How much is Donna Paulsen salary?

Asked by: Prof. Tyler O'Kon  |  Last update: January 28, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (62 votes)

Donna Paulsen's salary in Suits increased significantly with her role, estimated to rise from around $70,000-$90,000 annually as a legal secretary (Seasons 1-4) to $300,000-$400,000 as COO (Seasons 5-9), reflecting her career progression within the firm. While actress Sarah Rafferty's per-episode pay also grew, the show's fictional salaries reflected her rising responsibility from Harvey's secretary to the firm's Chief Operating Officer.

How much is Donna's salary in Suits?

Donna Paulsen's salary in Suits varied greatly, starting as a high-end legal secretary earning around $70k-$90k but significantly increasing to hundreds of thousands (possibly $200k+) as she became COO, supplemented by bonus payments from Harvey, with her total worth tied to her evolving role and firm success, not just a standard pay scale.
 

Who is the highest paid actor in Suits?

The highest-paid actor in the series Suits was Gabriel Macht, who played Harvey Specter, earning around $400,000 to $500,000 per episode in later seasons, with his earnings increasing due to producer credits and his leading role. He was the top earner among the cast, though co-star Meghan Markle (Rachel Zane) achieved significant wealth later through her royal marriage, making her the richest former Suits cast member overall.
 

How much did Donna earn as a secretary?

Financial Evaluation: Donna's career leap from a legal secretary ($70,000 - $90,000) to COO ($300,000 - $400,000) is nothing short of meteoric.

How much money did Sarah Rafferty make on Suits?

Sarah Rafferty's salary on Suits increased as the show progressed, reportedly starting around $35,000 per episode in earlier seasons (Seasons 1-4) and rising to about $60,000 per episode for the later seasons (Seasons 5-9), reflecting her character Donna Paulsen's growing importance. While specific total earnings aren't confirmed, these figures suggest significant pay raises over the show's run, with some reports estimating a total earning potential of millions for her work on the series. 

Donna and Harvey's ENTIRE Relationship Timeline | Suits | RomComs

34 related questions found

Who is the richest lawyer in Suits?

The richest lawyer in the TV show Suits is widely considered to be Harvey Specter, with estimates placing his potential annual earnings well over a million dollars and a net worth potentially in the tens of millions by the show's end, reflecting his status as a top "closer" and name partner at the prestigious firm.
 

Is Gabriel Macht a millionaire?

Gabriel Macht has an estimated net worth of $8 million in 2024. This valuation is a combined net worth shared with his wife of 20 years, Jacinda Barrett. Macht's net worth in 2024 consists of earnings from his acting career as well as some production and direction work.

Who got paid $1 million per episode?

Several stars hit the $1 million per episode mark, most famously the cast of Friends (Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, Perry, Schwimmer) for their final seasons, alongside Jerry Seinfeld, Helen Hunt & Paul Reiser (Mad About You), and later Reese Witherspoon & Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Steve Carell, and the main cast of The Big Bang Theory. This milestone, achieved by negotiating as a group, solidified TV actors' high value, with streaming services driving even higher fees later on. 

How much is Louis Litt worth?

Rick Hoffman played Louis Litt in all nine seasons of Suits. He's also known for his roles on The Bernie Mac Show and Samantha Who? It's estimated that he has a net worth of $1 million.

How much does Aimee Lou Wood make per episode?

Every actor on The White Lotus gets $40,000 per episode—whether you're Jason Isaacs or Aimee Lou Wood. In an industry where it's normal to get a check with more than five zeros for a 40-minute TV episode, The White Lotus is an exception. And not just because of its paradisiacal landscapes and satirical scenarios.

What does Sarah Rafferty do now?

Sarah Rafferty is currently starring as Katherine Walter in the popular Netflix series My Life with the Walter Boys, which has been renewed for a third season, and co-hosts the Suits rewatch podcast "Sidebar" with co-star Patrick J. Adams, alongside recent roles in Grey's Anatomy and Chicago Med, and brand ambassadorships.
 

Did Louis pay Donna's salary?

After Harvey humiliates Louis during the meeting, Louis accuses Harvey of being jealous, and Harvey responds by revealing to Louis that he has been paying Donna Paulsen's salary since she came to the firm.

How old is Harvey Specter in season 1?

In the show, Harvey is portrayed as being in his late 30s or early 40s during its initial seasons. This places him around 38 years old when we first meet him in Season 1. The timeline of 'Suits' spans several years, with characters evolving both personally and professionally throughout the series.

Is Harvey a billionaire?

Steve Harvey's net worth currently stands at approximately $200 million, with annual earnings around $45 million from his diversified media empire.

How rich is Will Smith's son?

Will Smith has two sons: Jaden Smith, whose net worth is estimated around $8 million from acting, music, and businesses like Just Water, and older half-brother Trey Smith, with an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million from DJing and acting. Both have built separate careers from their famous father, with Jaden focusing on entertainment/entrepreneurship and Trey on DJing/acting.
 

Who is the richest TV actress?

Top 10 Richest Indian TV Actresses 2024

  1. Hina Khan. Actress. ...
  2. Sargun Mehta. Producer. ...
  3. Shweta Tiwari. Actress Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2001–2008) ...
  4. Nia Sharma. Actress Jamai Raja (2014–2018) ...
  5. Jennifer Winget. Actress Beyhadh (2016–2017) ...
  6. Karishma Tanna. Actress Scoop (2023– ) ...
  7. Shraddha Arya. ...
  8. Divyanka Tripathi.

Who is the #1 paid actor?

As of early 2026, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is often cited as the world's highest-paid actor for earnings in 2024, making around $100+ million from big deals like streaming movie Red One, while Zoe Saldaña recently became the highest-grossing actor of all time by total box office, thanks to Avatar films. For a specific year's earnings, Johnson's 2024 take is massive, but Tom Cruise also saw huge payouts in 2025. 

Who is the billionaire in Suits?

Charles Forstman is a billionaire with a bad reputation of being a shady and manipulative banker.

Why has Gabriel Macht stopped acting?

Gabriel Macht stepped away from acting after Suits ended in 2019 primarily to focus on his family, wanting more time with his children after long filming hours meant missing their upbringing, and to experience life abroad with his wife, Jacinda Barrett, seeking a slower pace and anonymity outside the U.S. He felt he'd "put some creative good into the world" and wanted to pursue other interests, though he recently returned for the Suits: LA spinoff to support fans and the new show.
 

Do the actors in Suits get royalties?

Each principal performer would receive a pro rata share of 3.6% of the fee paid for each episode. So, again, for a $37.5M licensing fee for Suits, that would be $10,887 per episode equally split among all principal performers over the length of the deal.