- - Lacey Chabert's Net Worth: How Hallmark's Queen of Christmas Built Her $4 Million Fortune

Patti GrecoJanuary 25, 2026 at 6:30 PM

0

As the so-called “Queen of Christmas Movies,” Lacey Chabert has turned holiday cheer into a lucrative niche, starring in more than 40 Hallmark films—and counting—and amassing a sizable net worth along the way.

“It’s a privilege,” she told Parade of her ongoing work with Hallmark. “...I love being part of something that is so uplifting and adds a little bit of goodness back into the world. Hearing that our movies have become part of a family’s tradition means the world to me.”

Of course, Chabert’s success didn’t start with snow-covered small towns and Christmas miracles. Long before she became Hallmark’s go-to leading lady, she rose to fame in the ’90s as precocious violin prodigy Claudia Salinger on Party of Five. From there, she continued working steadily in television and film, including in 2004’s Mean Girls, which earned her a coveted spot in pop-culture history.

Keep reading to learn more about Chabert’s career, including how she got her start—and what she gets paid as Hallmark’s reigning fan-favorite.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬

How did Lacey Chabert get her start?

Born Sept. 30, 1982 in Mississippi, Chabert’s path to entertainment began when she won the title of “World’s Baby Petite” at the World’s Our Little Miss Scholarship Competition in 1985—an early sign she was destined for the spotlight. She soon jumped into local theater, and by age 7, her parents packed up the family (two older sisters and a younger brother included) and moved to New York City so their third-born could pursue acting.

“I was so young, it seems totally crazy,” Chabert said. “But I just loved it. I was kind of born to do this.”

Once in New York, the jobs came quickly. She began booking commercials, landing her first paid gig in a Triaminic cough syrup ad, followed by spots for Burger King, Zest and Secret Beauties Dolls. And it wasn’t long before her career advanced beyond commercials. In 1991, she booked the TV movie A Little Piece of Heaven, and the following year, she landed the role of young Cosette in Broadway’s Les Misérables. She performed in the production for two years while also appearing on All My Children as Bianca Montgomery, the daughter of Susan Lucci’s iconic Erica Kane.

Her big break came at age 11, when she was cast as violin prodigy Claudia Salinger on the 1994 teen drama Party of Five. The series, which followed five recently orphaned kids, ran for six seasons and also launched the careers of Scott Wolf, Neve Campbell and Matthew Fox.

Related: ‘Party of Five’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

When did Lacey Chabert start doing Hallmark movies?

Ian Harding, Lacey Chabert Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Kim Nunneley

Chabert’s first Hallmark movie, Elevator Girl, came out in 2010. Billed a “modern-Cinderella romance,” the story follows a successful lawyer who’s thrown for a loop when he realizes he’s fallen for a working-class woman (Chabert).

“I had bought Hallmark cards for all of my life, but I wasn’t familiar with Hallmark films [when I booked that role],” Chabert told Vulture. “I understood that their mission was to spread love and goodness, so I did that film.” The next year, Hallmark brought her back for a Christmas movie, Matchmaker Santa, in which her character falls for her boyfriend’s best friend.

Fast forward to 2024, and Chabert was toasting her 40th Hallmark movie, A Christmas Quest. "I never would've known when I did the first one that it would turn into what it has, and I'm just so proud of it and the journey and the excitement of all that filming 40 movies has brought to my life,” she said at the time. “It's just been a beautiful experience.” She’s since completed five Hallmark movies, including the recently wrapped Holiday Ever After: A Christmas Wish Come True.

Related: The Hallmark Channel Sneaks in Christmas Movie Filming at Disney World

How many movies has Lacey Chabert done for Hallmark?

At the time of this writing, Chabert has completed 45 movies for the network. The 45th film, Holiday Ever After: A Christmas Wish Come True, will air later this year, as part of the channel’s 2026 Countdown to Christmas.

Speaking to Parade about why she’s so drawn to Hallmark movies, Chabert said, “They’re about community and the people you love. In a busy world, it’s essential to take a moment to slow down and remember what truly matters. That’s a recurring theme in the movies that I truly appreciate.”

What is Lacey Chabert’s net worth in 2026?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Chabert is currently worth an estimated $4 million. That’s nothing to scoff at—but for someone who’s starred in a hit TV series (Party of Five), a cult-classic movie (Mean Girls) and 45 Hallmark films (and counting), it might seem a little lower than one would expect at first glance.

There’s at least one logical explanation. Hallmark movies aren’t made like typical Hollywood films: they usually shoot in about 15 days, compared to the average three-month timeline of a major studio movie, which means smaller budgets and smaller paychecks. Business Insider reports that a conservative midrange estimate for a Hallmark holiday movie lead is around $150,000. While a marquee name like Chabert can likely command more today, especially since she’s been pulling double-duty as producer since 2022, she didn’t start out as the network’s reigning queen. Give it time and her net worth is bound to keep climbing along with her legacy.

Is Lacey Chabert under contract with Hallmark?

Yes. In 2022, Chabert signed an exclusive two-year deal with Crown Media (now Hallmark Media), which had her starring in—and executive producing—movies and developing other projects for the Hallmark Channel and its platforms. When that deal wrapped in 2024, she re-upped with a new multi-picture agreement and added even more to the mix, including a Hallmark product line of greeting cards, gift wrap and entertaining essentials, plus a second season of her unscripted series Celebrations With Lacey Chabert, where she surprises community-minded people with personalized, feel-good celebrations.

While the financial details of her contracts aren’t public, it’s clear Chabert’s worth to the company is only going up.

How much does Lacey Chabert make per Hallmark movie?

New, Halloween-obsessed neighbors inspire residents of Evergreen Lane to haul out their spookiest costumes and décor to become EverSCREAM Lane. Photo: Wes Brown, Lacey Chabert Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Fred Hayes

Chabert hasn’t publicly shared what she earns per Hallmark movie, but for context, Business Insider reports that most Hallmark holiday movie leads make around $150,000—while a proven star like Chabert would “command a lot more.” Even if you estimate her fee at double that, it’s nowhere near movie-star money. Still, for a shoot that typically wraps in about three weeks and runs like a well-oiled machine, it’s a pretty nice payday.

How much did Netflix pay Lacey Chabert?

Chabert made her Netflix holiday debut in 2024 with Hot Frosty, a rom-com in which her character, Kathy, a widow, falls for a snowman who magically comes to life. While her exact pay for the role hasn’t been disclosed, it was likely on par with—or even higher than—what she earns at Hallmark.

What was Lacey Chabert paid for Party of Five?

Chabert’s exact salary for Party of Five, which she starred in until she was 17, has never been publicly revealed. But it sounds as if the experience was priceless. “I was just a little girl and I just loved pretending to be this character, and we had so much fun together,” Chabert has said. “I thought of my coworkers as family, truly, and we’re still very close … there isn’t a day that goes by I’m not grateful for that experience and how much fun it was.”

How much did Lacey Chabert make for Mean Girls?

Chabert’s Mean Girls payday is a mystery, but the movie was a box-office hit, grossing more than $130 million worldwide on a $17 million budget.

Which actress has done the most Hallmark movies?

Chabert is recognized as the actress with the most Hallmark movies under her belt, besting the likes of Candace Cameron Bure (who switched over to Good American Family) and Danica McKellar. “I see myself being a lifer as long as I’m inspired by the stories and as long as they’ll have me,” Chabert has said. “I have ideas for 50 more. I hope this is just the beginning.”

Next: Best Hallmark Christmas Movies of All Time, Ranked

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”