McGarrett Character Overview and Series Background
Steve McGarrett is the fictional lead character of the CBS police procedural Hawaii Five-O, which originally ran from 1968 to 1980. The character was portrayed by actor Jack Lord and later rebooted in the 2010 series on CBS, where Alex O'Loughlin played the role until the show ended in 2020. The series follows an elite state law enforcement task force operating outside standard police hierarchy to handle high-profile crimes in Hawaii, a structure that reflects the real-world authority of Hawaii's Governor to create special investigative units under state law.
The original Hawaii Five-O ran for 12 seasons and 281 episodes, making it one of the longest-running police dramas of its era. The rebooted version aired for 10 seasons and 240 episodes, concluding its run in April 2020. Both versions generated significant syndication revenue and remain popular in international markets, with the original series still airing on digital platforms and retro television networks worldwide.
Salary, Earnings, and Financial Details
Actor Compensation and Contract Terms
Alex O'Loughlin earned an estimated salary of around $200,000 per episode during the later seasons of the rebooted Hawaii Five-O, according to industry reports. His total earnings from the series over 10 seasons likely exceeded $10 million, including base pay and backend participation. Jack Lord, who played McGarrett in the original series, became one of the first television actors to negotiate a profit-sharing arrangement, reportedly securing a percentage of syndication profits that contributed to his long-term wealth.
Hawaii Five-O generated substantial revenue through domestic and international syndication. The original series entered off-network syndication in the 1970s and continues to generate licensing fees on streaming platforms and international broadcasters. The rebooted series was distributed by CBS Media Ventures and later made available on Paramount+, where it remains accessible to subscribers in the United States and select international markets.
Net Worth and Legacy
Character Influence and Franchise Value
The Hawaii Five-O franchise has maintained cultural relevance through reboots, spinoffs, and consistent viewership. The original series is credited with popularizing the police procedural format in American television and establishing Hawaii as a recurring backdrop for crime dramas. The reboot expanded the franchise into digital platforms and international co-productions, helping sustain audience engagement across multiple decades.
Steve McGarrett's portrayal by both Jack Lord and Alex O'Loughlin has influenced subsequent law enforcement characters in television and film. The character's leadership style, ethical code, and operational independence have been cited in industry analyses of fictional law enforcement leadership. The Hawaii Five-O brand remains a recognized property in television licensing, with the original series listed in the Library of Congress archives and the reboot cataloged under CBS Studios intellectual property records.
For background on television syndication economics and industry revenue models, see this overview from Forbes: The Economics of Television Syndication. For information on the original series' production and broadcast history, the Museum of Broadcast Communications provides archival data: Museum of Broadcast Communications.