At that reported rate, Hargitay’s pay would amount to between $17.85 million and $18.7 million for a 21- to 22-episode season. She has played Olivia Benson since the series began in 1999, became its central lead after Christopher Meloni left in 2011, and took on an executive producer role in Season 15. Hargitay won an Emmy for the role; the show is now in its 28th season. Benson, who began as a detective working alongside Meloni’s Elliot Stabler, is now captain of the squad.
Variety’s reported figure is below the per-episode pay the outlet has cited for several other television stars. Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short reportedly earn $1 million each for “Only Murders in the Building.” Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon reportedly receive $2 million apiece for “The Morning Show,” as does Zendaya for “Euphoria.” Ellen Pompeo has previously said she earns $20 million a season for “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Hargitay told Variety that a dinner celebrating the 600th episode, attended by cast and crew including Meloni and creator Dick Wolf, became more moving than she expected. Wolf said, “This has never happened, and it will never happen again.” In her own toast, Hargitay said the milestone “doesn’t feel totally real,” and praised the team for making the show’s success exceed what anyone had imagined.
She also recalled discussing a possible departure with former “ER” co-star Julianna Margulies around Season 25. Hargitay said she feared being seen as “a one-trick pony.” Margulies replied, “Sweetheart, that ship’s sailed.”
In 2025, Hargitay directed a documentary about her late mother, Jayne Mansfield. Speaking at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre in September, she described doubting whether she could tell the story and recalled Gloria Steinem encouraging people to tell their own. “Law & Order: SVU” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
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