Mariska Hargitay reportedly earns $850,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), according to a new report by Variety, as the long-running NBC crime drama prepares to mark its 600th episode.
The 62-year-old actress has portrayed Detective Olivia Benson, who has since risen to the rank of captain, since the series premiered in September 1999.
Her involvement behind the scenes also expanded in 2014 when she became an executive producer, beginning with the show’s 15th season.
The reported salary places Hargitay among television‘s highest-paid performers.
Hargitay’s Reported Salary Could Exceed $18 Million Per Season
According to Variety, Hargitay receives $850,000 for every episode of the police procedural.
With recent seasons generally featuring between 21 and 22 episodes, her reported earnings could reach between $17.85 million and $18.7 million for the current 28th season.
The show’s 25th season was shorter than usual after production was affected by the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The Daily Mail said it had contacted representatives for Hargitay and NBC seeking comments on the reported salary but had not received a response at the time of publication.
How Her Earnings Compare With Other Television Stars
Hargitay’s reported per-episode earnings are notable compared with those of several other prominent television actresses.
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon reportedly earn $2 million each per episode of Apple TV+’s The Morning Show.
With the series running for 10 episodes per season, their reported earnings amount to $20 million each for a season.
According to Page Six, Zendaya also received $2 million per episode for the third season of HBO’s Euphoria.
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short reportedly earn $1 million each per episode of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, which has featured 10 episodes in each of its five seasons.
Another comparison is Ellen Pompeo of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.
Pompeo reportedly earns $20 million per season, with recent seasons consisting of approximately 18 episodes.
Like Hargitay, she has remained a leading figure on a major network television series for more than two decades despite multiple cast changes.
Actress Reflects on SVU’s 600th Episode
The salary revelation comes as NBC prepares to broadcast the 600th episode of Law & Order: SVU on Thursday.
Hargitay recently attended a celebratory dinner with colleagues to mark the milestone, where she delivered a speech reflecting on the show’s remarkable run.
Speaking with Variety, the actress revisited her remarks and became emotional while describing what reaching the 600-episode mark meant to her.
“Here we are at episode 600, and it really doesn’t feel totally real – which in a way is exactly how it should feel, because it’s as if we all get to live in this dream of what you thought might be possible someday,” she said.
She continued by acknowledging the people who had helped make the achievement possible, adding that they had shown her that the dream was not only achievable but better than anyone could have imagined.
Christopher Meloni Joins the 600th Episode Celebration
Hargitay was joined at the dinner by series creator Dick Wolf and former co-star Christopher Meloni, who played Detective Elliot Stabler opposite her before leaving the show in 2011.
Meloni has returned to SVU for several guest appearances since his departure and is set to make another appearance in the 600th episode alongside Hargitay’s character, Olivia Benson.
Despite initially having reservations about attending the celebration, Hargitay said the evening turned out to be one of the most meaningful experiences of her career.
“I wanted to go home and go to bed,” she recalled.
However, she ultimately attended and found herself enjoying an occasion she described as “one of the most extraordinary, meaningful nights, and unexpectedly so to me.”
She also remembered a statement made by Wolf during the dinner.
“Dick got up and said, ‘This has never happened, and it will never happen again,'” she recalled, adding that everything seemed to fall into place that evening.
Hargitay Once Considered Leaving the Series
The actress also disclosed that she had previously questioned how long she should remain on SVU.
During the show’s 25th season in 2024, Hargitay discussed her concerns with former ER star Julianna Margulies.
She admitted that she had considered leaving because she did not want audiences to view her as an actress capable of playing only one type of role.
“I said, ‘I’ve got to leave the show too. I don’t want people to think I’m a one-trick pony,'” Hargitay recalled telling Margulies.
However, Margulies responded with a remark that suggested Hargitay had already become permanently associated with the character.
“Sweetheart, that ship’s sailed,” she told her.
Hargitay has continued portraying Benson into the show’s 28th season, marking 27 years since she first appeared in the role.
