How Much is Daniel Dae Kim Net Worth in 2025?
As of 2025, Daniel Dae Kim's estimated net worth is $10 million. It’s probably closer to the lower end, given the volatility of Hollywood earnings and the fact that Kim’s a working actor, not a tech mogul.
His wealth comes from a mix of acting, producing, and some savvy side ventures, but let’s not kid ourselves he’s not out here buying private islands.
I mean, $10 million is nothing to sneeze at, especially for a guy who’s fought his way through an industry that hasn’t always rolled out the red carpet for Asian-American actors.
His financial story feels like a slow-burn success, built on grit, talent, and a knack for diversifying his income. Let’s unpack how he got there, and maybe I’ll throw in a personal gripe about how Hollywood still lowballs its minority stars.
Who is Daniel Dae Kim?
Daniel Dae Kim is a Korean-American actor, producer, and advocate who’s been a steady presence on our screens for decades.
Born Kim Dae-hyun in Busan, South Korea, on August 4, 1968, he’s the guy you probably know as Jin-Soo Kwon from Lost or Chin Ho Kelly from Hawaii Five-0. He’s 56 now, still carrying that quiet charisma that makes you root for him, whether he’s playing a brooding survivor or a tough cop.
Beyond acting, he’s a trailblazer someone who’s used his platform to call out Hollywood’s pay disparities and push for better Asian-American representation. I remember watching Lost as a teenager, totally hooked on Jin’s arc, and feeling like, “Wow, this guy’s stealing the show without saying much.”
His production company, 3AD, is behind hits like The Good Doctor, and he’s voiced characters in everything from Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon to the Saints Row video games.
The man’s not just a one-trick pony he’s got range, and he’s not afraid to speak up about what matters.
Daniel Dae Kim’s Career Earnings
Daniel Dae Kim’s career earnings are a testament to his hustle, with estimates suggesting he’s pulled in millions from acting, producing, and voice work.
His big break came with Lost (2004–2010), where he reportedly earned a solid but not jaw-dropping salary think in the ballpark of $50,000 per episode by the later seasons, though exact figures are murky.
Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2017) was where things got meatier, with reports of $195,000 per episode at his peak.
That’s serious cash, but here’s the kicker: he left the show after a salary dispute, refusing to accept less than his white co-stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. Gotta respect that he walked away on principle, which probably cost him a chunk of change but earned him a lot of admiration.
Beyond TV, Kim’s production company, 3AD, has been a money-maker. Producing The Good Doctor and signing first-look deals with CBS and Amazon Studios? That’s not pocket change.
Voice acting’s another revenue stream his work as Johnny Gat in Saints Row (a franchise that sold millions) and Chief Benja in Raya added some nice checks.
Real estate flips, like the Honolulu home he bought for $2.21 million in 2010 and sold for $2.43 million in 2011, show he’s got a head for investments too.
Here’s a rough breakdown of his income sources:
- TV Acting: Lost, Hawaii Five-0, New Amsterdam, etc. likely millions over the years.
- Producing: 3AD’s projects, especially The Good Doctor, bring in steady revenue.
- Voice Work: Video games (Saints Row) and animation (Raya) probably a few hundred grand per major gig.
- Real Estate: Modest but smart flips, like the Honolulu deal.
Daniel Dae Kim’s Early Life
Daniel Dae Kim was born in Busan, South Korea, on August 4, 1968, and moved to the U.S. at age one, growing up in New York City and Pennsylvania.
His dad, Dr. Doo-tae Kim, was an anesthesiologist, and his mom, Jung Kim, was a homemaker classic immigrant parents chasing the American dream.
Life in Easton and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, wasn’t always easy; Kim’s talked about feeling like an outsider in mostly white neighborhoods.
I can relate a bit growing up in a small town where you’re “the different one” sticks with you. He was a high achiever, though: class president, football quarterback at Freedom High School.
Originally, he was on a law school track, studying political science and theater at Haverford College (class of 1990). But a college play changed everything his friend Lane Savadove roped him into a one-act, and the audience’s applause hooked him.
He later earned an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Acting Program in 1996, diving headfirst into a career his parents weren’t thrilled about.
Acting wasn’t exactly a “respected” path in their Korean household, but Kim’s stubborn passion won out. That leap of faith? It’s why we’re talking about him today.
