Lee Jung-jae's Net Worth Soars to $12M After Squid Game Fame

Lee Jung-jae's Net Worth Soars to $12M After Squid Game Fame.

What Is Lee Jung-jae's Net Worth and Salary?

Lee Jung-jae is a well-known South Korean actor and former model, boasting a net worth of $12 million. He was born on December 15, 1972, in Seoul, South Korea, and shot to global stardom for his role as Seong Gi-hun in the hit Netflix series "Squid Game" (2021-present). With over 40 acting credits under his belt, his filmography includes notable works like "Il Mare" (2000), "The Housemaid" (2010), "New World" (2013), and "Deliver Us from Evil" (2020), as well as TV series like "Sandglass" (1995) and "Chief of Staff" (2019).

Beyond acting, he’s also ventured into the culinary world by opening a chain of Italian restaurants in Seoul named Il Mare, where he even took charge of the interior design. In 2008, he launched Seorim C&D, a real estate development firm, and has partnered with his friend and "City of the Rising Sun" co-star Jung Woo-sung on several business ventures. Together, they established the entertainment label the Artist Company in 2016. Additionally, in 2001, Jung-jae was honored with a Prime Minister's Commendation.

Career

While working at an Apgujeong café, Lee was discovered by a designer named Ha Yong-soo. He spent several years modeling, then he shot to stardom after making his acting debut on the television series "Dinosaur Teacher" in 1993. In 1994, he played Han Joon on the TV series "Feelings" and appeared in his first film, "The Young Man." Jung-jae played Baek Jae-hee on the SBS series "Sandglass" in 1995, then he appeared in the films "Albatross" (1996), "Fire Bird" (1997), "Father vs. Son" (1997), "An Affair" (1998), "City of the Rising Sun" (1999), and "The Uprising" (1999) and the television series "Snail" (1997) and "White Nights 3.98" (1998).

In 2000, Lee starred in "Il Mare," a time-travel romance that was remade as "The Lake House" (starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock) in 2006. He appeared in 2000's "Interview" and "Asako in Ruby Shoes," and in 2001, he played Jung Yong-ki in "Last Present" and Detective Oh in "The Last Witness." After starring in 2002's "Over the Rainbow," Jung-jae co-starred with Lee Beom-soo in one of his most commercially successful films, 2003's "Oh! Brothers." In 2005, Lee starred as Kang Se-jong in the action film "Typhoon," which brought in the equivalent of $26 million at the box office.

Jung-jae took on the role of Kim Ji-sung in the MBC drama "Air City" back in 2007. He then made his mark in the 2008 movie "The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan" and followed it up with the 2009 MBC series "Triple." In 2010, he starred in "The Housemaid," an erotic thriller that made waves at the Cannes Film Festival. Fast forward to 2012, he was part of "The Thieves," which became the sixth highest-grossing Korean film ever, raking in around $86 million. In 2013, Lee lent his voice to the documentary "Contemporary Art, Bury the Boundary" and appeared in "New World" and "The Face Reader."

He continued to shine in films like "Big Match" (2014), "Assassination" (2015), "Tik Tok" (2016), "Operation Chromite" (2016), and "Warriors of the Dawn" (2017). He also portrayed the God of Death (King Yeomra) in "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds" (2017) and its sequel "Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days" (2018). In 2019, Jung-jae played Jang Tae-joon in the JTBC series "Chief of Staff," returning for a cameo in "Delayed Justice" in 2021. He also appeared in "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" (2019) and "Deliver Us from Evil" (2020).

In November 2021, Lee was appointed as a global ambassador for Gucci.

Squid Game

In 2021, Lee Jung-jae took on the role of Seong Gi-hun in the Netflix sensation "Squid Game." Just a few months after it dropped, "Squid Game" became the most-watched series ever on Netflix, racking up over 142 million household views since its launch in mid-September.

Personal Life

In 1999, Jung-jae accidentally hit a car in the next lane while driving his BMW and ended up getting charged with DUI after it was found that his blood alcohol level was 0.222%. He faced another DUI charge in 2002. Fast forward to 2008, he completed a master's degree in theatre and film at Dongguk University's Graduate School of Cultural Arts, and shortly after, he made his stage debut in "Hamlet in Water" at the Lee Hae-rang Theater. In 2015, Jung-jae opened up about his relationship with Im Se-ryung, who is the executive director of the Daesang Group.

They first met in 2005, and Jung-jae mentioned, "As an entertainer, I think that getting attention from the public is a part of my job and I have to endure it to some extent. But Im Se-ryung is just a normal person and especially a mother of two children, so I want to prevent Im Se-ryung and her family from being hurt or their privacy being violated."

Awards and Nominations

In 1994, Lee snagged a nomination for Best New Actor for his role in "Feelings" at the KBS Drama Awards. The following year, he racked up several accolades: he took home Best New Actor for "Sandglass" at the SBS Drama Awards, and also won Best New Actor (TV) and Best New Actor (Film) at the Baeksang Arts Awards for "Sandglass" and "The Young Man," respectively. Additionally, he was recognized as Best New Actor for "The Young Man" at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.

In 1997, the Baeksang Arts Awards named Jung-jae the Most Popular Actor for "Firebird," and in 1999, he received the same honor for "City of the Rising Sun," which also earned him a Best Actor award from the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and a Best Leading Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. He won Best Actor for "Asako in Ruby Shoes" at the 2002 Verona Love Screens Film Festival, for "Typhoon" at the 2006 Golden Cinematography Awards, and for "The Housemaid" at the 2011 Fantasporto Director's Week.

In 2008, he was awarded the Style Icon Actor award at the Style Icon Awards, and in 2010, he was named Most Influential Star at the Mnet 20's Choice Awards. In 2013, he received a CJ CGV Star Award for "New World" and "The Face Reader" at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, along with a Popularity Award at the Grand Bell Awards and a Best Supporting Actor award for "The Face Reader" at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

In 2014, Jung-jae snagged awards for "The Face Reader" at both the KOFRA Film Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards. The following year, he picked up an InStyle Fashionista Award from the Baeksang Arts Awards. He also took home the Marie Claire Asia Star Award for Actor of the Year and the Buil Film Award for Best Actor for his role in "Assassination." Fast forward to 2018, he was named Super Icon (Male) at the Elle Style Awards, and "Deliver Us from Evil" clinched the Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards.

For his performance in "Squid Game," he won the Fabulous Award for Actor, the Actor of the Year (Daesang), and the Hot Trend Award at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards. Additionally, Jung-jae has received nominations for his work in "An Affair" (Blue Dragon Film Awards), "Last Present" (Grand Bell Awards), "Tik Tok" (Golden Lotus Awards), and "Chief of Staff" (Korea Drama Awards).

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Lee Jung-jae's remarkable career journey showcases his immense talent and versatility as an actor, from his early roles to his iconic performance in "Squid Game." With a net worth of $12 million, his success extends beyond acting into entrepreneurship, with his restaurant and real estate ventures.

His dedication to his craft, paired with his ability to balance multiple business interests, solidifies his position as one of South Korea's most influential entertainers. As he continues to expand his horizons, Lee Jung-jae’s future remains bright, and his impact on both the entertainment and business industries is undeniable.