The late actor amassed his fortune from a winery and property portfolio as well as earnings from his five-decade acting career.
Sam Neill was said to be worth nearly $20 million when he died.
The actor, who passed away on Monday (13.07.26) aged 78 after surviving a cancer battle, not only leaves behind a remarkable screen legacy and a successful New Zealand winery after a career spanning more than five decades – with published estimates placing his fortune in the tens of millions of dollars at the time of his death.
According to Celebrity Net Worth he was worth $18 million at the time of his passing.
The site said: “Outside acting, Neill was deeply connected to New Zealand wine. In 1993, he founded Two Paddocks, a winery in Central Otago, one of New Zealand’s most respected Pinot Noir regions. What began as a small vineyard project grew into a serious wine business with several vineyards around the South Island.
“Neill often described winemaking as a passion rather than a simple investment. He took pride in the reputation of Two Paddocks and became known for his humorous social media posts from the property, where he shared updates about his vineyards, farm, and animals. Many of those animals were famously named after actors and friends, including Anjelica Huston, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michael Fassbender.”
The site added about his property portfolio: “In 2020, Neill sold his home in Double Bay, Australia, for approximately $3.6 million. The residence featured four bedrooms, an outdoor terrace, an expansive backyard, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Double Bay is one of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs, and the property was located near Double Bay Beach. Neill had purchased the home in 1996 with his former wife, Noriko Watanabe, for $839,000.
“Neill’s primary home base was in Central Otago on New Zealand’s South Island, where he owned property connected to his Two Paddocks winery and farm. He also maintained ties to Wellington, New Zealand.”
Sam also earned millions from his movie and TV career.
He died in Sydney, Australia, with his family announcing on Monday his death had been “sudden and unexpected”.
His passing came after Sam revealed earlier this year that he was cancer-free following treatment for stage-three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
His acclaimed acting career stretched from Sleeping Dogs to Jurassic Park, The Piano, The Hunt for Red October, Event Horizon, Peaky Blinders, The Tudors, The Twelve, Apples Never Fall and Untamed
In a statement shared on Instagram, Sam’s family said: “It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia.”
They added: “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
The statement continued that Sam’s death had been “sudden and unexpected” despite him remaining cancer-free following treatment.
His family also thanked staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their care and asked for privacy as they mourned the loss of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated actors.
Sam Neill’s staggering net worth revealed after his death at 78
