In the competitive landscape of Hollywood, securing one iconic, career-defining role is a remarkable achievement. Securing two, in two of th...
In the competitive landscape of Hollywood, securing one iconic, career-defining role is a remarkable achievement. Securing two, in two of the largest media franchises in modern history, is a feat of extraordinary talent and strategic success. Cobie Smulders has done just that, cementing her legacy first as the fiercely independent, scotch-loving Canadian journalist Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother, and concurrently as the no-nonsense S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This dual-franchise dominance has resulted in a stable, impressive, and consistently growing fortune. As of 2024, Cobie Smulders' net worth is estimated to be $25 million.
This wealth is a direct result of a long, consistent career, anchored by two massive pop-culture phenomena. While her HIMYM co-stars like Alyson Hannigan and Neil Patrick Harris boast larger fortunes (reportedly around $40-$50 million each, largely due to Buffy and Doogie Howser pre-dating HIMYM), Smulders has built her $25 million empire from the ground up, starting with a modeling career she famously disliked.
Move from Modeling to Acting
Born Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders on April 3, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia, her path to stardom wasn't immediate. She was named after her Dutch great-aunt, earning her the nickname "Cobie." In her youth, she was discovered by a modeling agency, which began an international career that took her to France, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Greece.
.jpg)
However, in interviews, Smulders has been candid about her experience as a model, stating she "kind of hated" it. She felt the profession put an unhealthy emphasis on physical appearance and lacked the creative collaboration she craved. This dissatisfaction became the catalyst for her to pivot. She registered at the University of Victoria but simultaneously began taking acting classes, quickly realizing that performance was her true passion.
She landed her first series regular role on the short-lived 2003 ABC adventure-drama Veritas: The Quest. While the show was canceled after one season, it provided the essential foothold she needed. After a recurring role on The L Word, she auditioned for a new sitcom pilot from Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. She was reportedly offered two roles: the part of Kate in a different pilot and the role of Robin Scherbatsky. She chose Robin, a decision that would define her career and financial future.
How I Met Your Mother
In 2005, How I Met Your Mother premiered and became an instant cultural touchstone. For nine seasons and 208 episodes, Smulders' portrayal of Robin Scherbatsky was central to the show's ensemble. She was the cool, career-driven counterpoint to the more romantic Ted and the domestic Marshall and Lily, evolving from a commitment-phobe to a complex, integral part of the group.
This longevity was incredibly lucrative. In the early seasons, the cast's salaries were modest by network TV standards. However, as the show's popularity exploded, their payday grew exponentially. By the final seasons, Smulders, along with co-stars Josh Radnor and Jason Segel, was earning a reported $225,000 per episode.
This means that for the final 24-episode season alone, she earned approximately $5.4 million. Over the full run of the show, her salary from HIMYM represents the foundational pillar of her net worth, likely earning her well over $30 million in pre-tax income from that single job.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Just as HIMYM was entering its final act, Smulders executed a brilliant second-act pivot, securing a role in the biggest cinematic franchise of all time. She made her debut as Agent Maria Hill in the 2012 blockbuster The Avengers. Director Joss Whedon, who had previously considered her for the role of Wonder Woman in his unproduced film, specifically sought her out for Hill.
This role was a perfect fit, allowing her to trade Robin's sarcasm for Maria's steely authority. While a supporting role, her importance cannot be understated. Maria Hill became the connective tissue for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s presence in the MCU, appearing in:
The Avengers (2012)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Secret Invasion (2023)
While her exact salary per film isn't public, even supporting roles in Marvel films—especially one as recurring as hers—command salaries in the high six-figure to low seven-figure range per appearance. Her role in the Disney+ series Secret Invasion was her most significant MCU payday, as it elevated Maria Hill from a supporting player to a central character in the show's marketing and premiere episode. This consistent, high-profile, and high-paying work over a decade has massively supplemented her sitcom earnings.
Stumptown, Voice Work, and Real Estate
Smulders has not rested on her laurels from these two franchises. She has actively pursued diverse roles, including the lead in the critically acclaimed 2019 series Stumptown, where she played a sharp-witted private investigator. Though it only ran for one season, the role proved her ability to carry a show as the sole lead.
She also starred in the Netflix ensemble comedy Friends from College and has done notable voice work, including voicing Wonder Woman in The Lego Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
On the personal front, Smulders is married to actor and comedian Taran Killam (Saturday Night Live), forming a formidable Hollywood power couple. Their combined wealth is even more substantial. They manage their finances through savvy investments, including real estate. The couple has owned a New York City apartment and a home in Los Angeles, allowing them to build equity in two of the world's most competitive markets. Sources also report Smulders has a modest car collection valued at over $400,000.
Her career is also marked by incredible personal resilience. At just 25, during the third season of HIMYM, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She kept her battle private for years, undergoing multiple surgeries to remove the cancerous tissue while continuing to work. Her eventual recovery and openness about her health struggles have made her an advocate for cancer awareness.
From a reluctant model to a beloved sitcom star and a Marvel mainstay, Cobie Smulders' $25 million net worth is the product of talent, smart choices, and remarkable longevity in two of Hollywood's most demanding and profitable arenas.
