NBC and Dick Wolf have signed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni to rich two-year deals, according to Variety.
According to the trade paper, insiders said the new pact gives both stars substantial raises over their existing deals, with annual salaries of more than $6.5 million each. It's believed that with the bump, Hargitay will become, at minimum, one of the highest-paid actresses in network TV.
That would put her paycheck in the $300,000-$340,000 per episode range. Given their co-lead status, it seems likely Meloni's paycheck is in the same range as Hargitay's.
Wolf said he's happy "that Chris and Mariska have decided to stay with a show that they've made an indelible stamp upon as we move into our ninth season."
Anticipating a deal was close, NBC last week announced that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit would be returning next fall.
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