Taika Waititi, a multi-talented New Zealand director, writer, comedian, actor, and painter, holds an estimated net worth of $13 million. His fame largely stems from his creative contributions to both the film and television industries. He is widely known for directing and writing films like “Eagle vs Shark” (2007), “Boy” (2010), “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014), “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016), and “Jojo Rabbit” (2019). Taika also directed the highly successful Marvel movie “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017), which achieved an impressive $854 million at the global box office.
In addition to his work as a director, Waititi has produced numerous films and TV series, including “What We Do in the Shadows,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” and “Jojo Rabbit,” as well as the TV shows “Wellington Paranormal” (2018–present) and “What We Do in the Shadows” (2019–present). His 2004 short film “Two Cars, One Night” earned him an Academy Award nomination, a milestone early in his career. Waititi is also recognized for his acting roles, portraying the character Viago in “What We Do in the Shadows,” Korg in “Thor: Ragnarok,” and Adolf Hitler in “Jojo Rabbit.” Additionally, he voiced IG-11 on the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” in 2019.
Between 2007 and 2009, Taika contributed as a director for four episodes of the HBO series “Flight of the Conchords,” which starred his college friends and collaborators, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. He also directed several music videos for the band, including those for the songs “Ladies of the World,” “Mutha’uckas,” and “Leggy Blonde.” In 2017, Taika Waititi was honored as New Zealander of the Year for his exceptional achievements in the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
Taika Waititi was born as Taika David Cohen on August 16, 1975, in Raukokore, New Zealand. He was raised by his mother, Robin Cohen, a schoolteacher, after his parents, Taika Waititi (a farmer and artist) and Robin Cohen, separated when he was a child. Taika attended Onslow College before continuing his education at Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied theatre. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. Originally, Taika used the surname Cohen for his film-related work, while using Waititi for his visual art projects.
Waititi has described himself as a “Polynesian Jew” due to his mixed heritage; his father is Māori, and his mother is of Jewish descent. While at Victoria University, he met Jemaine Clement, who would become a collaborator on various projects, including the co-writing and co-directing of the film “What We Do in the Shadows.” During this time, they formed the comedy troupes So You’re a Man and The Humourbeasts. The Humourbeasts created a stage show titled “The Untold Tales of Maui,” which won them the prestigious Billy T Award as they toured New Zealand with the performance.
The Beginnings of His Career
Taika Waititi began his acting career in 1999 with the New Zealand film Scarfies. He followed this with roles in Snakeskin (2001) and TV series like The Strip (2002), The Tribe (2002), Revelations (2003), and Freaky (2003). In 2002, he wrote and directed the short film John and Pogo, followed by Two Cars, One Night in 2004, showcasing his potential as a filmmaker.
His first feature, Eagle vs Shark (2007), marked his directorial debut and gained attention for its unique style. His second feature, Boy (2010), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, earning a Grand Jury Prize nomination. Waititi also played a key role in the film as Alamein, the father figure.
In 2011, he appeared as Thomas Kalmaku in Green Lantern. However, his co-writing and co-directing of the 2014 vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows earned significant recognition. The film’s success led to an American spin-off TV series and the New Zealand series Wellington Paranormal.
Rise to International Stardom
In 2016, Waititi directed the hit film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” in which he also starred. The film received widespread praise for its storytelling and humor, further cementing Taika’s reputation as a talented filmmaker. He followed this success with the creation of “Team Thor” (2016) and “Team Thor: Part 2” (2017), which were short films that delved into the events surrounding Thor during the events of “Captain America: Civil War.”
Taika’s biggest mainstream achievement came with his direction of “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017), which became the ninth-highest-grossing film of the year, with earnings of $854 million worldwide. His involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe helped him reach an even wider audience, making his unique brand of humor and style known on a global scale.
Following this success, Taika produced the film “The Breaker Upperers” (2018) and continued his work as a writer, director, and actor with “Jojo Rabbit” (2019), which won him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also directed an episode of “The Mandalorian” that year, contributing to the show’s success.
In 2021, Waititi was cast as Blackbeard in the HBO series “Our Flag Means Death,” which also starred his “What We Do in the Shadows” co-star Rhys Darby. He is also attached to creating two animated series based on Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for Netflix, focusing on the Oompa-Loompas.
Awards and Recognitions
Taika Waititi has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards, winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for “Jojo Rabbit” in 2020. Additionally, he earned nominations for Best Short Film, Live Action for “Two Cars, One Night” and Best Motion Picture of the Year for “Jojo Rabbit.” Waititi has also received two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for “The Mandalorian” and Outstanding Comedy Series for “What We Do in the Shadows.”
His screenplay for “Jojo Rabbit” garnered awards from the BAFTA Awards, AACTA International Awards, Hollywood Critics Association, and the Writers Guild of America, among others. The film also won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Waititi’s other films have earned him numerous awards, including accolades from the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival, Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival, and several others. He has also received five New Zealand Film and TV Awards, highlighting his success as a director, actor, and writer.
Real Estate Investments
In 2018, Taika and Chelsea Winstanley purchased a home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles for $2.4 million. The 2,323-square-foot home features four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The couple later listed the property for sale in early 2021 for $2.75 million. The previous owner of the home was Marti Noxon, a writer, director, and producer known for her work on popular shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “UnREAL.”
