Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa's Full Biography

Jason Momoa, whose full name is Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He became famous in the 2000s as Khal Drogo, the Dothraki warlord, on the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, and even more famous in 2018 for his role as Aquaman.

Jason Momoa's Early Life

Jason Momoa was born on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii, making him of Native Hawaiian, German, and Irish descent. His father, Joseph Momoa, is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, while his mother, Coni Lemke, has German and Irish roots. Before returning to Hawaii, where his mother raised him, Momoa spent his early years in Norwalk, Iowa. He had a passion for rock climbing and began studying marine biology. (Almost like he knew he was the future Aquaman)

Jason Momoa's Early Career

Baywatch Hawaii

Early Career: Momoa's career in entertainment began when a modeling agent identified him, which resulted in his landing his first role in the series "Baywatch Hawaii" in 1999. However, he gained significant recognition for his role as Ronon Dex in the television series "Stargate Atlantis" (2005–2009).

Jason Momoa's Breakthrough

Game of Thrones

Momoa's major breakthrough came when he was cast as Khal Drogo in the highly successful HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2012). His portrayal of the fierce Dothraki warrior made him a fan favorite and pushed him into the international spotlight.

Jason Momoa's Film Career

Top Films and TV Shows

Jason Momoa has also been a part of other notable projects, including the Netflix series Frontier (2016–2018) and the Apple TV+ series See (2019–2022).

Jason Momoa's Business Ventures

Pride of Gypsies and Mananalu

Jason Momoa founded the production company Pride of Gypsies in 2010, which has been involved in creating films like Road to Paloma (2014) and The Bad Batch (2016). The company has also reached out to different brands that Momoa picks himself, like Carhart, to do commercials. Movies tend to take a lot of time, so in order to bring in money at a faster rate and do more work, the commercials have worked well.

He also launched his own brand of water, "Mananalu," which promotes sustainability and environmental awareness.

Jason Momoa's Net Worth

$25 Million

Jason Momoa has a net worth of $25 million. His pay has slowly increased since his role in Aquaman. He is now a major superstar who draws a huge following, so he can demand more money. For the 2018 Aquaman movie he had a backend deal. Getting paid $3 million up front and a portion of the movie sales. He ended up with roughly $7 million. The new Aquaman movie coming out in December 2023 boasts a much bigger salary for him. $15 million up front and a portion of the movie sales. He is likely to walk away with a minimum of $20 million.

Taking a look at more recent roles, he made $600,000 per episode in the second season of See on Apple TV. In comparison, he made $175,000 per episode in Game of Thrones.

Jason Momoa's Personal Life

Divorced

Jason Momoa married actress Lisa Bonet in 2017, and the couple had two children together. Daughter Lola Iolani was born in July 2007, and son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha was born in December 2008. The couple divorced in 2022.

Jason Momoa's Activism Role

Environmental Activist

Jason Momoa is very dedicated to the environment above ground and below. Through his work with notable NGOs such as Ocean Unite, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and Lonely Whale, Momoa advocates for Marine Protected Areas, protection for coral reefs and the global agreement on plastic pollution and waste.

Jason Momoa's Controversy

Resurfaced "Game of Thrones" Rape Scene Debate:

One of the earliest controversies involving Momoa was related to his role as Khal Drogo in "Game of Thrones." Some fans and critics questioned the handling of a controversial rape scene involving his character and Daenerys Targaryen. This brought up discussions about the portrayal of sexual violence on television.

Cultural Appropriation Controversy:

Momoa has faced accusations of cultural appropriation for some of his actions, such as wearing a Native American war bonnet during an event. Critics argued that such actions were disrespectful to indigenous cultures.

Environmental Activism and Harley-Davidson Partnership:

Momoa's environmental activism has been both praised and criticized. He's been involved in campaigns to reduce the use of single-use plastics and raise awareness about environmental issues. However, his partnership with Harley-Davidson raised questions about his commitment to sustainability, as some saw the brand as environmentally unfriendly.