Lee Jung-jae
- Net worth $40 million
- Birthday December 15, 1972
- Status -
- Country South Korea
- Source(-s) of wealth Actor, Director
How much is Lee Jung-jae Worth? Lee Jung-jae Net Worth in 2026
Lee Jung-jae’s net worth is estimated at $40 million as of October 2026. Lee is a South Korean actor, director and agency chief executive best known as Seong Gi-hun in Netflix’s Squid Game, a role that won him an Emmy. The biggest driver of the wealth is a 30-year career as one of Korea’s top film stars, with Squid Game’s second season reportedly paying him around $700,000 an episode or more.
| Net worth | $40 million (our estimate) |
|---|---|
| Estimated annual income | $8 million (acting fees, business income and agency earnings combined, not a disclosed figure) |
| Born | December 15, 1972, in Seoul, age 53 |
| Country | South Korea |
| Known for | Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game |
| Main income sources | Squid Game fees, Korean film and television roles, Artist Company, real estate and restaurant businesses |
How much is Lee Jung-jae worth in 2026?
We estimate Lee Jung-jae’s net worth at about $40 million. It is an estimate, because Korean star contracts are private and he owns businesses whose value is not published. We found no reliable net worth figure at all, so ours is built from deal reports.
The anchor is Squid Game. Local Korean outlets reported before filming that he would earn about 1 billion won, roughly $700,000, an episode for season two, and a later report said he asked for more than $1 million. Neither figure was confirmed by Netflix or by him. If the lower number held, the second season alone would be in the mid-single-digit millions. Add a decade of high film fees, a real estate development firm founded in 2008, a Seoul restaurant chain, and his role as chief executive of Artist Company, the agency he co-founded in 2016, and a figure near $40 million is reasonable.
Estimates vary because the per-episode numbers were pre-release reports, and because his ownership stake in his companies is not public.
How Lee Jung-jae built it
- Stayed a top star for 30 years. A decade of high film fees sits behind his wealth.
- Took the lead in a global hit. He played Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game, winning an Emmy.
- Built businesses beyond acting. He founded a real estate firm in 2008 and co-founded the agency Artist Company in 2016.
Learn the wealth mindset behind Lee Jung-jae’s career in the Alux app.
Get the Alux appLee Jung-jae in 2026: what they have been working on
- June 2025: Squid Game season three was released on June 25, ending the series.
- 2025: Starred in the romantic comedy series Nice to Not Meet You.
- December 2024: Squid Game season two was released on December 26.
- 2024: Made a cameo in the film Revolver.
- 2022: Made his directing debut with Hunt, which premiered at Cannes, and was cast as the male lead in the Star Wars series The Acolyte.
How Lee Jung-jae makes money
- Squid Game:: Reported per-episode pay of about $700,000 or more for season two. Unconfirmed.
- Film and television fees:: Decades of lead roles in Korean cinema, including The Thieves and Assassination.
- Artist Company:: He is chief executive and co-founder of the agency, which he started with fellow actor Jung Woo-sung. His stake is not public.
- Real estate:: He founded the development firm Seorim C&D in 2008.
- Restaurants:: A chain of upscale Italian restaurants in Seoul named after his film Il Mare.
- Directing:: Hunt, his 2022 debut.
What Lee Jung-jae teaches (and what to take from it)
Lee is an actor and executive, not a coach, but his career offers four ideas that travel well, restated in our own words.
Survive the slump
After military service in the 1990s he went through years of weaker work, then rebuilt through films such as The Housemaid and The Thieves. Good careers are rarely a straight line.
This week: When a project fails, write down the single lesson and the next small step before the week ends.
Be patient for the right role
He was 48 when Squid Game premiered, after almost three decades in the industry. Global recognition came late and came from a role he did not rush.
Try it: Pick one long-term goal and note one action for it each Sunday.
Build the business behind the talent
He co-founded Artist Company in 2016 and took the CEO role, so his income does not depend on a single role.
Start small: Ask what business, team or asset could be built around your main skill.
Learn a second skill
He earned a master’s degree in 2008 and later directed a film that premiered at Cannes. Adding a second craft opened new doors.
Practice: Choose one adjacent skill and take a first lesson or course this month.
Career timeline
- 1993: Television debut in Dinosaur Teacher.
- 1995: Becomes a national star with the series Sandglass.
- 1999: Wins Best Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for City of the Rising Sun.
- 2008: Founds Seorim C&D and earns a master’s degree.
- 2012: Stars in The Thieves.
- 2016: Co-founds Artist Company with Jung Woo-sung.
- 2021: Squid Game makes him an international star.
- 2022: Wins an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series and directs Hunt.
- 2024 to 2025: Squid Game seasons two and three.
Early life and background
Lee Jung-jae was born on December 15, 1972, in the Jung District of Seoul. He was discovered by a fashion designer while working at a cafe in the Apgujeong neighborhood, which led to his television debut in 1993.
The 1995 series Sandglass made him a star. He completed military service, went through a slump, and then studied at Dongguk University before a breakthrough in film at the end of the decade.
Lee Jung-jae net worth FAQ
What is Lee Jung-jae’s net worth?
Lee Jung-jae’s net worth is estimated at $40 million as of October 2026. It is our estimate, built from reported deals and earnings.
How much did Lee Jung-jae make from Squid Game?
His pay is not confirmed. Korean outlets reported about 1 billion won, roughly $700,000, an episode for season two, and one later report said he asked for more than $1 million.
How does Lee Jung-jae make money?
From acting fees, his role at Artist Company, and business interests in real estate and restaurants.
How old is Lee Jung-jae?
He was born on December 15, 1972, so he is 53 as of October 2026.
What is Lee Jung-jae known for?
He is known for Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game and for decades of Korean films.
What is Lee Jung-jae’s best-known role?
Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game, which won him a Primetime Emmy in 2022.
How is Lee Jung-jae’s net worth estimated?
We build from reported Squid Game fees, add film earnings and business interests, and treat the result as an approximation because no reliable figure exists.
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How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: October 2026.