strongest individuals in history. He has set numerous strength records over a decade-long competitive career and has earned a place in the International Sports Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievements.
Perfectly embodying the formidable role of The Mountain on HBO’s acclaimed series, Björnsson made a lasting impression. His character was infamous for inflicting a multitude of gory deaths, many executed with his colossal sword.
Interestingly, Björnsson claims he was promised the enormous two-handed sword as a token of appreciation for his contributions to the series. He shared his surprise during a Twitch stream on October 16, when he discovered the sword had just fetched nearly $30,000 at an online auction.
We certainly wouldn’t want to be the new owner standing in the way of the former world’s strongest man.
While engaging in a session of Overwatch 2 with friends, Björnsson reminisced about his filming experiences during the final season of Game of Thrones, where he claims producers had said he could keep the sword prop.
“When I was working on Game of Thrones, they clearly mentioned that I could keep the sword,” he recounted. “But later on, they didn’t permit me to take it, and now they’ve sold it. Essentially, the person who purchased it owes me the damned sword.”
“I was really angry,” he added, his displeasure evident at seeing the auction listing after having been promised the sword years earlier. According to Björnsson, the decision to allow him to take the sword was a goodwill gesture from the show’s creators, particularly since he didn’t feel particularly close to the cast during the final season.
“I distinctly remember they had to trim my beard, and I struggled to eat properly because of the fake teeth,” he detailed. “I lost about 15-20 kgs in just a week of filming,” he continued, noting how detrimental this could be for a lifelong strongman.
“I was pretty irritable during the last season. I recall them being frustrated with me for my attitude; I was really not in a good mood. Imagine not being able to eat and working long hours…”
Thus, aside from any potential financial recompense, he had been casually informed that he could keep the sword, though there was no formal agreement or contract to solidify it.
The prop sword was featured in some of Game of Thrones’ most memorable scenes, including the showdown between The Mountain and Oberyn Martell (played by Pedro Pascal).
The most recent auction concluded on October 11, 2024, with the sword selling for approximately $29,688 USD.
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