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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCelebrity Net Worth lists William Petersen’s net worth at $50 million. That is a third-party estimate, not a verified figure. The site describes its net-worth calculations as estimates, and we found no personal financial disclosure or audited figure from Petersen himself. The only dated pay figure tied to his best-known role is a 2008 salary report, which describes per-episode CSI pay, not his total wealth.
What the $50 million figure is
Celebrity Net Worth, a celebrity-finance site, puts Petersen at $50 million. The page we could access did not show a publication date, so the figure cannot be dated. Because it is not tied to a disclosed balance sheet, it cannot be checked against his actual assets, debts, investments, or property holdings. Read it as a published approximation, and do not cite it as a confirmed number.
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Net worth and salary are different measures
Readers often merge these two ideas, so it helps to separate them:
- Net worth is a snapshot: total assets minus liabilities at a given point in time.
- Salary is pay for work over a period, such as a season or a single episode.
A high per-episode fee tells you what a production paid for a stretch of work. It does not tell you how much an actor has saved, invested, spent, or owed, and it says nothing about years of other income.
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The reported CSI pay
A 2008 TV Guide report said Petersen’s renewed CSI contract was reportedly worth $600,000 per episode, up from $500,000. The report attributed the figure to an unnamed CSI insider and said the deal specifics were not disclosed. The table below sets out the two figures and the main figure in the estimate.
| Figure | What it measures | Source and date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50 million | Estimated total net worth | Celebrity Net Worth; publication date not stated on the accessed page | Third-party estimate; the site labels its calculations as estimates |
| $500,000 per episode | Previous reported CSI pay rate | TV Guide, 2008 | Reported; attributed to an unnamed insider; terms not disclosed |
| $600,000 per episode | Renewed CSI pay rate, reported for the 2008–09 season | TV Guide, 2008 | Reported; attributed to an unnamed insider; terms not disclosed |
These figures are not interchangeable. The per-episode rates cannot be multiplied by his total episode count to produce lifetime earnings, because the report covers one renewal, not his full run, and it does not show what he was paid in other years or after taxes and agent fees.
Rank #2
- C.S.I.Crime Scene Investigation THE COMPLETE SERIES
Career context behind the earnings picture
The CSI years
The Los Angeles Times identifies Gil Grissom on CSI as Petersen’s best-known role. Its July 5, 2010 profile said he had appeared in more than 190 CSI episodes at that time. That is a historical count from 2010, not a current total for the series. The same profile reports that he left after the tenth episode of season nine to pursue stage acting.
In an interview excerpt reprinted by CSI Files from Entertainment Weekly, Petersen said: “The reason I’m leaving is because I’m afraid I’m becoming too comfortable.” The quote concerns his career choice, not his finances.
Rank #3
Film, theater, and producing
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce profile, which covers his Walk of Fame career summary, lists work in film, television, and theater. Its screen credits include To Live and Die in L.A., Manhunter, Fear, and The Contender. The profile also notes that he remained an executive producer after leaving CSI. TV Insider describes his producer role on the series as well. Producing credits and a longer film career mean his income likely came from more than one source, but none of the sources reviewed quantifies that income.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What cannot be established
- Current assets and liabilities. No source we reviewed gives Petersen’s present property, investments, debts, or savings.
- Current income. The most recent dated source is the 2010 Los Angeles Times profile, and the most recent pay figure is from 2008. Neither describes his finances in 2026.
- A verified net worth. The $50 million figure is an estimate. Treat it as unverified until Petersen or a financial record confirms it.
If you need a figure for citation, cite Celebrity Net Worth’s $50 million estimate with its estimate label and the date you accessed it, and keep the 2008 TV Guide pay report separate, since it describes salary, not wealth.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Genre: TV Drama
- Number of Discs: 25
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 4548
- Rating: NR
Rank #4
- All regions
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