Beyond Hollywood: The winery, property and legacy Sir Sam Neill leaves behind

Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2026, 3:10pm

Sir Sam Neill often described his greatest passion outside acting as Two Paddocks, the Central Otago winery he founded in 1993. Photo / George Heard

Sir Sam Neill built a career that spanned almost five decades, starring in more than 150 film and television productions, but the legacy he leaves extends well beyond Hollywood.

The beloved New Zealand actor, who died unexpectedly on Monday aged 78, amassed an estimated fortune of between US$18 million and US$20 million through acting, business ventures and property, according to multiple overseas estimates - although the value of his estate has not been publicly disclosed.

While audiences around the world knew him best as Jurassic Park palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant, Neill often described his greatest passion outside acting as Two Paddocks, the Central Otago winery he founded in 1993.

The Two Paddocks vineyard at Bannockburn is not far from Cromwell in Central Otago. Photo / George Heard

What began as a five-acre vineyard in Gibbston grew into an award-winning organic pinot noir producer with vineyards in Gibbston and near Alexandra.

Away from the winery, Neill also owned rural property near Alexandra, where he became well known for sharing videos featuring his farm animals, many named after fellow actors and filmmakers.

He also owned a Wellington home and previously owned a four-bedroom property in Sydney’s Double Bay, purchased in 1996 and sold in 2020 after more than two decades.

His acting income came from a remarkable career that included Sleeping Dogs, My Brilliant Career, The Piano, Jurassic Park, Event Horizon, Peaky Blinders and dozens of other productions spanning more than 150 screen credits.

What happens to an estate in New Zealand?

Exactly how Neill’s estate will be distributed is not yet known, and his family has not publicly commented on those arrangements.

In New Zealand, a person’s assets, including property, businesses and investments, become part of their estate after they die.

If someone has a valid will, the executor named in that document is responsible for administering the estate, paying any outstanding debts and distributing assets according to the deceased’s wishes.

If someone dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to New Zealand’s intestacy rules.

Where there is a valid will, the executor may need to apply to the High Court for probate before administering the estate.

If there is no will, an administrator may need to apply for letters of administration.

Complex estates, particularly those involving businesses, property or disputes, can take considerably longer to administer.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Neill was worth US$18m ($31.1m) at the time of his death.

The site said: “Outside acting, Neill was deeply connected to New Zealand wine. In 1993, he founded Two Paddocks, a winery in Central Otago, one of New Zealand’s most respected pinot noir regions. What began as a small vineyard project grew into a serious wine business with several vineyards around the South Island.

“Neill often described winemaking as a passion rather than a simple investment. He took pride in the reputation of Two Paddocks and became known for his humorous social media posts from the property, where he shared updates about his vineyards, farm, and animals. Many of those animals were famously named after actors and friends, including Anjelica Huston, Helena Bonham Carter and Michael Fassbender.”

The site added about his property portfolio: “In 2020, Neill sold his home in Double Bay, Australia, for approximately A$3.6m ($4.31m). The residence featured four bedrooms, an outdoor terrace, an expansive backyard, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Double Bay is one of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs, and the property was located near Double Bay Beach. Neill had purchased the home in 1996 with his former wife, Noriko Watanabe, for A$839,000.

“Neill’s primary home base was in Central Otago on New Zealand’s South Island, where he owned property connected to his Two Paddocks winery and farm. He also maintained ties to Wellington, New Zealand.”