Peter Jackson's Net Worth (Updated 2024)

What is Peter Jackson’s net worth?

Net Worth:	$1 Billion
Age:	61
Born:	October 31, 1961
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Country of Origin:	New Zealand
Source of Wealth:	TV/Film Director
Last Updated:	March 8, 2023

Introduction

Sir Peter Robert Jackson is a film director, screenwriter, and producer from New Zealand who is best known for directing, producing, and writing the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Thanks to his talents behind the camera, Jackson has become the third highest-grossing director of all time, with his movies grossing $6.5 billion worldwide.

Along with his directorial career, he also owns his own production company, WingNut Films.

As of September 2023, Peter Jackson’s net worth is estimated to be $1 Billion.

Peter Jackson Facts

Peter Jackson’s first film was Bad Taste, a horror sci-fi comedy that was released in 1987.
In 1997, Jackson won the right to direct Lord of the Rings, which went on to become his biggest series of films.
He directed a remake of King Kong in 2005, which went on to become a critical success, earning $562 million at the box office.
In 2011, Jackson started work on the first film in the Hobbit trilogy, building upon his success from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy.
One of Jackson’s rare, most recent box office flops came in 2018 with Mortal Engines, which received many negative reviews.

Early Life

Sir Peter Robert Jackson was born October 31st, 1961, in Wellington, New Zealand, to Joan and William Jackson.

Growing up, Peter was an avid film fan, and when a family friend gave him a Super 8 camera, he started making short films with his friends.

As a child, he also made a World War II epic that he named The Dwarf Patrol, which is now featured on the Bad Taste bonus disc.

While in school, Peter had no interest in sports and instead immersed himself in filmmaking and editing, which he taught himself through trial and error.

When he turned 16, he dropped out of school and started working as a photo engraver for the Wellington newspaper.

Two years later, Peter invested in a 16 mm camera and began shooting what would become Bad Taste, which was released in 1987.

Career

While Bad Taste was his first feature film, two years later, he went on to direct Meet the Feebles, a New Zealand puppet comedy musical.

In 1994, Jackson was chosen to direct Heavenly Creatures, an adaptation of the Parker-Hulme murders, which markedly differed in tone from his previous films.

Following the success of that film, Jackson went on to direct The Frighteners, a horror comedy that was filmed entirely in New Zealand.

Jackson was fortunate enough to win the rights to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which he started filming in 1999.

This trilogy would stand out as one of his biggest successes to date, and it has made him synonymous with the franchise.

After his success with Tolkien’s works, Jackson directed King Kong in 2005, which also quickly became a critical and commercial hit.

In 2012, he returned to Tolkien’s Middle Earth with An Unexpected Journey, the first of The Hobbit trilogy, films which would earn Jackson a lot of praise from critics and fans alike.

While he released many successful films in 2018, he directed Mortal Engines, which unfortunately turned out to be a box-office flop with many negative reviews.

However, he came back in 2021 with The Beatles: Get Back, which garnered him two Emmy Awards.

Peter Jackson’s Career Earnings

While he is one of the richest directors in the world, not much information has been released about his exact career earnings.

However, we do know a few things about some of his biggest gains, though there is a bit of speculation.

For King Kong, which earned $600 million at the box office, Jackson received 20% of the gross income from the film.
Starting with Lord of the Rings, Jackson started earning a greater percentage from his films, increasing steadily each year.
For Lord of the Rings, it is estimated that Jackson earned at least $180 million.

Peter Jackson has earned a substantial amount of money during his career, which has helped make him a Hollywood billionaire.

As he continues working, it is expected that his incredible wealth will keep growing larger.

Personal Life

Peter Jackson and his partner, producer, and screenwriter, Fran Walsh, live together in New Zealand and have two children, Billy and Katie.

Jackson and his partner have collaborated many times, and Fran even served as the producer of The Fellowship of the Ring.

On social media, he can be found on his official Instagram account, where he posts behind-the-scenes photos of his films.

He also has his own official YouTube channel, where he posts trailers and productions diaries.

Awards & Achievements

Peter Jackson has earned many awards during his career in Hollywood and even more nominations.

While all of his achievements are significant, some accolades have been more prestigious than others.

Here are some of Peter Jackson’s greatest career honors and awards:

At the BAFTA Awards in 2001, Jackson won Best Film for Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Jackson won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King at the Academy Awards in 2003.
Also, for Return of the King in 2003, Jackson won Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards.
Peter Jackson was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.
In 2022, Jackson won Outstanding Directing for a Documentary and Outstanding Documentary for The Beatles: Get Back at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

While these are only a few of his greatest awards and honors, they are the most prestigious he has earned.

Like James Cameron, he has done very well to make a name for himself, and it is likely we will see him earn many more distinctions in the future.

How Does Peter Jackson Spend His Money?

Peter Jackson owns an impressive collection of real estate, including a $77 million commercial property in Miramar.

He also owns numerous properties in Wellington, New Zealand, that are worth a total of $150 million combined.

If that wasn’t enough, he also started building his Wairarapa estate in 2002, which is completely mindblowing.

Arguably one of the most expensive houses in the world, this home includes underground tunnels, castle ruins, and a complete recreation of Bag End hidden behind a bookcase.

It has been reported that Steven Spielberg and Danny Devito often visit the home, and even now, construction isn’t finished on the property.

Jackson has stated that he wants to build his own private airport and train line at his estate, though we are unsure when these will come to fruition.

He is also an aviation enthusiast who owns over 40 World War I warbirds that are still capable of being flown.

Along with these historical planes, he also owns some of the most expensive private jets in the world, including a Gulfstream G550 jet that costs an estimated $450 million.

Highlights

Peter Jackson has reached many milestones during his career that have ensured his success in Hollywood.

However, some moments during his life have impacted his success more than others, making them stand out above the rest.

Here are some of the best highlights of Peter Jackson’s career:

Peter Jackson’s first feature film was Bad Taste in 1987, a science-fiction horror comedy film.
In 1994, he found break-out success with Heavenly Creatures, an adaptation of the real Parker-Hulme murder case.
His first big-budget film, The Frighteners, was released in 1996.
Jackson won the rights to direct Lord of the Rings in 1997, and he released the first film in the trilogy in 2001.
In 2006, Jackson started work on The Hobbit films, with An Unexpected Journey, the first in the trilogy, being released in 2012.

Similar to how George Lucas has become synonymous with Star Wars, so too has Peter Jackson and the works of Tolkien.

Although these are only a few of his most significant career highlights, they are undoubtedly the most influential overall.

Favorite Peter Jackson Quotes

Peter Jackson was inspired to make films when he was a child and, since then, has become a master of his craft.

However, despite his remarkable success, he has remained humble about his accomplishments.

Here are our favorite quotes from Peter Jackson:

“Film is such a powerful medium. It’s like a weapon, and I think you have a duty to self-censor.” – Peter Jackson
“No film has captivated my imagination more than ‘King Kong.’ I’m making movies today because I saw this film when I was nine years old.” – Peter Jackson
“Filmmaking for me is always aiming for the imaginary movie and never achieving it.” – Peter Jackson
“Every time you do something, people are going to like it, people are going to hate it.” – Peter Jackson
“Being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame alongside the names of some of my childhood heroes is slightly surreal and incredibly awesome.” – Peter Jackson

3 Amazing Lessons From Peter Jackson

There is a lot that we can learn from Peter Jackson and his incredibly successful career as a film director.

Now that you know all about Peter Jackson’s net worth, we can take a look at what he can teach us about reaching our own goals.

Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Peter Jackson:

1. Always Aim Higher Than You Can Achieve

You should always aim higher than you can possibly achieve because this way, you’ll have a chance to surpass your greatest expectations.

When you set the bar as high as possible, you’ll have a much greater chance to achieve more than you would have otherwise.

2. Don’t Worry About Haters

You can never please everyone, so there is no point in wasting your energy trying.

Unless someone offers constructive criticism, tune them out and instead focus on the people who appreciate your work.

3. Stay Humble

It is easy to let success go to your head, which can end up holding you back in the long run.

If you let yourself get too cocky, you can end up letting your guard down and failing to work as hard as you need to in order to maintain your success.

Summary

Peter Jackson has become one of the most successful directors in Hollywood, thanks to his skills behind the camera.

During his career, he has directed numerous box-office hits that have helped to make him exceptionally wealthy.

Fortunately, he has no plans of retiring any time soon, so be sure to check back often so you won’t miss any updates to his career and fortune.