Liam Neeson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Liam Neeson’s Net Worth: What Is It?

An Irish actor, Liam Neeson has accumulated a net worth of $145 million. With appearances in over 90 films, he has portrayed notable characters such as Oskar Schindler in “Schindler’s List” (1993), Qui-Gon Jinn in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999), Henri Ducard/Ra’s al Ghul in “Batman Begins” (2005), and Bryan Mills in “Taken” (2008). Neeson has received several awards and an Academy Award nomination for his performance in “Schindler’s List.”

Salary from Taken

Liam earned substantial sums from the “Taken” trilogy: he made $5 million for “Taken,” $15 million for the 2012 sequel “Taken 2,” and $20 million for “Taken 3” in 2014. Consequently, his total earnings before taxes from the franchise amount to $40 million.

Background and Early Life

Liam John Neeson was born on June 7, 1952, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. His mother, Katherine, worked as a cook, while his father, Bernard, served as a caretaker at a primary school. Growing up in a Roman Catholic family along with three sisters (Elizabeth, Bernadette, and Rosaleen), Liam began boxing at the age of 9 and continued until 17, winning several regional titles. At the age of 11, he was introduced to acting when a drama teacher cast him in a school play opposite a girl he admired. Neeson participated in acting throughout high school before briefly attending Queen’s University Belfast to study physics and computer science. He eventually left college to work at the Guinness Brewery.

Acting Career

In 1976, Liam joined Belfast’s Lyric Players’ Theatre, and he made his film debut in “Pilgrim’s Progress” (1978), based on a Christian allegory. After moving to Dublin in the same year, he appeared in various plays at the Project Arts Centre and Abbey Theatre. He was cast as Sir Gawain in “Excalibur” in 1980, and after its completion, he relocated to London, where he filmed “The Bounty” (1984) and “The Mission” (1986), along with the miniseries “Ellis Island” (1984) and “A Woman of Substance” (1985). In 1986, he appeared in “Miami Vice” and moved to Hollywood the following year, starring in “Suspect” with Cher and Dennis Quaid. He followed with critically acclaimed roles in “The Dead Pool” (1988) and “Darkman” (1990). His Broadway debut came in 1993, starring alongside Natasha Richardson in “Anna Christie,” which led to a Tony nomination. Stephen Spielberg offered him the lead role in “Schindler’s List,” earning more than 80 awards.

Neeson appeared in “Rob Roy” (1995), “Michael Collins” (1996), and “Les Misérables” (1998) before joining the cast of the much-anticipated “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.” He received a Tony nomination in 2002 for “The Crucible,” in addition to roles in “K-19: The Widowmaker” and “Gangs of New York.” His role in “Taken” (2008) grossed $223.9 million worldwide, leading to two sequels. Neeson also portrayed Zeus in the 2010 remake of “Clash of the Titans” and its sequel “Wrath of the Titans” (2012), which collectively grossed $475 million. He hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 2004, and his filmography includes various titles such as “Love Actually” (2003) and “Kinsey” (2004). Furthermore, Liam has lent his voice to projects like “The Lego Movie” (2014), “The Nut Job” (2014), and the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, along with the 2008 video game “Fallout 3” and the 2009 audiobook of “The Polar Express.”

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Personal Life

After meeting Helen Mirren on the set of “Excalibur” in 1981, Neeson began a relationship with her that lasted 4 years. On July 3, 1994, Liam wed Natasha Richardson, and together they had two sons: Micheál (born in 1995) and Daniel (born in 1996). Tragically, Natasha died from an epidural hematoma following a skiing accident in 2009; in her memory, Liam donated her organs, and Micheál chose to take the surname Richardson to pay tribute to his mother.

Holding citizenship in Ireland, America, and the United Kingdom, Neeson was honored with an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in 2009. Since 2011, he has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. Moreover, Neeson supports CineMagic, a charitable organization based in Belfast that empowers and educates young individuals through film, television, and digital technology.

Awards and Honors

With over 20 awards to his name, Neeson has received accolades such as 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 outstanding performance in “Schindler’s List” earned him nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTA Awards, while the Irish Film and Television Awards bestowed him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. Additionally, he received Golden Globe nominations for his roles in “Michael Collins” and “Kinsey,” and won a 2013 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his performance in “The Grey.” In 2000, Neeson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, and in 2018, the Distinguished Service for the Irish Abroad Award was given to him by Irish President Michael D. Higgins. Neeson has been featured 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 acquired a Central Park West apartment for $1.4 million, which Liam sold for $1.352 million in 2010. He also owns a 37-acre estate near Millbrook, New York; built in 1890, this property was purchased by Liam in 1994 before his marriage to Natasha and features a tennis court and swimming pool.