* Playwriting Fees: Shakespeare received payment for writing new plays. Records from the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the acting company for which he primarily wrote, indicate that he was typically paid between £5 and £10 for each new play manuscript.
* Licensing Fees: Plays during Shakespeare's time were licensed by the Master of the Revels, an official who regulated theatrical performances. Shakespeare, as a member of the acting company that owned the rights to his plays, would have benefited from the licensing fees paid by other troupes wanting to perform his works.
* Theater Shares: As a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men and later the King's Men, Shakespeare had partial ownership of the actors' company. This entitled him to a share of the profits from ticket sales for the performances of his plays. The success of Shakespeare's plays significantly contributed to the theater's financial prosperity and, by extension, Shakespeare's income.
* Patronage and Dedications: Some of Shakespeare's plays were dedicated to prominent figures, such as patrons or royalty. Such dedications were customary and sometimes accompanied by monetary rewards or gifts from the individuals to whom the plays were dedicated.
* Publication Rights: During the later part of his career, Shakespeare's works began to be published in printed form. It is unclear whether Shakespeare directly profited from the sale of these printed plays during his lifetime, as copyright laws weren't well-established at the time, but royalties could have been negotiated in some instances.
Shakespeare's success as a playwright enabled him to acquire significant wealth throughout his career. It allowed him to purchase properties in London and his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon and to secure a coat of arms, a mark of social status, for his family. His income, primarily derived from theatrical productions and theater ownership, made Shakespeare one of the most financially successful writers of his era.