David Caruso is one of those rare television names that people never really forget. Best known for playing the cool, sunglasses-wearing Lieutenant Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, his career story is anything but ordinary, a dramatic rise, a controversial fall, and a quiet but very real financial comeback that most fans never saw coming.
His wealth did not come easy or in a straight line. He walked away from NYPD Blue at the height of early fame, nearly disappeared from Hollywood, then returned to earn up to $375,000 per episode on one of CBS’s biggest shows ever. Today, at 70, he no longer acts, but his royalties, art gallery, and smart investments keep his net worth firmly in the multi-million dollar range.
This guide covers everything you want to know, David Caruso net worth in 2026, his salary history, income sources, personal life, and what he is actually doing right now. If you have ever wondered how rich David Caruso really is, you are about to find out.
Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | David Stephen Caruso |
| Date of Birth | January 7, 1956 |
| Age (2026) | 70 years old |
| Next Birthday | January 7, 2027 |
| Next Birthday Age | 71 years old |
| Birthplace | Forest Hills, Queens, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Producer, Art Dealer |
| Known For | NYPD Blue, CSI: Miami |
| Net Worth (2026) | $25–$35 million (est.) |
| Active Years | 1980–2012 (acting); 2012–present (business) |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Relationship Status | Single (as of 2026) |
Who Is David Caruso
David Caruso is a retired American actor and producer best known for two landmark television roles. He played Detective John Kelly on NYPD Blue (1993–1994) and Lieutenant Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami (2002–2012).
He became a household name for his cool, methodical style on screen particularly the iconic sunglasses-and-one-liner routine at the start of every CSI: Miami episode. That character became one of the most memed and parodied figures in television history.
Born in Queens, New York, Caruso grew up in a working-class household and taught himself to love film by working as a cinema usher in his teens. Since retiring from acting in 2012, he has kept a very low profile, focusing on art dealing and a quiet personal life in Westlake Village, California.
David Caruso Net Worth In 2023–2026
David Caruso’s net worth has remained relatively stable in recent years. He no longer acts, but his financial base is solid thanks to years of peak-era television earnings, royalties, real estate, and his art gallery business.
| Year | Estimated Net Worth |
| 2023 | ~$25 million |
| 2024 | ~$27 million |
| 2025 | ~$30 million |
| 2026 | ~$25–$35 million |
These figures reflect a combination of passive income streams and the ongoing syndication royalties from CSI: Miami, which still airs in multiple markets worldwide.
David Caruso Net Worth In 2026
As of 2026, David Caruso’s net worth is estimated between $25 million and $35 million. The wide range reflects the fact that Caruso is intensely private and does not disclose financial details publicly.
His wealth comes primarily from his acting career, peak earnings, backend royalties, and post-retirement business ventures. His art gallery in Westlake Village, California, continues to operate and adds to his income each year.
Most sources lean toward the $35 million figure when accounting for his real estate holdings, accumulated syndication income, and investments made during his highest-earning years on CSI: Miami.
David Caruso Net Worth In 2025
In 2025, David Caruso’s estimated net worth sat around $30 million. He made rare public appearances that year, most notably when he was photographed in April 2025 transporting paintings to his art gallery in Westlake, California.
He looked noticeably different, relaxed, with longer red hair and casual clothing far removed from his signature detective look. It confirmed he had settled into a comfortable, private life well away from Hollywood’s spotlight.
His gallery work and passive income streams from royalties kept his financial picture steady through 2025.
David Caruso Net Worth In 2024
David Caruso’s net worth in 2024 was estimated at around $27 million. He was last spotted publicly in December 2024 at his gallery in Westlake, maintaining his trademark low profile.
Royalty income from CSI: Miami re-runs continued to provide consistent cash flow. With minimal spending on a public lifestyle, his accumulated wealth held strong during this period.
David Caruso Net Worth In 2023
In 2023, David Caruso’s net worth was approximately $25 million. He was briefly photographed running errands in Los Angeles late in the year, one of only a handful of public sightings since his retirement.
His financial position in 2023 was largely the same as prior years stable, private, and built on a foundation of peak TV earnings from years prior.
Salary Details
David Caruso’s salary history is one of the most dramatic in American television.
| Role / Show | Salary |
| NYPD Blue (Season 1) | $42,500 per episode |
| NYPD Blue (Demanded) | $100,000 per episode (refused) |
| CSI: Miami (Early Seasons) | ~$150,000 per episode |
| CSI: Miami (Peak Earnings) | ~$375,000 per episode |
| CSI: Miami (Per Season at Peak) | ~$9 million |
His total earnings from CSI: Miami across 10 seasons are estimated to have exceeded $60–$70 million before taxes and expenses.
His early refusal to accept a modest raise on NYPD Blue was widely criticized at the time. Looking back, his eventual windfall from CSI: Miami suggests his instinct for self-worth, however poorly timed, was not entirely wrong.
Sources of Income
David Caruso’s financial success comes from several streams:
Acting and Salary: The biggest single source of his David Caruso wealth. His decade on CSI: Miami alone brought in tens of millions of dollars.
Royalties and Residuals: CSI: Miami ran for 10 seasons and still airs in syndication globally. These ongoing royalty payments continue to add to his income every year without any new work required.
Art Business: Since 2012, Caruso has run an art gallery in Westlake Village, California (sometimes referred to as Caruso Art). He curates and sells contemporary works, turning his personal passion into a revenue stream.
Real Estate Investments: Over his career, Caruso invested in property, adding to his overall asset base and providing long-term financial security.
Production Income: During his peak years, Caruso also worked in a producing capacity on some projects, earning additional income beyond his on-screen salary.
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Post Acting Ventures
After CSI: Miami ended in 2012, Caruso stepped away from Hollywood completely and moved into the art world.
He opened an art gallery in Westlake Village, a quiet suburb northwest of Los Angeles. The gallery, which focuses on contemporary works, is believed to be his primary day-to-day occupation in 2026.
He has also been linked to two digital media websites LexiconDigital.tv and DavidCarusoTelevision.tv which represent another small but notable post-acting business venture.
He does not maintain personal social media accounts. Associates have described him as someone who strongly prefers real-world connections over online ones. His gallery reportedly uses mailers and in-person events to engage clients.
David Caruso Age
David Caruso was born on January 7, 1956, making him 70 years old in 2026. He spent over three decades in the entertainment industry before stepping back entirely. His next birthday will be his 71st, coming up on January 7, 2027.
At 70, he is considered one of the most successful retired television actors of his generation. His career arc from a cinema usher in Queens to one of CBS’s highest-paid actors remains a remarkable American success story.
Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
| Feature | Details |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 185–195 lbs (84–88 kg) est. |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Red (natural); noted as longer and casual in 2025 sightings |
| Build | Athletic in earlier career; fuller frame noted post-retirement |
| Distinctive Features | Pale complexion, sharp blue eyes, trademark sunglasses on screen |
David Caruso’s red hair and piercing blue eyes made him instantly recognizable on screen. In his 2025 public sightings, fans noted he looked noticeably different, relaxed and fuller in build compared to his lean, suited CSI: Miami persona.
Early Life and Background
David Stephen Caruso was born on January 7, 1956, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. He is of Irish and Italian (specifically Sicilian and Neapolitan) descent, which gave him that striking combination of pale skin and dark intensity that would serve him well on screen.
His father, Charles Caruso, was a magazine and newspaper editor who left the family when David was just two years old. His mother Joan, a librarian, raised him and his sister Joyce as a single parent.
Growing up without a father in the house had a lasting impact on Caruso. He later said he effectively had to “father himself,” developing a fierce independence that marked both his professional and personal life.
He attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic School in Forest Hills, then Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, where he graduated in 1974. During his school years, he worked as a cinema usher and claims he watched up to 80 movies a week on the job. It was there he discovered his love for acting, inspired by classic screen icons like Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney.
David Caruso Wife
David Caruso has been married three times:
Cheri Maugans (1979–1984): His first marriage. The couple divorced after five years together.
Rachel Ticotin (1984–1987): His second marriage, to actress Rachel Ticotin (Total Recall, Man on Fire). They had one daughter together, Greta Caruso, before divorcing in 1987.
Margaret Buckley (1996–2007): His longest marriage, lasting over a decade before ending in divorce in early 2007.
Outside of his marriages, Caruso had a long relationship with Liza Marquez, with whom he has two children: son Marquez (born 2005) and daughter Paloma (born 2007). Their relationship ended acrimoniously; Marquez filed a lawsuit in April 2009, accusing Caruso of fraud, breach of their settlement agreement, and emotional distress.
As of 2026, David Caruso is reported to be single. He has not publicly confirmed any new relationship.
David Caruso Girlfriend 2025
In 2025, there is no confirmed girlfriend or partner for David Caruso. He keeps his personal life extremely private. He was photographed in April 2025 with a female associate while carrying paintings to his gallery, but no romantic link was confirmed by any credible source.
His focus in recent years appears to be his art gallery, his two youngest children with Liza Marquez, and a deliberately quiet life away from celebrity culture.
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Acting Career
Early Career (1980s)
Caruso’s first on-screen appearance came in the 1980 film Getting Wasted, where he played a character named Danny. But it was his small yet memorable role in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) as Topper Daniels, “the cadet who nearly drowned” that got industry insiders to notice him.
He also appeared in First Blood (1982) alongside Sylvester Stallone, playing the sympathetic young deputy who protests the abuse of John Rambo. That same year, he began building a television reputation with a recurring role in Hill Street Blues (NBC), playing gang leader Tommy Mann across seven episodes between 1981 and 1983.
Throughout the rest of the decade, Caruso took supporting roles in films like Blue City (1986), China Girl (1987), and Twins (1988), slowly establishing himself as a reliable character actor.
Rise to Fame (1990s)
The 1990s were a rollercoaster for David Caruso’s career, the best and worst decade of his professional life wrapped into one.
He appeared in the crime films King of New York (1990) and Mad Dog and Glory (1993) in supporting police roles. In 1991, while filming Hudson Hawk, he used full method acting, refusing to speak to anyone on set because his character Kit-Kat had his tongue bitten off.
Then came the defining moment: in 1993, Caruso landed the role of Detective John Kelly on ABC’s NYPD Blue, created by Steven Bochco. He was an immediate sensation. TV Guide named him one of the six new stars to watch in the 1993–1994 season, and he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 1994.
But then he made one of the most talked-about career moves in television history: he left NYPD Blue after just one season. His salary demands reportedly $100,000 per episode plus a 38-foot trailer, Fridays off, office suites, first-class flights, and personal security were not met, and he walked away from what became one of the decade’s biggest shows.
His film career that followed was a disaster. Kiss of Death (1995) and Jade (1995) were both critical and commercial failures. He was even nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star. He spent years in career purgatory before returning to TV in 1997 with the short-lived CBS series Michael Hayes.
Iconic Role and Peak (2000s)
In 2002, everything changed again. Caruso was cast as Lieutenant Horatio Caine in the new CBS procedural CSI: Miami, a spin-off of the massively popular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
The character calm, methodical, morally absolute, always in his sunglasses became a cultural phenomenon. Caruso delivered one-liners before the opening credits in nearly every episode, a habit that spawned hundreds of internet memes and parodies.
He remained on the show for all 10 seasons, appearing in every episode. His salary climbed steadily, eventually reaching a peak of approximately $375,000 per episode, which translated to roughly $9 million per season at the show’s height.
CSI: Miami was one of the most-watched shows in the world at its peak and aired across dozens of countries. When it ended in 2012, Caruso quietly stepped away from acting entirely, never announcing a retirement, simply never returning.
He was the first actor in the CSI franchise to appear as the same character across three different shows in the franchise.
Personal Life and Legal Issues
David Caruso’s personal life has been as eventful as his career. Three marriages, a long-term relationship that ended in a lawsuit, and three children across different relationships have kept tabloids interested for decades.
His most publicly contentious situation came in April 2009, when his former partner Liza Marquez filed a lawsuit against him for fraud, breach of their financial settlement agreement, and emotional distress. The case attracted significant media coverage and cast a difficult shadow over his final years on CSI: Miami.
Despite the legal turbulence, Caruso remained a dedicated father. He has been photographed at LAX and elsewhere with his children, and associates describe him as closely involved in their upbringing.
He has no active social media presence, does not attend Hollywood events, and has generally avoided the spotlight since 2012. His lifestyle post-retirement has been described as remarkably ordinary gallery work, family time, and coastal living.
Awards and Recognition
David Caruso’s contributions to television have not gone unrecognized:
| Award | Category | Year | Result |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actor, Drama Series (NYPD Blue) | 1994 | Won |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Cast, Drama Series | 1995 | Nominated |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite TV Actor, Drama | 2004 | Won |
| People’s Choice Award | Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor | 2008 | Nominated |
He also received strong critical acclaim for Session 9 (2001), with The New York Times reviewer Dave Kehr noting it was “good to see David Caruso back in action, with a little more technique and a little less ego.”
Filmography (Films)
| Year | Film | Role |
| 1980 | Getting Wasted | Danny |
| 1982 | An Officer and a Gentleman | Topper Daniels |
| 1982 | First Blood | Deputy Mitch Rogers |
| 1986 | Blue City | Terry Quinn |
| 1987 | China Girl | Tony Starkey |
| 1988 | Twins | Al Greco |
| 1990 | King of New York | Dennis Wallace |
| 1991 | Hudson Hawk | Kit Kat |
| 1993 | Mad Dog and Glory | Mike |
| 1995 | Kiss of Death | Calvin Hart |
| 1995 | Jade | Matt Gavin |
| 2000 | Proof of Life | Dino |
| 2001 | Session 9 | Gordon Fleming |
Television
| Year | Show | Role |
| 1981–1983 | Hill Street Blues | Tommy Mann |
| 1984 | The First Olympics: Athens 1896 | James B. Connolly |
| 1993–1994 | NYPD Blue | Det. John Kelly |
| 1997–1998 | Michael Hayes | Michael Hayes |
| 2002–2012 | CSI: Miami | Lt. Horatio Caine |
Real Estate Holdings
David Caruso’s real estate portfolio has contributed meaningfully to his long-term financial security. At the height of his CSI: Miami success, he reportedly invested in properties in Southern California.
He currently resides in Westlake Village, an upscale community northwest of Los Angeles. The area is known for its quiet suburban character, high property values, and privacy exactly what Caruso appears to value in his post-celebrity life.
His Westlake Village art gallery is believed to be co-located or near his primary residence, making it easy to manage both his professional and personal life from the same base.
While exact property values are not publicly confirmed, Westlake Village real estate commonly ranges into the millions, and any holdings Caruso accumulated during his peak earning years would have appreciated significantly.
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Facts About David Caruso
- He watched up to 80 movies a week as a teenage cinema usher, discovering his passion for acting on the job.
- He was inspired by Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson.
- His decision to leave NYPD Blue after one season was listed at #6 on TV Guide’s list of TV’s 10 biggest blunders in 2010.
- Despite the criticism, Caruso eventually earned up to $375,000 per episode on CSI: Miami vindicating (at least financially) his belief in his own market value.
- He employed full method acting on Hudson Hawk (1991), refusing to speak to anyone on set because his character was mute.
- He was the first actor in the CSI franchise to appear as the same character across three different CSI shows.
- His CSI: Miami character Horatio Caine became one of the most widely memed and parodied figures in television history.
- He has no personal social media accounts and has made only a handful of public appearances since retiring in 2012.
- His rare 2025 outing photographed carrying paintings to his gallery generated headlines across entertainment media worldwide.
- He is of Irish and Italian descent, with Sicilian and Neapolitan roots on his father’s side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is David Caruso net worth in 2026?
David Caruso’s net worth in 2026 is estimated between $25 million and $35 million, built through his acting career, peak CSI: Miami earnings of up to $375,000 per episode, royalties, and post-retirement art business ventures.
Where is David Caruso now?
David Caruso lives in Westlake Village, California, where he runs an art gallery and maintains a very private life away from Hollywood and social media.
What did David Caruso look like when he was young?
In his younger years, Caruso had a lean athletic build, bright red hair, and intense blue eyes that made him stand out; his look was notably sharper and more intense compared to his relaxed, fuller appearance in recent 2025 photos.
How old is David Caruso?
David Caruso was born on January 7, 1956, making him 70 years old in 2026, one of the most successful retired television actors of his generation.
Who is David Caruso’s wife?
David Caruso is currently single; he has been married three times to Cheri Maugans (1979–1984), Rachel Ticotin (1984–1987), and Margaret Buckley (1996–2007) and has three children across different relationships.
Is David Caruso still alive?
Yes, David Caruso is alive and living in Westlake Village, California, where he was photographed in April 2025 and December 2024 at his art gallery.
What are the best David Caruso movies and TV shows?
His most celebrated works include NYPD Blue (1993–1994), CSI: Miami (2002–2012), Session 9 (2001), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), and First Blood (1982).
What is David Caruso Wikipedia and biography?
David Stephen Caruso is a retired American actor and producer born January 7, 1956, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York; he is best known for NYPD Blue and CSI: Miami, and full biographical details are available on his Wikipedia page at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Caruso.
Conclusion
David Caruso’s story is a genuine Hollywood comeback tale though not the kind involving red carpets and comeback roles. His comeback was financial and personal.
He walked away from one of the biggest shows on television in the early 1990s, nearly destroyed his career in the film world, then quietly rebuilt everything through CSI: Miami. At his peak, he was earning nearly $9 million per season and became one of the most recognized faces in global television.
Since retiring in 2012, he has traded the spotlight for art galleries, privacy, and family. His net worth of an estimated $25–$35 million in 2026 reflects a career that was turbulent, controversial, and ultimately very rewarding.
At 70, David Caruso is proof that in Hollywood, the arc of a career rarely goes in a straight line and that patience, resilience, and knowing your own worth can eventually pay off.
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