Pauley Perrette played Abby Sciuto on the CBS hit show NCIS for 15 seasons, NCIS is among the best TV shows with 10 seasons or more. It came as a total shock to many when Perrette decided to leave the show in 2018, mainly because the role earned her $200,000 per episode. Also, owing to the fact that Abby Sciuto was a fan favorite, but alas reports of behind-the-scenes conflicts saw Pauley leaving the gig behind.

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Pauley has a $22 million dollar net worth, which she earned primarily through acting, leaving NCIS meant losing a significant income source. It is worth noting that Perrette is also a singer. Although she later starred in another CBS show, Broke, which was short-lived. It was canceled just after airing for one season. In 2020 Pauley announced her retirement from acting.

She Was Making $200,000 Per Episode Of NCIS

NCIS skyrocketed Pauley Perrette to stardom, she brought Abby Sciuto to life in a way that only she could. Perhaps her Master’s Degree in criminology gave her the extra edge that helped her portray Abby perfectly. It's the role that turned her into a household name and earned her an estimated $200,000 per episode.

She even made Forbes' highest-paid actresses list in 2017. Acting wasn't always a passion of hers, but after learning how much it paid, she decided to give it a shot. She started out in commercials and eventually landed minor roles in movies.

In an interview with CBS, Perrette revealed, "I had overheard a girl say she had made $3,000 shooting a commercial. And I was thinking, 'Who has $3,000? Like, that's insane. That's crazy! $3,000!" She added, "Who would have $3,000? That's nuts.' So then Walter from coat check, the actor, had come up to me and said, 'I know this director who'd love you.' So I found the guy's name, walked into his office, and I went, 'Hey. Walter from coat check said you'd love me."

Pauley Has $22 Million Net Worth

The 52-year-old has done pretty well for herself, she has amassed quite the nest egg. Pauley has a net worth of $22 million dollars, the NCIS paycheck helped her acquire her wealth. It may not be as much as her former co-star Mark Harmon, who has a $100,000 net worth, but it's still pretty impressive.

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Perhaps, what most people aren't aware of is that Perrette is also a singer. The multi-talented star has released several singles over the years. One of her songs was even featured as an official soundtrack on NCIS, it's unknown whether she was compensated for the contribution. However, it's safe to assume that her music is another income source for Pauley.

Why Did She Leave NCIS?

When Pauley left NCIS, there was speculation about why she made the drastic decision to do so. Rumors of a behind-the-scenes conflict made headlines and Pauley eventually revealed that she was terrified of her co-star Mark Harmon and would never be going back to the show.

According to The Wrap, "Many “NCIS” viewers started pointing out months ago that stars Pauley Perrette and Mark Harmon were no longer appearing together on-screen: They didn’t even share a stage for Perrette’s final episode last week."

"The reason goes back to an incident in 2016 in which Harmon’s dog bit a member of the crew, requiring 15 stitches, and Perrette objected when the dog was allowed to return to the set afterward, according to multiple individuals familiar with the situation."

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The former co-stars were reportedly never in the same location when filming, this was after their off-screen conflict. "For years, the banter between Harmon’s seen-it-all special agent, Gibbs, and Perrette’s free-spirited forensic scientist, Abby, fueled the military procedural. But the tension between the two stars became so bad after the dog-bite incident that the show came to an arrangement in which the stars never had to be in the same location together."

Her New Show Was Canceled And Then She Retired From Acting

After leaving the procedural crime drama, Pauley went on to star in another CBS show, called Broke. Unfortunately, it only aired for one season before it was canceled. What followed was Perrette announcing her retirement not long after Broke's cancellation. She shared the news on her Twitter account, Pauley also revealed how leaving showbiz had shown her who are real friends were.

She isn't the first celebrity to leave it all behind, other stars have gone down that route too before. From Cameron Diaz and Sean Connery to Gene Hackman. She may have left Hollywood for a quieter life, but to most fans, she'll always be Abby Sciuto. That's the role that her fans fondly remember her by.

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