Taika Watiti could be a name you’ve heard before, but have never been too sure exactly who it is. For the uninitiated, Taika is a comedian, filmmaker and actor from New Zealand. While some of his earlier movies may have gone under the radar of some, he is now perhaps best known as being the man who’s injected some fun into the Thor movies.
So, who is Taika Waititi, where does he live, what’s his net worth, and who is he married to? Allow us to answer all these questions and more.
Taika Waititi Quick Facts
| Name: | Taika David Cohen – known professionally as Taika Waititi |
| Age (DOB): | 46 (16 August 1975) |
| Nationality: | New Zealand |
| Height: | 6ft / 1.84m |
| Relationship Status: | Married |
| Spouse: | Rita Ora |
| Instagram: | @taikawaititi – 2.9m followers |
| Net Worth: | $14 million (estimated) |
Who Is Taika Waititi?
Taika Waititi – real name Taika Cohen – is a comedian, actor and filmmaker from Raukokore, New Zealand. He was born on 16 August 1975 and moved from Raukokore soon after to grow up on New Zealand’s east coast in Wellington.
Taika’s parents separated when he was five years old and he so he was raised primarily by his mother and for a good period of time, he used Cohen – his mother’s surname – for his professional work. He eventually switched to take his father’s surname, Waititi, following the release of his first short film.
Taika Waititi Movies
Taika Waititi started his filmmaking career by producing a number of short films, which started with John and Pogo in 2002. His second short film, Two Cars, One Night, which was released in 2004, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
His first feature film, Eagle vs Shark arrived in 2007 and his second, Boy (released in 2010) received positive reviews, especially in his home country of New Zealand.
2014 proved to be a breakthrough year for Taika Waititi following the release of the vampire comedy What We Do In The Shadows, which received critical acclaim. The majority of people will know Taika Waititi from directing Thor: Ragnarok and the upcoming sequel Thor: Love & Thunder.
Taika’s direction injected a dose of fun into the Thor movies, compared to the more dark nature of the first two movies in the series.
Taika Waititi TV Shows
Taika Waititi isn’t just involved in movies, but he has also lent his hand to writing and directing various TV shows. One of his earliest forays into television was as a writer and director of four episodes of Flight of the Conchords, an American sitcom featuring fellow New Zealand actors Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie.
He is a director and executive producer on the TV show version of What We Do In The Shadows. His most recent televisions credits include Our Flag Means Death as well as directing the final episode of the first season of The Mandalorian entitled Chapter 8: Redemption.
Taika Waititi Wife
Taika Waititi has been in a relationship with British singer Rita Ora since 2021, and the couple got engaged in June 2022. According to The Sun, Taika and Rita got married in a “low-key” ceremony in London, which was attended by a swathe of A-list celebrities.
Taika has previously been married to Chelsea Winstanley, a film producer from New Zealand from 2011 to 2018. They have two daughters together; Te Hinekāhu (born 2012) and Matewa Kiritapu (born 2015).
Before this, Taika was in a 10-year relationship with New Zealand actress and writer Loren Horsely, who co-wore Taika’s first feature film with him.
Taika and Rita
As a supportive partner, Taika is known for reposting his partner Rita Ora’s performances. For Valentine’s Day, he posted a mashup of his favourite videos of himself and Rita, who was seen scaring him from corners of the house. They were featured on the cover of the June edition of Vogue Australia.
Taika was one of the producers of Rita’s album “You & I,” which was released on July 14. His favorite tracks were “Shape of Me,” “Notting Hill,” and “You and I.” The duo celebrated their marriage anniversary in July with a never-before-seen wedding album. They marked Valentine’s Day 2024 with a love-themed photoshoot and advertised for the brand Stoked Stainless.
Taika Waititi Net Worth
Taika Waititi has an estimated net worth of $14 million as of 2022.
Rest
When Taika’s resting, he enjoys flying with Heletranz Helicopter Services during his New Year holidays. After Israel Adesanya’s win in April, Taika celebrated by posting a picture of himself and Israel. He got a custom handmade sweatshirt with his girls’ names inscribed on the right shoulder.
Taika, being Taika
He addressed false charges against him, berating the person’s photoshop for clickbait. He also warned against texting from strange accounts asking for money. His love for rugby led him to tattoo the letter “R” on his right hand. Taika extended his career by executive producing a movie titled “Fry Bread, Face & Me.” At the Sydney Film Fest, Taika praised Warwick Thornton as one of his best acts to watch.
Business
In the last quarter of the year, he launched his drink brand “Taika’s Latte” in four different flavours. His product was listed with the brand “Whole Foods Market” on Instagram. In May 2023, he was on the front cover of the Hollywood Reporter.
Style
Taika attended the Met Gala with Rita, wearing a long gray robe with black lapels and white pants. In September, he walked the runway at Hermes New York Fashion Week in a white, leather, fur-patterned jacket, a black turtleneck, and black jeans.
Partnerships
Due to the aftermath of the natural disaster Cyclone Gabrielle, Taika announced that Silky Otter Cinemas in collaboration with Matewa Media would be hosting a day at the movies: Made by Maori, with proceeds going to the victims. He featured in the movie “Next Goal Wins,” which premiered in cinemas in November 2023. In conjunction with Apple, he created a digital story titled “The Lost Voice” to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. He also co-wrote a dark comic about rising sea levels, with proceeds used to save animals.