The Richest "Law & Order" Cast Members Might Surprise You
If you were to sit down and watch every episode of every "Law & Order" series, plus the movies and crossover episodes, you'd be in for 1,000 hours of viewing. While that number seems outlandish at first glance, it begins to make sense when you think about how long the franchise has been on the air and how many spin-offs it's inspired (eight as of 2021, as well as one TV movie).
A franchise that big has to have had a lot of cast members. Which got us wondering, who is the richest "Law & Order" cast member? Turns out, it's Mariska Hargitay with her net worth of $100 million. Honorable mention goes to creator Dick Wolf, who has a net worth of $550 million but didn't qualify for our list as he's not an actual cast member.
Mariska Hargitay isn't the only actor who's become a multi-millionaire after working on the series. We've rounded up the 15 richest "Law & Order" actors. The list is limited to main cast members only and excludes recurring stars like Candice Bergen and Jessica Chastain ("Law & Order: Trial By Jury") who may have otherwise made it. Read on to see if your favorite actor made the list!
Raúl Esparza persevered as an actor
For six seasons, Raúl Esparza played ADA Rafael Barba on "Law & Order: SVU." Aggressive, often to the point of ruthlessness, Barba stopped at nothing to put abusers and sexual offenders behind bars. During the years he spent as Manhattan's top prosecutor, Barba developed a particularly close relationship with Olivia Benson, which made his departure in the middle of Season 19 all the more devastating. Despite fans' outcries, Esparza told Entertainment Weekly that the decision to leave the series was his and that he did it simply "because [he] felt like it was time to go."
Barba's tireless work ethic on "SVU" was nothing new for Esparza. The child of two Cuban immigrants, Esparza didn't grow up in the lap of luxury. And at first, acting didn't seem to come naturally to him. When he was in high school, a judge at the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts competition "suggested he didn't have a future as an actor" (via the Miami Herald). Still, he persevered, landing several stage roles (both on and off-Broadway) before moving to the small screen on "Law & Order: SVU" and "Hannibal." In addition to his work as an actor, Esparza has narrated a number of audiobooks, including one William Shakespeare title. With all his success in the entertainment industry, Raúl Esparza is worth $9 million.
Bebe Neuwirth has a heart for dance
Bebe Neuwirth's mother, artist Sydney Anne Neuwirth, has had "a life-long involvement and passion for ballet," per her website. She danced with the Princeton Ballet, and her daughter followed in her footsteps by joining the company at the age of 5. It was here, in this artistic medium, that Bebe thrived, learned some discipline, and set her sights on a career. When asked if she ever envisioned her many talents, the star told Parade, "No. I'm a dancer. All I wanted to do was just dance on a Broadway stage. ... when television started happening, I was a little confused. I didn't think it was really me. But I decided to do it anyway because I thought that it couldn't hurt."
She was right. In the late '80s, after several successful Broadway shows, Neuwirth landed the role of Lilith Sternin on "Cheers" and appeared occasionally in that role on "Frasier." She built her incredible portfolio with "Law & Order: SVU," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," "Blue Bloods," and "Madam Secretary," among others. Television work was accompanied by film work on blockbusters including "Jumanji," "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," and "Celebrity." Seemingly overnight, Bebe Neuwirth was a successful actor and millionaire.
But life isn't all work and no play for Neuwirth. She enjoys spending some of her hard-earned cash on time in the pottery studio and once tweeted, "It's good to be in the mud." Despite how expensive the hobby can be, Neuwirth doesn't need to sweat: she's worth $10 million.
Dann Florek has a heart of gold
Dann Florek is living proof that a high-level degree isn't necessary for success. Born and raised in Michigan, Florek attended Eastern Michigan University and wasn't far from graduation when he dropped out to pursue acting in New York City (per the Chicago Tribune). He paid his dues for years, appearing in a variety of stage shows before eventually landing the part of Captain Donald Cragen on "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU."
A Green Beret turned homicide detective, Captain Cragen is one of the most unflappable and loyal characters in the "Law & Order" universe. Appearing regularly in 15 seasons of "SVU," Cragen is the third-longest running character in the "L&O" franchise, a fact that his estimated $100,000 per episode salary reflected. In 2014, Florek left the franchise altogether, shocking fans. It turns out his exit was for good reason: "Law & Order" has always aimed at realism, and Florek had reached the actual retirement age for NYPD officers.
Florek is an avid sports fan and might spend some of his $10 million fortune on tickets to games. The star also loves caring for animals and has rescued dogs with his wife. In addition to investing in their pets, the couple gives of their time by volunteering at shelters and other animal welfare events in L.A (via Michigan Humane).
Paul Sorvino worked to make acting a viable career
Sergeant Phil Cerreta joined the "Law & Order" team during Season 2, stepping in as Detective Logan's partner after Detective Greevey, Logan's original partner, was shot in the line of duty. For 29 episodes, the sometimes rough Irish-American cop rid the New York City streets of criminals while earning the trust of the insular police squad.
Although he spent two seasons on the crime drama, Paul Sorvino, the man behind Sergeant Cerreta, is best known for his film work, which includes roles in "Goodfellas," "Romeo + Juliet," and "Nixon." Interestingly, the Brooklyn native is also an opera singer. And despite his lengthy filmography, he hasn't always been financially successful – in a talk he gave at Hanover College in 2018 (via AP News), he recalled how his daughter, Oscar-winning actor Mira Sorvino, once slept in a blanket-lined dresser drawer because a crib was too expensive. When asked about film projects in development, Paul Sorvino discussed his directorial work with his wife Dee Dee, but he was still modest about money: "I hate to talk about anything before the money is in the bank, and the movie is on the screen."
In his 80s, the actor hasn't stopped working hard. He launched a culinary venture with Paul Sorvino Foods, a line of pasta sauces, in 2010. His net worth, a product of all these streams of income, is $10 million.
Jesse L. Martin's road to acting success
Detective Ed Green bursts into the NYPD offices as a brash, young, unorthodox cop in Season 10 of "Law & Order." Partnered with Detective Lennie Briscoe, it takes awhile for Green to find his place on the team, but once he does, he becomes a stalwart in the force, tackling every case that comes across his desk with a vengeance.
The role was actor Jesse L. Martin's first big TV part, but it wasn't his first showbiz success. Before he found the spotlight, Martin spent seven years waiting tables at various New York City restaurants, including the Moondance Diner and Frutti DeMare. It turns out that the Moondance Diner was a fateful place for the aspiring actor because there he met Jonathan Larson, the creator of "Rent." Martin told Playbill, "The place was open 24 hours, and Jonathan trained me when I had to work overnight. He told me he was a composer. By the end of the week, I quit; I got a job on 'New York Undercover.'" Martin's big break came as Tom Collins in the original Broadway production of "Rent."
Since his "Law & Order" run ended, he returned to the stage with roles in a number of Broadway shows, even producing an off-Broadway production of "Fully Committed." On the television side, the actor has spent seven years on CW's "The Flash" as Central City Police Department detective Joe West. The versatile actor is worth a cool $10 million.
S. Epatha Merkerson's talent and longevity don't go unnoticed
Unlike some of the other actors on our list, S. Epatha Merkerson didn't find her way to Hollywood until her 30s. Despite her late arrival, her first roles in "She's Gotta Have It" and "Pee-wee's Playhouse established her as a force in the industry. Less than a decade later, in 1993, she really hit the big time when she landed the part of Anita Van Buren, the tough and inspiring Commander of the 27th Precinct Detective Squad on "Law & Order."
For 16 seasons — until the series ended in 2010 — she held onto the role, becoming the longest-running character in the original series and, for a time, the longest-running Black character on TV. Merkerson, who grew up not seeing much representation on screen, rightfully viewed her longevity as "quite an extraordinary feat" and told NPR: "That it has been a consistent character that people are proud of, a character that has lots of integrity, has been a thing of pride for me." While these impressive achievements may be enough for most actors, Merkerson isn't ready to retire just yet. In fact, she joined forces with Dick Wolf once again, playing Sharon Goodwin on the "Chicago One" franchise.
Enormously successful, Merkerson has called multiple places home, including New York, her hometown of Detroit, and Chicago (a much cheaper city than New York). She indulges in art collecting and quilt making, which can't be too hard to finance with a fortune of $11 million.
Vincent D'Onofrio is dedicated to the arts
No stranger to the hustle, Vincent D'Onofrio worked as a bouncer and a celebrity bodyguard while trying to get his acting career off the ground. As his career progressed, D'Onofrio found enough steady acting work to drop the side gigs and focus on performing full-time.
In 2001, the "Full Metal Jacket" star joined the cast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He played Detective Robert Goren, an intense and intellectually gifted (though volatile) cop who appeared in all 10 seasons of the series. On "The Richard Eisen Show," D'Onofrio told the host, "My life got taken by the arts ... probably right after high school, when I was about 18." He studied his craft, appearing in several movies and TV shows including "The Godfather of Harlem" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."
He's also worked as a director (even directing his daughter, Leila George), a producer, and an acting teacher at the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute. At the Institute, there is a Vincent D'Onofrio Award to honor students who take after the lauded performer. D'Onofrio released a collection of his prose and poetry titled "Mutha: Stuff + Things" in 2021. A jack of all trades, he is worth $14 million.
Richard Belzer appeared in 11 shows as one character
Richard Belzer's "L&O" character, John Munch, is one of those rare types that can work believably in a number of series. Detective Munch made his debut in "Homicide: Life on the Street," a Baltimore-based police procedural, before moving over to "Law & Order: SVU" in 1999, where he remained a regular member of the squad until 2014. In all, the cynical, conspiracy theorist character appeared on 11 TV shows, including the original "Law & Order," "The Wire," "The X-Files," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," "The Beat," and "Arrested Development."
Given the character's immense success, it's no surprise that Munch is what fans most commonly associate Belzer with. But on-screen detective isn't the only job the actor has held. Over the years, he's worked as a radio host, stand-up comedian, and the author of several books on conspiracy theories (the most popular of which is titled "UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have to Be Crazy to Believe").
In 2016, Belzer retired from acting and moved into a storied chateau in the South of France (per the Tampa Bay Times), where he focuses on his writing. (Talk about living in luxury!) It's no bother, though, since he's worth $16 million.
Chris Noth went from troubled teen to hard-working actor
Chris Noth has had the good fortune of winning not one, not two, but three iconic roles during his decades in Hollywood: Mr. Big on "Sex and the City," Peter Florrick on "The Good Wife," and Detective Mike Logan on "Law & Order." In "Law & Order," his character (whom he portrayed for the first five seasons before moving over to spin-off "Criminal Intent" for an additional four), is best described as a womanizer with a short fuse who has a strong sense of right and wrong.
In between shooting seasons of TV, Noth was busy expanding his business empire, which includes a New York City music venue/nightclub called "The Cutting Room." In addition, he acquired a majority stake in Ambhar Tequila in 2018. The work ethic required to juggle all those projects at once is a far cry from the work ethic Noth had as an almost-juvenile delinquent in his teenage years. He once admitted to Entertainment Weekly about his pre-fame lifestyle, "I probably wasn't getting the best education, and I was driving my mother half wild with anxiety and madness."
These days, the busy actor and father of one finds plenty of time to enjoy his success and the money that comes with it, relaxing in his $1.85 million Upper East Side apartment and enjoying all the luxuries the city has to offer. Noth is worth $16 million, but he might make more, as the New York Post reported in 2021 that his NYC pad was up for sale at $2.19 million.
Sam Waterston happily calls Connecticut home
Of all the "Law & Order" cast members, Sam Waterston has, arguably, the longest and most eclectic resume. During his decades in the industry, he's worked with legends like Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Meryl Streep, Woody Allen, and Katherine Hepburn on projects ranging from the 1974 version of "The Great Gatsby" to "The Killing Fields." In 1994, he began appearing as ADA Jack McCoy on "Law & Order." For the next twenty years, he bounced back and forth between the original series and the "SVU" spin-off.
Ruthless and unorthodox in his methods, McCoy was a fixture of the team and was often singularly responsible for ensuring that some of NYC's most vicious offenders were taken off the streets for good. Having retired from that crime-fighting world, Waterston went on to split his time between playing Sol Bergstein on "Grace & Frankie" and protesting for the causes of climate change (he was arrested with co-star Jane Fonda at a 2019 rally) and social justice.
The actor is worth $20 million. Though looking at his lifestyle, you'd never guess he was so wealthy – he lives in a Connecticut home he bought with his wife back in 1978. In a fun twist honoring Waterston's achievements, he is the 2021 recipient of the Spirit of Katherine Hepburn Award, and he worked with Hepburn, also a Connecticut native, on "The Glass Menagerie."
Christopher Meloni is rolling in real estate
Ask any "Law & Order" fan who the most attractive cast member is, and you're bound to get the same answer over and over: Christopher Meloni. Something about Meloni's classic good looks (those eyes!) as well as his tough-guy persona and sparkling charisma has made him irresistible for audiences, even when his character, Detective Elliot Stabler, makes questionable policing choices.
Before he landed the role that would go on to define his career, Meloni worked as a construction worker, bouncer, and personal trainer, accepting every bit part he was offered, waiting for the success he knew was coming. Then, in 1999, it finally happened: his big break. Meloni was offered the role of Elliot Stabler on a then-new spin-off titled "Law & Order: SVU." For 12 seasons, he starred opposite Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson before leaving abruptly due to failed contract negotiations. In 2021, Meloni returned to the "L&O" universe as the star of his own spin-off, "Law & Order: Organized Crime."
Outside of the "Law & Order" world, Meloni has done a number of other projects, including "Oz," "True Blood," and "Happy!" He's also worked as a voice actor in several animated series and video games. In 2014, he bought a historic Hollywood home for $5.25 million, but that's only the beginning of his real estate portfolio. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2020 that Meloni was looking to sell the California residence for $6.495 million. In 2015, he sold a Connecticut home for $4.3 million, but he dropped $5.35 million in 2021 on three New York City condos. When you're worth $30 million, it must be all in a day's work.
Jeff Goldblum has excelled in the performing arts
Jeff Goldblum is often (aptly) described as a non-conforming performer, and his career path is clear proof of that. He's done some of Hollywood's highest-grossing films, including "Jurassic Park" and "Independence Day," followed by several roles on smaller, indie projects. He branched out into television and landed "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in 2009. Goldblum's character, Detective Zack Nichols, replaced Chris Noth's Mike Logan.
But acting isn't the only passion Goldblum has pursued professionally. An accomplished jazz pianist, he regularly performs concerts all over the country and has released a couple of albums with his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.
While his work takes him all over the place, the actor still calls L.A. home, reportedly living in a house he bought in 1982. If this thriftiness is any indication of how he typically approaches money, it seems that Goldblum's reported $40 million fortune should stretch quite a long way. Notably, the actor's Disney+ series, "The World According to Jeff Goldblum," was renewed for a second season in fall 2021 (via Deadline).
Edie Falco has quite a range
At various points in her career, Edie Falco has played characters on both sides of the law. In her most well-known role, as Carmela Soprano on "The Sopranos," Falco played the wife of a mafia boss, a woman who wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty if need be. The actor told Vanity Fair in 2012, "I had friends telling me there was a script floating around called 'The Sopranos,' and I thought it was about singers. Carmela was very easy to be. I immediately knew how she felt about things, the way she wanted to look. But an Italian-American Mob wife? I'm not the first person I would think
of. I would have cast me as Dr. Melfi, but, luckily, I was not in charge."
In another realm, her "Law & Order True Crime" character, Leslie Abramson, was a criminal defense attorney tasked with ensuring that the core tenants of the law were upheld. While she only spent a single season in the "Law & Order" universe, Falco's filmography is extensive. She did a stint on "30 Rock," played the titular character in "Nurse Jackie," and portrayed Hillary Clinton on a season of "American Crime Story."
A single mom of two, Falco splits her time between New York and wherever her current project is shooting. She's owned and invested in several properties in the area, including one duplex she sold for $5.5 million (a significant margin considering she bought it for $3.8 million). Falco has a $50 million net worth.
Ice-T has infiltrated the entertainment industry
From orphaned Crenshaw drug dealer to Hollywood Hills multi-millionaire, Ice-T has had the biggest change of fortune of any "Law & Order" cast member on our list. Before fame, the rapper-turned-actor, whose parents both died when he was young, sold marijuana, spent two years in the army, participated in several bank robberies, and considered becoming a pimp (via NPR). Then, in the early '80s, he found rap, releasing his first album, "Rhyme Pays," in 1987.
Several successful albums later, he began acting, landing the role of Detective Fin Tutuola on "Law & Order: SVU" in 2000. For 21 seasons, Ice-T held on to the role, becoming the second-most prolific character in the "Law & Order" universe. He reportedly makes $250,000 an episode.
Rapping and acting aren't Ice-T's only pursuits. He's also written books, tried his hand at reality TV hosting, and even started a podcast. Ice-T isn't afraid to do commercials either, endorsing Tide and telling Variety in 2021, "When you're a celebrity and you do a commercial, you are kind of throwing yourself out there. It's always great when the ad is
received well and people like it, but you don't want to do something when people say, 'Why the hell did you do that?'" The star's hustle has paid off, considering that he's worth $60 million.
Olivia Benson's Mariska Hargitay has helped survivors
The richest of them all? Mariska Hargitay. The daughter of Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder/actor Mickey Hargitay, Mariska was certainly born into some amount of family wealth, but that doesn't mean she hasn't worked hard to build a career and a name of her own.
In 1999, after mainly playing bit parts previously, she won the role of Olivia Benson (then a detective, now a captain), a tough, empathetic cop who always acts as a voice for the victims she helps. Having played Benson in all 23 seasons of "Law & Order: SVU," Hargitay set the record for the longest-running character on a live-action primetime series in 2019. With that record came a significant pay bump — she reportedly earns $450,000 an episode, contributing to an estimated net worth of $100 million.
Though playing Benson doesn't leave much time for Hargitay to pursue other work, she remains an active philanthropist, pouring a lot of time and energy into her charity, the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support for sexual assault, domestic abuse, and child abuse survivors. She began the foundation in 2004 after receiving thousands of letters from viewers who wanted to confide in TV's most trusted detective with both their traumas and courage.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).