Liam Neeson Net Worth

What is Liam Neeson's Net Worth?

Liam Neeson is an Irish actor who has a net worth of $120 million. Liam Neeson emerged from Northern Ireland to become one of Hollywood's most versatile and respected actors over a career spanning more than four decades. After early stage work with the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast, Neeson gained international attention with his role in 1993's "Schindler's List," earning an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Oskar Schindler.

Throughout the 1990s, Neeson demonstrated a remarkable range in films like "Michael Collins," "Les Misérables," and "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace." However, an unexpected career transformation occurred in 2008 with "Taken," which reinvented the then-56-year-old as an action star. This launched a successful late-career phase featuring similar revenge-driven action thrillers.

Despite his action persona, Neeson continued to showcase his dramatic talents in films like Martin Scorsese's "Silence" and worked with notable directors including Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and Ridley Scott. His distinctive deep voice has also made him sought-after for voice acting in animated features.

Personally, Neeson endured tragedy with the death of his wife, Natasha Richardson, in 2009. His resilience, both professionally and personally, has cemented his status as a respected figure in cinema known for his gravitas, versatility, and enduring screen presence.

Taken Salary

The "Taken" trilogy has been very lucrative for Liam. He made $5 million for the first "Taken," $15 million for 2012's "Taken 2," and $20 million for 2014's "Taken 3." That brings his total TAKE (get it??) before taxes for the Taken franchise to $40 million.

Early Life

Liam Neeson was born Liam John Neeson on June 7, 1952, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. His mother, Katherine, was a cook, and his father, Bernard, was a caretaker at a primary school. Liam was raised in a Roman Catholic household with three sisters (Elizabeth, Bernadette, and Rosaleen) and began taking boxing lessons when he was 9 years old. He continued boxing until he was 17 and won several regional titles. Neeson first became interested in acting when he was just 11 years old after a drama teacher offered him the lead role in a school play opposite a girl he had a crush on. He continued acting through high school before briefly enrolling at Queen's University Belfast to study physics and computer science. He eventually left college to work at the Guinness Brewery.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Career

Liam Neeson began his acting career on stage, joining Belfast's Lyric Players' Theatre in 1976. He made his film debut in 1978's "Pilgrim's Progress," a religious allegory in which he played both Evangelist and Jesus. That same year, he relocated to Dublin and began appearing in productions at the Project Arts Centre and the Abbey Theatre. His breakthrough on screen came in 1980 when he was cast as Sir Gawain in John Boorman's fantasy epic "Excalibur." After filming, Neeson moved to London, landing roles in several prominent projects, including "The Bounty" (1984) opposite Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson, the historical drama "The Mission" (1986), and the miniseries "Ellis Island" (1984) and "A Woman of Substance" (1985).

In 1986, Neeson made a guest appearance on "Miami Vice" and soon after moved to Hollywood. He gained attention for his role in the 1987 legal thriller "Suspect" alongside Cher and Dennis Quaid, followed by performances in "The Dead Pool" (1988), part of the "Dirty Harry" series, and Sam Raimi's cult superhero film "Darkman" (1990). In 1993, Neeson made his Broadway debut in Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie," earning a Tony nomination and meeting his future wife, Natasha Richardson. His performance caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, who cast him as Oskar Schindler in "Schindler's List" (1993). The film won seven Academy Awards, and Neeson's performance earned him widespread acclaim and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Neeson continued to establish himself as a dramatic lead in historical epics like "Rob Roy" (1995), "Michael Collins" (1996), and "Les Misérables" (1998), before entering blockbuster territory with his portrayal of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" (1999). He later reprised the role in animated series and cameo appearances across the franchise. In 2002, he returned to Broadway in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," earning a second Tony nomination, and appeared in Kathryn Bigelow's "K-19: The Widowmaker" and Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York."

A major career reinvention came in 2008 with the release of "Taken," where Neeson starred as former CIA operative Bryan Mills. The film's surprise success at the box office—grossing $223.9 million worldwide—transformed him into an action star in his mid-50s. He reprised the role in two sequels and went on to star in numerous thrillers, including "Unknown" (2011), "The Grey" (2012), "Non-Stop" (2014), and "The Commuter" (2018). Neeson also portrayed Zeus in the fantasy action films "Clash of the Titans" (2010) and its sequel "Wrath of the Titans" (2012), which collectively earned nearly half a billion dollars globally.

Throughout his career, Neeson has shown a flair for comedy and voice acting. He appeared in the romantic favorite "Love Actually" (2003), biopic "Kinsey" (2004), and hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 2004. He lent his voice to characters in "The Chronicles of Narnia" trilogy (as Aslan), "The Lego Movie" (2014), "The Nut Job" (2014), and the popular video game "Fallout 3" (2008). He also narrated the 2009 audiobook version of "The Polar Express."

In more recent years, Neeson has balanced action roles with character-driven dramas. He played Philip Marlowe in Neil Jordan's 2022 noir mystery "Marlowe," and continued his late-career streak of action vehicles in films like "Memory" (2022), "Retribution" (2023), and "In the Land of Saints and Sinners" (2023).

In 2025, Liam starred as Frank Drebin Jr. in a reboot of the classic comedy franchise "The Naked Gun." Stepping into the deadpan role originated by Leslie Nielsen, the film also stars Pamela Anderson and is directed by Akiva Schaffer and produced by Seth MacFarlane. The project is seen as a comedic pivot for Neeson and marks one of his most anticipated roles in years.

Jared Siskin/Getty Images

Liam Neeson Salary Highlights

• Gangs of New York (2002) – $2 million
• Batman Begins (2005) – $2 million
• K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) – $3 million
• Taken (2008) – $5 million
• Clash of the Titans (2010) – $5 million
• Wrath of the Titans (2012) – $7 million
• Battleship (2012) – $10 million
• Taken 2 (2012) – $15 million
• Taken 3 (2014) – $20 million
• Non-Stop (2014) – $20 million

Total = $89 million

(Photo by Clemens Bilan/Getty Images)

Personal Life

Neeson dated Helen Mirren for four years after meeting her on the set of 1981's "Excalibur." Liam married Natasha Richardson on July 3, 1994, and they welcomed two sons: Micheál (born in 1995) and Daniel (born in 1996). Sadly, Natasha passed away from an epidural hematoma in 2009 after a skiing accident. Liam donated her organs, and Micheál changed his last name to Richardson to honor his late mother.

In July 2025, amid their campaign to promote "The Naked Gun," it was revealed that Liam and co-star Pamela Anderson were dating.

Neeson is a citizen of Ireland, America, and the United Kingdom. In 2009, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, and he has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since 2011. Neeson is also a supporter of CineMagic, a Belfast charitable organization that educates and inspires young people through film, television, and digital technology.

Awards and Honors

Neeson has won more than 20 awards, including a Chicago Film Critics Association Award (1994), an Evening Standard British Film Award (1997), and a Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award (2016). His performance in "Schindler's List" earned him nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and the BAFTA Awards, and the Irish Film and Television Awards gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. Liam also received Golden Globe nominations for his work in "Michael Collins" and "Kinsey," and he won a 2013 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his role in "The Grey." In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Neeson an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and Irish President Michael D. Higgins gave him the Distinguished Service for the Irish Abroad Award in 2018. Liam has appeared on "Empire" magazine's lists of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" and "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time."

Real Estate

In 1994, Neeson and Richardson bought a Central Park West apartment for $1.4 million. He sold it in 2010 for $1.352 million. In 1999, they paid $3.9 million for a three-unit Upper West Side apartment overlooking Central Park. Liam listed this unit for sale in March 2025 for $11 million. He accepted $10.3 million in August 2025. Liam also owns a 37-acre estate outside of Millbrook, New York. Dating to 1890, the home was purchased by Liam in 1994 before he married Natasha.

Who's Richer?

Liam
Neeson

Compare!

Natasha
Richardson