Sam Neill, best known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, died on Monday in Sydney at the age of 78. His family confirmed the news in a statement shared on his official Instagram account.

"It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.

"The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their incredible care.

"More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss."

Following the announcement, many fans reflected on Neill's five-decade career and the wealth he accumulated through acting and business ventures.

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Estimated net worth

Published estimates place Neill's net worth between $18 million and $19 million.

Celebrity Net Worth and TheRichest estimate his fortune at around $18 million, while a 2025 estimate by Yahoo placed it at approximately $19 million. The figures are based on public information and industry estimates rather than confirmed financial records.

Acting career formed the foundation of his wealth

Neill earned most of his wealth through an acting career spanning more than five decades across film, television and voice work.

He made his breakthrough in the 1977 New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs before establishing an international career with films including My Brilliant Career, Dead Calm, The Hunt for Red October and Event Horizon.

His most commercially successful role came as palaeontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, a character he portrayed in four films, including Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

On television, Neill appeared as Inspector Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in The Tudors, and starred in the miniseries Merlin, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

He also expanded his career through voice acting, contributing to productions such as The Simpsons and Rick and Morty. In addition, Neill worked as a writer, director and producer on documentary and film projects.

Winery became a second source of income

Outside acting, Neill established Two Paddocks, a winery in New Zealand's Central Otago region, in 1993.

The business later expanded to include vineyards in Gibbston and Alexandra. Neill often described winemaking as a lifelong passion, and the winery remained closely associated with him for more than three decades.

Property holdings

Neill's primary residence was in Alexandra on New Zealand's South Island, close to his vineyards. He also owned a home in Wellington, New Zealand.

At the time of his death, he was living in Sydney, where his family said he died surrounded by loved ones.

Real estate investments

In 2020, reports said Neill listed his home in Double Bay, Australia, for between $3.5 million and $4 million.

The property was later sold through a virtual auction for about $3.6 million.

The four-bedroom home featured an outdoor terrace, an expansive backyard, floor-to-ceiling windows and several other amenities. Located close to Double Bay Beach, the property had originally been purchased in 1996 for $839,000 with his former wife, Noriko Watanabe.

Apart from his Australian property, Neill owned a home in Wellington and maintained his estate in Alexandra, where his winery operates across several vineyards on New Zealand's South Island. The property was also known for its farm animals, many of which Neill named after well-known figures from the film industry.