Chris O'Donnell Net Worth

What Is Chris O'Donnell's Net Worth and Salary?

Chris O'Donnell is an American actor and producer who has a net worth of $25 million.

Chris O'Donnell first became recognizable as a teenage model and commercial actor before emerging as one of Hollywood's most promising young stars in the early 1990s. His performance opposite Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman" earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and he followed that breakthrough with prominent roles in "The Three Musketeers," "Circle of Friends," "Batman Forever," "The Chamber," and "Batman & Robin."

Although O'Donnell's movie career slowed after his run as Robin, he successfully reinvented himself as a television star. After appearing on "Grey's Anatomy" and in the miniseries "The Company," he landed the role of Special Agent G. Callen on "NCIS: Los Angeles." O'Donnell starred alongside LL Cool J throughout the show's entire 14-season run from 2009 to 2023. The series provided him with one of television's most durable leading roles and became the primary source of his earnings for more than a decade.

O'Donnell returned to network television in 2025 as firefighter Captain Don Hart in "9-1-1: Nashville." In addition to starring in the series, he serves as an executive producer.

Chris O'Donnell "NCIS" Salary

Chris O'Donnell's salary for "NCIS: Los Angeles" increased substantially during the show's run. During its earlier seasons, O'Donnell and LL Cool J each earned around $150,000 per episode.

At the height of the show's popularity, O'Donnell's salary was $350,000 per episode after backend participation and bonuses were included. During a full 24-episode season, that rate equaled $8.4 million.

Among O'Donnell's known film salaries, he earned $1.5 million for 1995's "Mad Love" and $4 million for 1996's "The Chamber."

Early Life

Christopher Eugene O'Donnell was born on June 26, 1970, in Winnetka, Illinois. He was raised in a Roman Catholic household as the youngest of seven children. His father worked as the general manager of a radio station.

O'Donnell attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, graduating in 1988. He later enrolled at Boston College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

Chris began modeling when he was 13 years old and appeared in advertisements for several companies. One of his most memorable early jobs was a McDonald's commercial in which he served breakfast to basketball superstar Michael Jordan.

Career Beginnings

O'Donnell began acting professionally while still in his teens. He appeared on the television series "Jack and Mike" before making his feature-film debut in the 1990 drama "Men Don't Leave," starring Jessica Lange.

He followed that role with an appearance in the 1991 ensemble drama "Fried Green Tomatoes." In 1992, O'Donnell joined Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon in "School Ties," a drama about antisemitism at an elite preparatory school.

His breakthrough came later that year in "Scent of a Woman." O'Donnell played Charlie Simms, a financially struggling prep-school student hired to assist a blind and temperamental retired Army officer played by Al Pacino. Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Actor, while O'Donnell received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

1990s Film Stardom

Following "Scent of a Woman," O'Donnell became one of Hollywood's most in-demand young actors. He played D'Artagnan in Disney's 1993 adventure film "The Three Musketeers" and appeared opposite Jessica Lange in "Blue Sky." Although "Blue Sky" was filmed several years earlier, its release had been delayed by the financial collapse of Orion Pictures. Lange eventually won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

In 1995, O'Donnell starred in the Irish romantic drama "Circle of Friends," which became a critical and commercial success. He also appeared opposite Drew Barrymore in "Mad Love."

O'Donnell's profile reached a new level when he was cast as Dick Grayson, better known as Robin, in 1995's "Batman Forever." Appearing opposite Val Kilmer as Batman, O'Donnell helped turn the film into one of the year's biggest box-office successes.

Getty

Robin and Later Film Roles

In 1996, O'Donnell starred opposite Gene Hackman in the legal thriller "The Chamber," based on the novel by John Grisham. He also portrayed author Ernest Hemingway in the romantic drama "In Love and War."

O'Donnell returned as Robin in 1997's "Batman & Robin," this time appearing opposite George Clooney. Although the movie earned more than $230 million worldwide, it received overwhelmingly negative reviews and became infamous for its exaggerated costumes, dialogue, and visual style.

O'Donnell subsequently became more selective about his projects. He appeared in films including "The Bachelor," "Vertical Limit," "Kinsey," "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl," and "Max Payne." He also provided a voice for the 2010 family film "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore."

Television Career

O'Donnell began shifting his attention toward television during the 2000s. He made guest appearances on "Two and a Half Men" and "Head Cases" and played veterinarian Dr. Finn Dandridge in a recurring role on "Grey's Anatomy."

In 2007, he portrayed CIA officer Jack McAuliffe in the TNT miniseries "The Company," which followed American intelligence agents during the Cold War. The project helped establish O'Donnell as a dependable television leading man.

His biggest television opportunity arrived in 2009 when he was cast as G. Callen on "NCIS: Los Angeles." The character was a highly skilled undercover operative with a mysterious childhood and a complicated family history. O'Donnell's partnership with LL Cool J, who played Sam Hanna, became the foundation of the series.

"NCIS: Los Angeles" ran for 14 seasons and more than 300 episodes before ending in 2023. O'Donnell appeared throughout the entire run and also directed several episodes.

"9-1-1: Nashville"

Following the conclusion of "NCIS: Los Angeles," O'Donnell joined the "9-1-1" franchise. He was cast as Don Hart, a veteran firefighter and rodeo rider who commands one of Nashville's busiest firehouses, in "9-1-1: Nashville."

The series premiered on ABC in 2025, with O'Donnell starring alongside Jessica Capshaw, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and LeAnn Rimes. O'Donnell also serves as an executive producer alongside a team that includes Angela Bassett. The show was renewed for a second season in 2026.

O'Donnell has also worked behind the scenes as a creator and producer. He helped develop and executive produced the CBS family dance competition "Come Dance with Me," which premiered in 2022.

Personal Life

Chris married Caroline Fentress in 1997. He met Caroline through her brother, who had been one of his college friends. The couple has five children: Lily, Christopher Jr., Charles, Finley, and Maeve.

Several of their children have made brief appearances on "NCIS: Los Angeles." O'Donnell has frequently described his family as his primary consideration when choosing acting projects, particularly during the years when his children were young.

Real Estate

In 2000, Chris and Caroline paid $2.95 million for a home in Pacific Palisades, California. The 5,191-square-foot residence featured multiple bedrooms, a large lawn, and a swimming pool. O'Donnell listed the property for sale in 2008 with an asking price of $5.395 million.

Who's Richer?

Chris
O'Donnell

Compare!

Daniela
Ruah