Fictional Finances: Leroy Jethro Gibbs of “NCIS”
When Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs of NCIS isn’t arresting arms dealers or chasing serial killers, he’s working on a boat in his basement. Although he lives in Washington, D.C., he doesn’t seem to avail himself of the local nightlife or enjoy much of a social inclination. Obviously, he saves on many luxuries, but can Gibbs really afford his lifestyle?
Sniper to Special Agent
Gibbs is a former marine sniper, having served in Desert Storm, and he joined the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) after he was wounded in combat and discharged, presumably in response to the murder of his wife and daughter. When the NCIS series began in 2003, Gibbs was already a supervisory special agent.
Moving Up in the World
In the third season of NCIS, Gibbs was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for his work leading the investigative unit, and it is later revealed in the same episode that he has received many commendations, including a Silver Star for his efforts in Desert Storm. This indicates that Gibbs is successful in his career and is therefore awarded regular raises in pay.
According to the Department of Defense Pay Table, NCIS investigative agents can make anywhere from $26,461 to $133, 985. Assuming that the top of the pay scale is reserved for the brass, such as the NCIS director, Gibbs doesn’t take home the maximum.
Paying the Exes
The bottom of the third pay band is the high 70s, which is a healthy income for a single investigator whose only hobby involves woodworking. However, it is revealed throughout the show that Gibbs has been married four times, three of which ended in divorce.
Knowing that divorces are almost always messy, and since Gibbs mentions many times that he suffers under the burden of alimony, we can assume that Gibbs gives at least a portion of his income to his ex-wives.
Caffeine and Caf-Pow
Easy Does It
Not being a big-spender, and because he’s an all-around cautious guy, Gibbs doesn’t likely carry a lot of debt—or the cards that contribute to it. Look for a carefully-selected low interest credit card in his wallet, but don’t expect it to get abused.
Gibbs’ drink of choice is coffee, and he is rarely seen in an NCIS episode without a cup in his hand. He mentions a few times that the coffee served in the NCIS building isn’t worth the cup it’s poured in, so he leaves the naval yard to purchase his own java. Whether he’s drinking Starbucks or McDonald’s Premium Blend, he’s shelling out his own cash for caffeine.
Additionally, he rewards his forensic scientist, Abby Sciuto, with a fictional beverage called Caf-Pow, which is also purchased off-site, whenever he wants to motivate her. Other than a few indulgences in fine scotch, Gibbs doesn’t seem to have extravagant tastes.
The Bottom Line
Working for the government is considered by many to be a thankless job, but men like Leroy Jethro Gibbs focus on serving their country. Even if he only makes $50,000 a year, he does because he feels strongly about his purpose.
In real life, an NCIS special agent with three ex-wives and a mortgage would need to save every penny he earns. Countless trips to a coffee shop every day combined with eating out nearly every meal might bankrupt such an agent in just a couple of years.
The high cost of living in Washington, D.C., such as the median home price of $450,900, would also stretch an NCIS agent’s bank account.
