6 min read
Rocky Carroll is one of television’s most reliable working actors. For over a decade, he has played Director Leon Vance on NCIS, one of the most-watched drama franchises on American TV. That long run has made a lot of fans curious about one thing: how much money has it actually earned him?
As of 2026, Rocky Carroll’s net worth is estimated at around $10 million. This figure comes from a mix of acting income, directing fees, and years of residual payments from a show that has stayed on air since 2003. Like most celebrity net worth figures, it is not an official number confirmed by Carroll himself — it is a public estimate based on career history, industry pay patterns, and reporting from multiple entertainment finance sites.
This article breaks down where that estimate comes from, how Carroll built his career, and what his income sources look like heading into 2026.
Quick Facts: Rocky Carroll
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Roscoe Fulton Carroll |
| Known As | Rocky Carroll |
| Born | July 8, 1963, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Profession | Actor, Director |
| Years Active | 1984–present |
| Known For | Leon Vance on NCIS, Dr. Keith Wilkes on Chicago Hope, Joey Emerson on Roc |
| Education | Webster University, Conservatory of Theatre Arts (BFA) |
| Net Worth (2026, estimated) | Around $10 million (reports range $8M–$10M) |
| Main Income Sources | TV acting salary, directing fees, residuals |
Who Is Rocky Carroll?
Rocky Carroll was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and trained as a classical actor before he ever appeared on screen. He studied at Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, where he earned a BFA, then moved to New York to work in theater. His early stage work included Shakespeare productions and a run in The Piano Lesson on Broadway, which won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
His screen career started to take shape in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He appeared in the war film Born on the Fourth of July and the submarine thriller Crimson Tide, alongside Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. On television, he became known to a wider audience through Roc, a Fox sitcom, and then through his role as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope, which ran through the 1990s.
Career Breakthrough: NCIS
Carroll’s biggest and longest-running role came in 2003, when he joined NCIS as Assistant Director Leon Vance. After the character was promoted to Director following a cast shake-up, Carroll became a permanent fixture of the show. He later reprised the role in the spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans.
This is the role that has done the most for his net worth. Long-running network dramas pay lead and recurring cast members well, and that income compounds year after year through:
- Base salary per episode, which tends to rise the longer an actor stays on a show
- Residual payments when episodes are rerun or streamed
- Directing fees, since Carroll has directed several NCIS episodes himself
Unlike actors who chase one-off blockbuster paydays, Carroll’s financial story is really about steady, long-term television work — the kind that builds wealth slowly but reliably.
Rocky Carroll Net Worth 2026: The Numbers
Public estimates of Carroll’s 2026 net worth are not identical across sources, which is normal for celebrity finance reporting since none of it comes from tax filings or official statements. Here’s what the range looks like:
- Several sites place his net worth at $10 million, citing his multi-decade NCIS run as the main driver
- A couple of sources estimate closer to $8 million
- One smaller site listed a lower figure of around $3 million, which appears to be an outlier compared to the rest of the reporting
Because the $8–10 million range shows up most consistently across independent sources, that’s the range used in this profile, with $10 million treated as the most-cited figure for 2026. As always with celebrity net worth, treat this as an informed estimate rather than a confirmed figure.
How Rocky Carroll Makes His Money
Television acting salary. His main and most consistent income source has been his NCIS salary, built up over more than 20 seasons across the franchise.
Directing work. Carroll has stepped behind the camera for NCIS episodes, which adds a separate fee on top of his acting income.
Residuals and syndication. NCIS is heavily syndicated and available on streaming platforms, which means Carroll continues to earn from older episodes long after they first aired.
Film and earlier TV work. Roles in Chicago Hope, Roc, and films like Crimson Tide and Yes Man added to his income earlier in his career, though they are a smaller share of his current wealth compared to NCIS.
Personal Life
Carroll trained as a classically grounded stage actor before moving into television, and he has spoken in past interviews about how his theater background shaped his approach to acting. According to public records, he has been married since 1996 and has one child. He tends to keep his personal life fairly private compared to some of his NCIS co-stars.
Rocky Carroll vs. Other NCIS Cast Members
Carroll’s estimated net worth is modest compared to some of his higher-profile NCIS co-stars, such as Mark Harmon, whose decades as the show’s lead actor and producer put him in a much higher earnings bracket. Carroll’s wealth reflects a supporting-but-consistent role rather than a lead one — which is still a strong outcome for a career built mostly on steady, long-running TV work rather than blockbuster film paydays.
FAQ
What is Rocky Carroll’s net worth in 2026?
Rocky Carroll’s net worth in 2026 is estimated at around $10 million, based on public reporting. Some sources place the figure closer to $8 million, so treat it as an estimated range rather than an exact number.
How did Rocky Carroll make his money?
Mainly through his long-running role as Leon Vance on NCIS, plus directing fees for episodes he directed and residual payments from reruns and streaming.
Is Rocky Carroll still on NCIS?
He has played Leon Vance since 2003 across the main NCIS series and its spin-offs, making him one of the franchise’s longest-serving cast members.
What was Rocky Carroll’s career before NCIS?
He trained in theater, appeared in Broadway productions, and had earlier TV roles on Roc and Chicago Hope, plus film roles in Crimson Tide and Born on the Fourth of July.
Disclaimer
Rocky Carroll’s net worth figure in this article is an estimate, not a number confirmed by Carroll or his representatives. Different sources report different figures, ranging from about $8 million to $10 million as of 2026. Celebrity net worth can change over time based on new projects, salary changes, and other financial factors, so treat this figure as a general estimate rather than an exact or fixed amount.
Written and researched by Hassan, editor at Her Net Worth Journey.
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Hassan is a writer and editor who researches and publishes fact-checked, easy-to-read content based on public information. He cross-checks details across multiple reliable sources before publishing. Spotted something outdated or incorrect