Net Worth Ranker
What Is Mark Harmon’s Net Worth?
Mark Harmon, a celebrated American actor, boasts a net worth of $120 million. This substantial wealth is primarily attributed to his successful acting career, particularly his long-standing role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the hit television series “NCIS.” His financial portfolio also includes earnings from producing credits, syndication royalties, and earlier acting roles in television and film.
Mark Harmon’s Salary and Career Highlights
Harmon’s financial success peaked during his time on “NCIS,” where he earned $525,000 per episode. With a standard 24-episode season, this equated to an annual salary of $12.6 million from the show alone. His additional income from producer credits and syndication deals consistently pushed his yearly earnings above $20 million.
Before his prominent role in “NCIS,” Harmon built a solid foundation through various acting roles. In 1975, he appeared in shows such as “Ozzie’s Girls,” “Adam-12,” “Police Woman,” and “Emergency!” His early career also involved collaborations with producer Jack Webb, including “905-Wild” and “Sam” in 1978. A significant milestone was his Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role in “Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years” in 1977.
The 1980s saw Harmon’s career flourish further. He gained recognition in the primetime soap opera “Flamingo Road” in 1980, followed by his role as Dr. Robert Caldwell on “St. Elsewhere” starting in 1983. In January 1986, he was named “Sexiest Man Alive” by “People” magazine. While his feature films like “Stealing Home” and “The Presidio” in 1988 did not achieve widespread acclaim, his television projects remained successful. He starred in numerous television films during the late 1980s, including “Prince of Bel Air” (1986), “The Deliberate Stranger” (1986), and “After the Promise” (1987).
From 1991 to 1993, Harmon starred as Chicago police detective Dickie Cobb in the NBC series “Reasonable Doubts.” He continued with regular television roles, including the ABC series “Charlie Grace” in 1995 and the ensemble medical show “Chicago Hope” from 1996 to 2000. In May 2002, he joined “The West Wing” for a four-episode arc as Secret Service agent Simon Donovan, earning him his second Emmy nomination.
Donald P. Bellisario, the creator of “JAG” and “NCIS,” was impressed by Harmon’s performance in “The West Wing” and cast him as NCIS agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Gibbs was introduced on “JAG” in April 2003, leading to Harmon’s starring role in “NCIS” in September 2003. Harmon remained a central figure in the show until his departure at the end of season 19. He also took on producing and executive producing roles for the show starting in 2008. His work on “NCIS” earned him six People’s Choice Awards nominations, including a win for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor in 2017.
Beyond television, Harmon has participated in stage productions in Los Angeles and Toronto, including “Wrestlers” and “The Wager” at the Cast Theatre in LA. In the late 1980s, he was part of the Canadian premiere of “Key Exchange.” He also starred opposite his wife, Pam Dawber, in multiple productions of “Love Letters.” In 2014, Harmon founded Wings Productions to produce “NCIS: New Orleans.” In 2018, he became a producer for a CBS series based on John Sandford’s “Prey” novels. Harmon also directed episodes of “Chicago Hope” in 1999 and 2000, and “Boston Public” in 2002. In 2023, Harmon co-authored “Ghosts of Honolulu” with “NCIS” tech advisor Leon Carroll Jr.
Mark Harmon’s Early Life and Education
Thomas Mark Harmon was born on September 2, 1951, in Burbank, California. His father, Tom Harmon, was a Heisman Trophy-winning football player and broadcaster, while his mother, Elyse Knox, was an actress, model, designer, and artist. He attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles and later earned an associate degree at Pierce College, where he played football. Harmon received offers from multiple major college football programs, ultimately choosing to attend UCLA over Oklahoma. He played as the Bruins’ starting quarterback in 1972 and 1973.
After college, Harmon considered careers in advertising or law before deciding to pursue acting.
Mark Harmon’s Personal Life and Real Estate
Harmon married actress Pam Dawber on March 21, 1987. They have two sons, Sean Thomas Harmon (born 1988) and Ty Christian Harmon (born 1992). In 1987, Harmon filed for custody of his sister Kristin’s youngest child, Sam, but later dropped the bid.
In the late 1980s, Mark and Pam acquired a home in LA’s Mandeville Canyon area for $4 million. They renovated the property extensively before selling it to director Barry Levinson in 1990 for $7.9 million. Their primary residence for over two decades has been a mansion in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood, estimated to be worth over $15 million today. Additionally, in 1998, they purchased a hilltop home in Malibu with ocean views for $610,000, which is now likely valued at $10-12 million.
