Highlights

• The X-Files' cast pocketed substantial earnings due to the show's enduring success.
• The X-Files wasn't just a supernatural crime thriller — it addressed social issues alongside thrilling plot twists.
• The impact of Gillian Anderson's role as Dana Scully inspired women to pursue STEM fields, solidifying her widespread influence.

The X-Files, which first aired in 1993, remains an iconic crime thriller worldwide, and there are plenty of justifiable reasons for its ongoing popularity.

The X-Files' cast not only gained global recognition, but also pocketed a significant chunk of change due to its enduring success.

The X-Files is not your average crime procedural, nor one which solely makes viewers feel good via escapism — it also addresses eye-opening social issues to which viewers can relate.

There are two main protagonists on the show – FBI Agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) – both of whom have vastly different opinions on the way the world works.

Fox Mulder leans toward a belief in the supernatural, while Dana Scully famously favors a pragmatic, scientific approach to phenomena.

Intelligent, thrilling, and nail-biting turns were consistent throughout the entire series' run. Science fiction and paranormal phenomena added to the story, making The X-Files a blockbuster series the world over.

Nine seasons of the show aired between its 1993 debut and 2001. But due to extensive, sustained public demand, the show was rebooted in 2016 – after almost 14 years off the air – and it became the seventh most-watched series in the world.

On April 3rd, several news outlets reported that Gillian Anderson – who previously said she didn't plan to revisit her role – had changed course, indicating that she was "not saying no" to another go-around on the show:

"It’s so funny because for most of my life since I finished 'The X-Files,' every interview I do, people have asked, and the answer has always been, 'Nope, not going to happen.'

"Now, Ryan Coogler, who’s the director of ‘Black Panther,’ brilliant, brilliant director, has approached ('X-Files' creator) Chris Carter to say that he wants to do a take on it. And I cannot think of a better way around for a reboot to happen. I think he’s a bit of a genius."

Two days prior, Variety covered current efforts to reboot The X-Files, and creator Chris Carter (who is not involved) was quoted as surmising that the show's storylines would be trickier to handle in 2024, due to the proliferation of conspiracy theories:

Everything’s a conspiracy ... No one knows what the truth is. It’s completely subjective and relative now.

In light of all this buzz, let's explore The X-Files' cast's net worths, and what they're up to right now, six years after the show ended a second time in 2018.

7 William B. Davis

William B. Davis' Net Worth (Estimated): $2 Million

86-year-old Canadian actor William B. Davis seems to be living by the cliché that "age is just a number," and he still contributes to projects and showcases his incredible acting skills.

Davis started his acting career in 1983, but his most legendary role will always be on The X-Files.

The role of the "Cigarette Smoking Man" on The X-Files is one quite dear to the show's loyal base of fans, as his nefarious and secretive character made the plot more engaging.

In the upcoming Villain, William B. Davis is rumored to play Lamont, but his casting has not been confirmed.

With an impressive 138 acting credits to his name (and the establishment of the "William B. Davis School Of Acting"), the veteran actor has managed to amass a net worth of $2 million.

6 Mitch Pileggi

Mitch Pileggi's Net Worth (Estimated): $4 Million

American actor Mitch Pileggi, now 72, was already an established name in Hollywood when The X-Files began airing, thanks to his roles in Shocker and Basic Instinct.

But The X-Files truly inducted him into the ranks of the era's greatest actors.

His X-Files fame led to a steady stream of acting projects, with a massive 106 credits on his resume.

He is a three-time Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominee for his outstanding performance on The X-Files.

Pileggi has also been a part of many other notable series, such as Supernatural, Grey's Anatomy, Sons Of Anarchy, Stargate: Atlantis, and American Horror Story.

Due to his remarkably busy acting career, Mitch Pileggi's net worth is estimated to be around $4 million.

5 Annabeth Gish

Annabeth Gish's Net Worth (Estimated): $4 Million

Annabeth Gish, now 53, became a major part of the series (as Monica Reyes) in an unusually short span of time.

Gish started her journey in the show's eighth season. By the time the ninth season rolled around, she'd secured a lead role on The X-Files.

Annabeth Gish had already made quite a name for herself in Hollywood, before appearing in The X-Files.

Before The X-Files, Gish had appeared in several significant projects, such as Mystic Pizza, Nixon, and Beautiful Girls.

Gish is quite busy these days; she has five acting projects on her plate.

One is the series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, along with two movies, Ride and Quiet in My Town, and two short videos, Hangman and Hidden City.

Annabeth Gish's major source of income is her acting career, from which she has built an estimated fortune of $4 million.

4 Robert Patrick

Robert Patrick's Net Worth (Estimated): $6 Million

Highly talented actors among The X-Files' cast are a significant reason for the series' enduring success, and among them, one gem always stands out: Robert Patrick as John Doggett.

Robert Patrick joined The X-Files cast in a leading role in season eight.

By that time, the American star had already made a name for himself in the film industry, starring in movies such as Die Hard 2, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Fire In The Sky, Last Action Hero, Rosewood, and The Faculty.

But John Doggett will always be Robert Patrick's most beloved performance, for which he won his first Saturn Award for "Best Television Actor" in 2001.

Robert Patrick was recently featured in the popular television series Reacher, and he is attached to no fewer than three upcoming projects.

Patrick has portrayed a staggering 173 characters in his career to date, and acting is his sole source of income, through which he has accumulated an impressive $6 million net worth.

3 James Pickens Jr.

James Pickens Jr.'s Net Worth (Estimated): $13 Million

One more X-Files cast member and acting mainstay, James Pickens Jr. kicked off his acting career with a two-episode stint on Saturday Night Live.

James Pickens Jr. has featured in numerous projects, but his pivotal roles were on The X-Files and Grey’s Anatomy, both hugely popular shows.

On The X-Files, Pickens portrayed FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh, a character introduced in the sixth season.

On Grey's Anatomy, Pickens portrayed Dr. Richard Webber for 423 episodes. He is one of the few characters who remained on Grey’s Anatomy for all 20 of its seasons.

According to various reports, Pickens' salary for Grey's Anatomy is $125,000 per episode.

Now, James Pickens Jr.'s net worth is estimated at $13 million, the majority of which he earned as his Grey’s Anatomy salary.

2 Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson's Net Worth (Estimated): $40 Million

Queen of The X-Files Gillian Anderson first started acting on the series when she was just 25 years old; the series last wrapped when she was 50.

In those 25 years (half of her life), Anderson's character, Dana Scully, impacted pop culture more than any of her other roles.

A Golden Globe winner (for The X-Files) in the category of "[Best] Actress In A Drama TV Series," she portrayed Dana Scully, an FBI agent who favored a belief in science over the supernatural.

Her portrayal of Agent Scully measurably changed the lives of many women, as evidenced by remarkably extensive research into the impact of the character on female fans [PDF].

According to that research, Gillian Anderson caused what they dubbed "The Scully Effect," inspiring women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in droves.

As it turns out, the character's influence on women was unexpectedly significant. Study of "The Scully Effect" was conducted by 21st Century Fox, The Geena Davis Institute On Gender In Media, and J. Walter Thompson Intelligence.

In the course of the research, they identified several shocking statistics, finding that 50 percent of women familiar with Scully's intelligent and courageous character were inspired by her to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Moreover, almost two-thirds of the women polled (63 percent) said "she increased their belief in the importance of STEM" — and "a greater percentage of medium/heavy viewers of The X-Files strongly believe that young women should be encouraged to study STEM than non/light viewers."

In other words, the show's biggest fans tended to develop a belief that more women belonged in STEM than those who watched casually.

Gillian won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for "Best Actress" for her iconic role as Agent Dana Scully.

She didn't stop there; she won another Golden Globe and an Emmy in the "Best Supporting Actress" category for her incredible performance on The Crown, where she portrayed Margaret Thatcher.

She appeared in several impressive projects throughout her career, such as The Last King Of Scotland, Hannibal, The Fall, The Crown, and the sleeper Netflix hit Sex Education.

A versatile British/American actress (known for her chameleon-like accent), Gillian Anderson is also a savvy business executive. During the pandemic, she launched a wellness-focused beverage brand, cheekily named "G Spot."

Owing to her knack for business and impeccable acting prowess, Gillian Anderson's net worth stands at a gargantuan estimated $40 million.

1 David Duchovny

David Duchovny's Net Worth (Estimated): $80 Million

New York-born actor David Duchovny was looking for a project in the 1990s that would give his career a boost.

Although he appeared as the main lead in New Year’s Day and The Rapture, he still needed a career-defining project — and he soon got a chance to star in The X-Files.

At that time, no one anticipated that his character, Fox Mulder, would be so iconic that fans would follow him with cult-like devotion.

Duchovny's rise to fame and broad appeal to fans even inspired a song:

Over 30 years after he joined The X-Files cast, viewers are still buzzing — still entertained by his funny lines, and still inspired by his daring yet kind demeanor.

Duchovny's Fox Mulder is the most beloved character among The X-Files' cast.

The X-Files added many zeroes to Duchovny’s bank account, too.

He took home $150,000 per episode for the initial three seasons, which worked out to $3.6 million per season.

$150,000 in January 1994 is equivalent to $318,391.93 in 2024's dollars, and $3.6 million would be worth $7.6 million today.

After the fourth season (and the overall humongous success of The X-Files), Duchovny and Anderson's per episode pay was bumped to $240,000, or $5.76 million per season.

A two-time Golden Globe winner, Duchovny is an all-around talented and creative person; he is a singer who has released three studio albums, and also an author who has published six books.

Unsurprisingly, after an outstanding career (acting, writing, and making music), David Duchovny is the wealthiest among The X-Files cast, with an estimated net worth of $80 million.