How much is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Worth? Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Net Worth in 2026

By the Alux Research Team. How we estimate net worth

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s net worth is estimated at $16 million as of October 2026. He is a Danish actor, producer and screenwriter best known as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, and his most recent major project is the BBC One drama King & Conqueror, in which he plays William the Conqueror.

Net worth	$16 million (estimate, October 2026)
Estimated annual income	Mainly acting fees for television and film, plus producing and brand work
Born	July 27, 1970, Rudkøbing, Denmark (age 56)
Country	Denmark
Occupations / sources of wealth	Acting, producing, screenwriting, brand work
Known for	Playing Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones

How much is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau worth in 2026?

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s net worth is estimated at $16 million. The base of that figure is his eight-year run as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011 to 2019), plus a steady stream of European and Hollywood film roles, a production company and a long-running brand deal. Estimates vary, and this is an approximation rather than a reported figure.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in 2026: what they’ve been up to

• August 24, 2025: King & Conqueror premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. He stars as William the Conqueror, serves as an executive producer and directed one episode. The series has reportedly been sold worldwide.
• Ongoing: He has been the global spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris Men Expert since January 2018.
• Ongoing: He has served as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since September 2016, raising awareness of issues such as gender equality and climate change.

How Nikolaj Coster-Waldau makes money

• Television and film acting: Lead and supporting roles in Danish, British and American productions, led by Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2019.
• Producing and writing: He co-wrote Wildside (1998), launched the production company Ill Kippers in 2019 and was an executive producer of King & Conqueror.
• Brand partnerships: Global spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris Men Expert since 2018, plus earlier work in a Scandinavian airline campaign.

Career timeline

1. 1989 to 1993: Trained at the Danish National School of Performing Arts in Copenhagen.
2. 1994: His role in the horror film Nightwatch (Nattevagten) made him famous in Denmark.
3. 1997: Made his British film debut in Bent.
4. 1998: Co-wrote and starred in Wildside.
5. 2001: Began his US career in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down.
6. 2005: Returned to Scott’s films with Kingdom of Heaven.
7. 2007: Played the lead in the Fox series New Amsterdam, which earned him his Screen Actors Guild card.
8. 2011: Started playing Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones and starred in Blackthorn and the hit thriller Headhunters.
9. 2013: Starred in Mama, which opened at number one at the US box office and grossed over $140 million worldwide.
10. 2016: Played Horus in Gods of Egypt.
11. 2017: Starred in Small Crimes and Shot Caller.
12. 2019: Game of Thrones ended; he launched the production company Ill Kippers.
13. 2025: Starred in and executive produced King & Conqueror.

Early life and background

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was born in Rudkøbing, Denmark, and has two older sisters. He grew up in Tybjerg, a small village in southern Zealand, and was raised mainly by his mother, a librarian.

He studied at the Danish National School of Performing Arts in Copenhagen from 1989 to 1993. His stage debut was as Laertes in Hamlet at the Betty Nansen Theater. For his first Hollywood audition, for Black Hawk Down, a friend helped him record a tape in the attic of his Copenhagen apartment.

Personal life

Coster-Waldau married the Greenlandic actress and singer Nukâka in 1997. They live in Copenhagen with their two daughters.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau net worth FAQ

What is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s net worth?

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s net worth is estimated at $16 million as of October 2026. This is an approximation, and figures from different sources vary.

How does Nikolaj Coster-Waldau make money?

Mostly from acting fees on film and television, including Game of Thrones, plus producing work through his company Ill Kippers and brand work such as L’Oréal Paris Men Expert.

How old is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau?

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is 56 years old, born on July 27, 1970 in Rudkøbing, Denmark.

Where is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from?

He is from Denmark. He was born in Rudkøbing and grew up in the village of Tybjerg in southern Zealand.

What is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau doing now?

His latest major project is King & Conqueror, which premiered on BBC One on August 24, 2025. He stars as William the Conqueror and also executive produced the series and directed an episode.

How is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s net worth estimated?

The figure is built from public reporting on earnings, contracts, business interests and asset values, then adjusted for taxes, fees and spending. Because private finances are not disclosed, it is an estimate and can change.

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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.