SVU Cast Salaries Ranked from Lowest to Highest
One of the longest-running dramas is already on season 24, and there seems to be no stopping it. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit cast must be earning a ton of money to keep starring in it, right?
Well, we are here to tell you exactly how much they are making!
5. Dann Florek (about $100,000)
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Florek was making around $100,000 per episode for his portrayal of Captain Don Cragen.
Having starred in the original Law & Order for three seasons, Dann made an epic comeback to the show's spinoff in 1999, and this time it stuck.
The actor stayed with SVU for fifteen full seasons before leaving to pursue other career opportunities.
4. Richard Belzer (unknown)
The iconic John Munch, played by the late Richard Belzer, actually appeared in eleven different shows, and he is the only character ever to do so.
First starring as Detective Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street, Richard was also part of the main cast on SVU for fifteen seasons.
While we don't know exactly how much Belzer was making per episode, his net worth of $16 million certainly earned him fourth place.
3. Ice-T (about $250,000)
This actor joined SVU in season 2, and he was in it for the long haul. Having started out as a Detective and getting a few promotions along the way, Ice-T now plays NYPD Sergeant Fin Tutuola.
Fin is great. Who doesn't love him? He is often a comedic relief, but that's not to say that he doesn't have any drama of his own.
The actor is the second longest-running cast member on the show, currently earning around $250,000 per episode.
2. Christopher Meloni ($300,000 to $400,000)
Detective Elliot Stabler was on SVU for twelve seasons before abruptly leaving the show, and in 2021, Meloni actually scored himself a standalone spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime, where he reprised the role.
Eventually, Christopher returned in season 22 in a recurring role (and we are happy to have him back).
Back when he had a lead role, Meloni was reportedly making $400,000 per episode, while now his salary has been reduced to about $300,000 per episode. Still, not bad!
1. Mariska Hargitay ( about $500,000)
SVU's lead and star, the one and only Olivia Benson, made it to the top with a whopping $500,000 per episode (be right back, figuring out how to apply for a job on SVU).
Mariska has been on the show since the very beginning, and her character has been relentlessly climbing the corporate ladder.
Olivia started out as a Junior Detective in season 1, and 24 seasons later, she is already a Captain! How time flies…
The show has survived this long for a reason – good writing leads to great stories, and compelling acting results in tear-jerking performances.
SVU has been nominated for 91 awards and has won 33 of them. In some ways, the series has even outshone Law & Order (SVU is still on the air, unlike the original show), and that is a rare thing for a spinoff to do. Way to go, guys!
Source: Celebrity Net Worth