Noah Baumbach Net Worth

What Is Noah Baumbach's Net Worth?

Noah Baumbach is an American filmmaker who has a net worth of $16 million. Noah Baumbach is known for writing and directing character-driven films centered on complicated families, creative ambition, romantic relationships, and personal failure. His best-known movies include "The Squid and the Whale," "Frances Ha," "The Meyerowitz Stories," "Marriage Story," and "Jay Kelly."

Baumbach has received four Academy Award nominations. He was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for "The Squid and the Whale," Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for "Marriage Story," and Best Adapted Screenplay for "Barbie."

In addition to directing his own films, Baumbach has collaborated with Wes Anderson on "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox." He has also built a major creative partnership with his wife, Greta Gerwig. The pair co-wrote "Frances Ha," "Mistress America," and the $1.45 billion blockbuster "Barbie."

Early Life

Noah Baumbach was born on September 3, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Georgia Brown, was a film critic and novelist, while his father, Jonathan Baumbach, was an author, film critic, and college professor.

His parents divorced while he was a teenager, an experience that later became the basis of "The Squid and the Whale."

Baumbach graduated from Midwood High School in 1987. He attended Vassar College and earned an English degree in 1991. After college, he worked as a messenger at "The New Yorker" while attempting to begin a filmmaking career.

Early Films

Baumbach made his feature directing debut with the 1995 comedy "Kicking and Screaming." The film followed a group of recent college graduates struggling to move into adulthood and introduced many of the themes that would recur throughout his work.

He followed it with the romantic comedy "Mr. Jealousy." Baumbach also co-wrote and directed "Highball," but disagreements surrounding the finished film led him to remove his name and use pseudonyms in the credits.

His first major critical breakthrough came with 2005's "The Squid and the Whale." The semi-autobiographical film starred Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney as divorcing writers whose conflict affects their two sons.

"The Squid and the Whale" won directing and screenwriting awards at the Sundance Film Festival. It also earned Baumbach his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

He followed the film with "Margot at the Wedding," starring Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Jack Black.

Collaborations with Greta Gerwig

Baumbach cast Greta Gerwig opposite Ben Stiller in his 2010 film "Greenberg." The movie began one of the most important personal and creative partnerships of both filmmakers' careers.

Gerwig co-wrote and starred in Baumbach's 2012 film "Frances Ha." Shot in black and white, the film followed an aspiring dancer attempting to establish herself in New York City. It received widespread acclaim and earned Gerwig a Golden Globe nomination.

Baumbach and Gerwig reunited to write "Mistress America," which Gerwig also starred in. Baumbach directed the film, which was released in 2015.

During the same period, he directed Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, and Amanda Seyfried in "While We're Young." He also co-directed the documentary "De Palma" with Jake Paltrow.

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Netflix Films

Baumbach began a major relationship with Netflix through 2017's "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)." The family comedy starred Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, and Emma Thompson and premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

His next Netflix film, "Marriage Story," became one of the most acclaimed releases of 2019. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson starred as a theater director and actress navigating the collapse of their marriage and an increasingly contentious divorce.

Baumbach wrote, directed, and produced "Marriage Story." The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Laura Dern won Best Supporting Actress for playing divorce attorney Nora Fanshaw.

Following the success of "Marriage Story," Baumbach signed a multiyear exclusive agreement to write and direct films for Netflix.

His next project was "White Noise," an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel starring Driver, Gerwig, and Don Cheadle. The ambitious comedy-drama opened the 2022 Venice International Film Festival.

Baumbach returned in 2025 with "Jay Kelly," which he co-wrote with Emily Mortimer. George Clooney played a famous actor confronting the personal cost of his career, while Adam Sandler portrayed his longtime manager. The large ensemble also included Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Jim Broadbent, and Gerwig.

Screenwriting Collaborations

Baumbach co-wrote Wes Anderson's 2004 comedy "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou." The pair later reunited for Anderson's stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

He also co-wrote the animated sequel "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," which earned more than $740 million worldwide.

Baumbach achieved the biggest commercial success of his career when he co-wrote "Barbie" with Gerwig. Gerwig directed the film, which starred Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

Released in 2023, "Barbie" earned $1.45 billion worldwide and became the year's highest-grossing movie. Baumbach and Gerwig received Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for their screenplay.

"Barbie" Sequel

Baumbach and Gerwig did not agree to write a sequel when they made the original "Barbie." Warner Bros. therefore must negotiate an entirely new deal with the filmmakers and principal cast.

In 2026, Baumbach and Gerwig confirmed through negotiations that they had developed an idea for a second movie and were prepared to write it. They declined to reveal the story or begin the screenplay until new contracts were completed.

Warner Bros. faced a December 2026 deadline to secure the principal talent before its sequel rights reverted to Mattel.

Personal Life

Baumbach married actress Jennifer Jason Leigh in 2005. They had a son named Rohmer before separating in 2010. Their divorce was finalized in 2013.

Baumbach began a relationship with Greta Gerwig after working with her on "Greenberg." They welcomed their first son in 2019 and a second son in 2023.

After more than a decade together, Baumbach and Gerwig married at New York City Hall in December 2023.

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