Mariska Hargitay Was Broke and in Six Figures of Debt Before She Landed Her Role on ‘Law & Order: SVU’

These days, Mariska Hargitay is one of the most recognizable and highly paid actors on television, thanks to her long-standing role as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU. As of 2014, she was earning $450,000 per episode, making her the second-highest-earning female actor in television at the time, according to Forbes. While Hargitay enjoys significant success now, her journey to stardom was fraught with financial struggles and uncertainty.

Early Career Challenges

Born to actor Jayne Mansfield and actor-bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, Mariska Hargitay grew up near Hollywood, though she described her childhood as anything but glamorous to The Washington Post. Despite the allure of her parents’ careers, Hargitay faced considerable hurdles in establishing her own.

Hargitay pursued theater at UCLA and participated in pageants, earning the title of Miss Beverly Hills in 1983, as noted by Parade. She eventually landed roles in TV shows like Falcon Crest and In the Heat of the Night, as well as films such as Ghoulies and Leaving Las Vegas. However, consistent work remained elusive, leading to significant financial strain.

Financial Struggles Before SVU

Before securing her iconic role on SVU, Hargitay was deep in debt, relying heavily on a generous boyfriend to make ends meet. In a 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping, she admitted to being in six-figure debt, struggling to maintain her house and car while grappling with mounting credit card debt.

“I had a house and car I didn’t want to lose,” she revealed, “and I had a lot of credit card debt.” The financial strain was so intense that she turned to her then-boyfriend for help. “When we broke up, he said I owed him 60 grand,” she recalled. Determined to clear her debts, Hargitay paid him back as soon as she could, saying, “I’m a payer-backer.”

Gradually, Hargitay learned to manage her finances better. “Now I have learned to hang on to [my money]. I have a nest egg, and I don’t buy above my means,” she said.

Achieving Financial Stability

After 21 seasons on SVU, Hargitay’s financial woes are a distant memory. In 2018, she was the fourth-highest-paid female actor on television, earning $13 million, according to Forbes. Her income includes her substantial per-episode salary and residuals from the show’s syndication. Celebrity Net Worth estimates her net worth at $100 million.

Giving Back

With her financial stability secured, Hargitay is committed to giving back. She founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of sexual assault and in 2010, she donated $100,000 to UCLA to fund an acting scholarship.

Mariska Hargitay’s story is one of resilience and triumph, evolving from financial hardship to becoming a powerful force in the entertainment industry and a dedicated philanthropist.