Latest Update: William Petersen's Assets & Salary in Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, William Petersen has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What is William Petersen's Net Worth and Salary?

William Petersen is an American actor and producer who has a net worth of $50 million. William Petersen is best known for starring as Gil Grissom on the CBS series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." He was a series regular from 2000 to 2010, then came back as a guest star during the show's last few seasons. Petersen has 35+ acting credits to his name, including the films "Manhunter" (1986), "Fear" (1996), "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" (2012) and the miniseries "Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993). William has served as a producer on "CSI," the 1991 feature film "Hard Promises," and the 1992 TV movie "Keep the Change."

CSI Salary

At the peak of the series, William Petersen's salary was $600,000 per episode. That worked out to around $18 million for the season, which made him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. With syndication points and other fees, he could continue to earn $15-18 million per year from the franchise well after leaving the show.

(Photo by KMazur/WireImage)

Early Life

William Petersen was born William Louis Petersen on February 21, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois. He grew up in a Roman Catholic household with his mother June, father, Arthur, and siblings Elizabeth, Arthur Jr., Anne, Robert, and Mary Kay. William attended Bishop Kelly High School in Idaho, graduating in 1972, and he earned a football scholarship to Idaho State University. After he took an acting class at Idaho State, Petersen decided to focus on a career in acting instead of sports. He followed one of his acting professors to Spain's Basque country and studied Shakespearean acting. After returning to the U.S., William lived with relatives in Chicago and began acting in local theatrical productions, earning his Actors' Equity card. He got involved with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and in 2008, he became an ensemble member. Petersen also co-founded Chicago's Remains Theater Ensemble, which includedTed Levine, who went on to appear in "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Monk," andGary Cole, who has amassed more than 180 acting credits, including "Office Space" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

Career

Ultimately, William Petersen's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.