Christopher Meloni, an American actor got a breakthrough to fame through NBC TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999- 2011), after portraying NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler.

Turned professional since 1988, the Primetime Emmy nominee worked way to the TV through commercials & made acting debut in TV series 1st & Ten in 1989.

So far, Meloni records 90 acting credits that include his notable works in the films: 12 Monkeys (1995), Bound (1996), Man of Steel (2013), and 42 (2013).

Meloni Is A Millionaire: Net Worth In 2022?

With over 3 decades of career in the acting industry, Christopher Meloni has grabbed wide acclaim as well as fortune. According to Celebrity Net Worth, 61-year-old Meloni has a net worth of $30 million as of November 2022.

The Washington, D.C.-born actor, after stints in many TV series & films, got a career breakthrough from crime-drama TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 1999.

Throughout 2011 (Season 1- Season 12), he appeared as Detective Elliot Stabler in the aforementioned TV series, which showered him millions of dollars.

As for a fact, to date, Christopher is considered 3rd richest cast in Law & Order: SVU, behind Ice-T with a fortune of $60 million; Mariska Hargitay is the wealthiest-among all & owns $70 million.

Over the years, the actor starred in box-office hit films: 12 Monkeys (1995), Runaway Bride (1999) and Man of Steel (2013) that aided in his fortune growth.

Salary From ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’

Reported in 2007, 6 ft. tall Meloni was earning $350,000-an-episode from Law & Order: SVU; even more, it was reported he signed a deal with NBC that would earn him $6.5 million in further 2 seasons.

As per IMDB, in Season 9 (2009- 2010), the American actor earned $400,000 per episode.

During his last season (Season 12, 2010- 2011), Christopher made $395,000-an-episode; there were a total of 24 episodes that collectively made $9.48 million from the entire season.

Journey To Acting Prominence & Career Before TV Fame

Formerly, Christopher Meloni worked as a construction worker & then briefly worked as a bouncer, bartender, and personal trainer.

The graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Meloni later landed in commercials that opened his gateway to a TV career.

He made his acting debut through the TV series 1st & Ten (1989- 1990) and then in the TV film When Will I Be Loved? (1990).

Thereafter, he appeared in other TV series The Fanelli Boys (1990-1991, 17 episodes), The Boys (1993) & in NYPD Blue (1996- 1997, 5 episodes) starring Dennis Franz, James McDaniel, and Gordon Clapp.

From 1998 to 2003, the American actor was a recurring cast in the TV drama series Oz starring J. K. Simmons, Rita Moreno, Ernie Hudson, and Lee Tergesen.

Later, in 1999, Meloni was cast in the legal-drama series Law & Order: Special Victim Unit, & worked until 2011, totaling appearance in 272 episodes.

The Law & Order series won him an OFTA Television Award in 1999 & earned a nomination for the 2006 Primetime Emmy Award.

Further TV works of the actor as the main cast include True Blood (2012), Underground (2016- 2017), and Happy! (2017- 2019).

Movies & Its Box-Office Collection

Meloni made his film debut from Clean Slate (1994) & appeared in the buddy comedy film Junior, the same year, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito and Emma Thompson.

In 1995, he appeared in the box-office hit 12 Monkeys starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. In 1996, Christopher portrayed Johnnie Mazzone, the hotheaded son of a Mafia don, in the critically acclaimed movie Bound. 

Thereafter, Meloni starred in the many box-office blockbusters: Runaway Bride (1999) and Man of Steel (2013).

Meloni portrayed Colonel Nathan Hardy in the 2013 superhero film Man of Steel
Meloni portrayed Colonel Nathan Hardy in the 2013 superhero film Man of Steel

Source: Rolling Stone

His appearance in critically acclaimed films includes 42 (2013) and The Diary Of A Teenage Girl (2015).

Some other notable film works of the actor are in Wet Hot American Summer (2001), Harold & Kumar Go film series (2004 & 2008), and Carriers (2009).

Box-Office Collection:

Films Budget Box-Office Collection
Junior (1994) $60 million $108.4 million
12 Monkeys (1995) $29.5 million $168.8 million
Runaway Bride (1999) starring Julia Roberts & Richard Gere $70 million $309.4 million
Man of Steel (2013) alongside Henry Cavill, Amy Adams & Russell Crowe $225-$258 million $668 million

Ownership Of Properties: Where Does He Live?

Christopher Meloni currently lives in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, with his wife Sherman Williams & 2 children.

The couple married on July 1, 1995, & shares daughter Sophia Eva Pietra (b. March 23, 2001) and son Dante Amadeo (b. January 2, 2004), both via surrogacy.

The Law & Order: SVU actor bought the 5-bedroom & 5-bathroom property in LA in December 2014 for a reported $5.25 million. It was formerly acquired by The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet stars Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.

Furthermore, the actor owns another property in New Milford, Connecticut, which is his weekend home.

Sold Homes In New York & Connecticut

Formerly, Meloni’s family of 4 lived in New York City apartment spread over 2,977 square ft. & boasting 3 bedrooms & 4.5 bathrooms, until it was sold for $8.95 million in September 2015.

With his wife Sherman, Meloni bought the Midtown apartment in June 2005 for $4.5 million. Reportedly, it saw a $3 million slash in asking price of $12 million (of March 2012) as it previously failed to lure a buyer.

As reported, the duo also once owned an 8,063-sq. ft. mansion at 982 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan, Connecticut.

The 5-bedroom property cost them $4.381 million at the time of purchase in August 2012 & the following April, Christopher put it for sale asking $4.8 million.

After 2 years, the house was sold at a loss in December 2014 for $4.3 million.

Read More: Pamela Bowen-Net Worth

Donations & Charity Works

An acclaimed card shark, Meloni competed in Celebrity Poker Showdown (in 2004 & 2006); he finished 2nd in 2006 & gave his prize money to Feed the Children.

In 2006, he appeared in Celebrity Jeopardy! & donated each half of the $50,000 charity prize to Big Apple Circus Clown Care Program and the Montefiore Advocacy Center.

Later, Christopher, in 2009, appeared in Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational & gave his $25,000 earnings to non-profit Smile Train.

He has associations with other non-profit organizations like Alzheimer’s Association, Joyful Heart Foundation, and Human Rights Campaign.

Did you know? As an avid supporter of LGBT rights, Christopher has appeared in public service announcements on behalf of LGBT. Along with actor Jake Gyllenhaal and director Ang Lee, he was awarded the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Award in 2006.

Short-Bio

Christopher Peter Meloni was born on April 2, 1961, in Washington, District of Columbia, the USA. His father Charles Robert Meloni (1927-2012) was an endocrinologist while mother Cecile Meloni (1926- 2016) was a homemaker.

Chris is the youngest of 3 children; he has an elder brother Robert Meloni Jr & an elder sister named Michele Meloni.

He attended St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School and enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder, from where he graduated in history in 1983.

After moving to New York, Meloni went to Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and in Center for the Media Arts.

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