Lena Dunham is a multifaceted American actress, writer, director, and producer who has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Best known for creating, writing, and starring in the groundbreaking HBO series Girls, Dunham has built a career that spans television, film, literature, and more. As of 2025, her net worth, personal life, and professional achievements continue to captivate public interest. This article delves into Lena Dunham’s net worth, age, height, husband, children, income sources, and biography, providing a comprehensive look at her life and career.
Lena Dunham’s Net Worth in 2025
As of 2025, Lena Dunham’s net worth is estimated to be around $12 million to $15 million, based on various sources. Her wealth stems from her extensive work in television, film, publishing, and other creative ventures. The primary contributors to her financial success include her earnings from Girls, her book deal, and her involvement in various film and television projects as a writer, director, and producer.
Key Income Sources
- HBO’s Girls: Dunham reportedly earned $150,000 per episode for her work as the creator, writer, director, and star of Girls, which ran for six seasons from 2012 to 2017. This was a significant contributor to her wealth.
- Book Deal: In 2012, Dunham signed a $3.5 million book deal with Random House for her memoir, Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned”, which became a New York Times bestseller.
- Film and Television Projects: Dunham has worked on films like Tiny Furniture (2010), Sharp Stick (2022), and Catherine Called Birdy (2022), as well as other TV projects like Camping (2018) and the upcoming Netflix series Too Much (set to debut in 2025). These projects have added to her income through writing, directing, and acting fees.
- Real Estate: Dunham has engaged in real estate transactions, though not always profitably. She sold a Brooklyn condo in 2019 at a $270,000 loss (purchased for $2.9 million, sold for $2.63 million) and sold a Hollywood home in 2021 for nearly $3 million after buying it for $2.725 million in 2015.
- Other Ventures: Dunham co-founded the feminist newsletter Lenny Letter (2015–2018) and has written for publications like The New Yorker. She also earns from brand endorsements and public appearances.
While some sources report her net worth as high as $15 million in previous years, more recent estimates from 2023–2025 consistently place it around $12 million, reflecting fluctuations in her real estate ventures and career focus.
Age and Early Life
Lena Dunham was born on May 13, 1986, in New York City, making her 38 years old as of 2025. Raised in an artistic environment, Dunham grew up in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood and spent summers in Salisbury, Connecticut. Her father, Carroll Dunham, is a renowned painter, and her mother, Laurie Simmons, is a celebrated photographer and filmmaker known for her work with dolls and miniature scenes. Dunham has a younger sibling, Cyrus Grace Dunham, who is a writer and actor and appeared in her films Creative Nonfiction (2009) and Tiny Furniture (2010).
Dunham’s upbringing in a creative household shaped her early interest in storytelling. She attended Friends Seminary in Manhattan before transferring to Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, where she met her future Girls co-star Jemima Kirke. As a teenager, she won a Scholastic Art and Writing Award, showcasing her early talent. She later studied at The New School for a year before graduating from Oberlin College in 2008 with a degree in creative writing.
Height and Physical Stats
Lena Dunham stands at 5 feet 3 inches (1.6 meters) tall and weighs approximately 61–66 kg (134–145 lbs), though her weight has varied over time. Her body measurements are reported to be 36-28-38 inches, with a bra size of 34D. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Dunham has been open about her health struggles, including endometriosis, which led to a hysterectomy at age 31, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. These conditions have influenced her public discussions about body image and health.
Husband and Relationships
Lena Dunham has been married to Luis Felber, a British-Peruvian musician known professionally as Attawalpa, since September 2021. The couple’s relationship is described as supportive and creatively collaborative, with Felber co-creating Dunham’s upcoming Netflix series Too Much. They live together in London, where Dunham has resided since 2021, enjoying a relatively low-key lifestyle compared to her earlier years in the spotlight.
Before Felber, Dunham was in a high-profile relationship with Jack Antonoff, the lead guitarist of the band Fun. and founder of Bleachers. They dated from 2012 to 2017, parting amicably. Dunham has been candid about her personal life, often weaving her experiences into her work, though she has expressed reluctance to be her own muse in recent projects.
Children
Lena Dunham does not have children and is unable to have biological children due to her hysterectomy in 2018, prompted by severe endometriosis. In interviews, she has discussed the emotional complexity of this decision, noting that prioritizing her health was necessary but challenging, as it meant giving up the possibility of bearing children. She has expressed openness to other paths to parenthood, such as adoption, but as of 2025, she has no children.
Biography and Career Highlights
Early Career
Dunham’s career began with independent short films during her time at Oberlin College, many of which she uploaded to YouTube. Her early works, such as Pressure (2006) and The Fountain (2007), explored themes of sexual enlightenment and personal relationships in a mumblecore style. The Fountain went viral but also sparked controversy over Dunham’s appearance, leading her to remove it from YouTube. In 2009, she created the web series Delusional Downtown Divas, a satire of New York’s art scene, followed by her debut feature film Creative Nonfiction.
Her breakthrough came with Tiny Furniture (2010), a semi-autobiographical indie film she wrote, directed, and starred in, featuring her mother and sibling in supporting roles. The film won Best Narrative Feature at the South by Southwest Film Festival and an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, catching the attention of producer Judd Apatow and leading to her HBO deal for Girls.
Rise to Fame with Girls
Premiering in 2012, Girls was a cultural phenomenon, offering a raw, unfiltered look at the lives of four young women in New York City. Dunham’s portrayal of Hannah Horvath, combined with her roles as creator, writer, and director, earned her widespread acclaim. The series ran for six seasons (2012–2017), securing two Golden Globe Awards, a Directors Guild of America Award, and multiple Emmy nominations. Girls was praised for its authenticity and criticized for its depiction of privilege, making Dunham a polarizing figure.
Other Notable Works
- Films: Dunham has appeared in films like This Is 40 (2012), Happy Christmas (2014), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), and Treasure (2024). She also wrote and directed Sharp Stick (2022) and Catherine Called Birdy (2022).
- Television: Beyond Girls, she has guest-starred in shows like Scandal (2015), The Simpsons (2015), and American Horror Story: Cult (2017). She is currently working on Too Much, a Netflix comedy series set to release in 2025.
- Writing: Her 2014 book Not That Kind of Girl was a bestseller, and she is working on a new memoir as of 2024. She also serialized a novel, Verified Strangers, for Vogue in 2020.
- Lenny Letter: Co-founded with Jenni Konner in 2015, this feminist newsletter ran until 2018, featuring essays, fiction, and poetry.
Awards and Recognition
Dunham’s accolades include:
- Two Golden Globe Awards for Girls (Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress).
- Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series (first woman to win).
- Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay (Tiny Furniture).
- Horizon Award from the Point Foundation for her support of the LGBTQ+ community (2014).
- Inclusion in Time’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2013.
Controversies and Public Persona
Dunham’s career has been marked by both praise and controversy. Her candidness, particularly about her body, health, and political views, has made her a lightning rod for criticism. Notable controversies include:
- Defending writer Murray Miller against sexual assault allegations in 2017, which she later apologized for.
- Facing accusations of racism and privilege in her work, particularly with Girls’ lack of diversity.
- Public backlash over her viral video The Fountain and comments about her body image.
Despite these challenges, Dunham has remained resilient, using her platform to advocate for feminism, body positivity, and mental health awareness. She has been open about her struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and addiction to prescription drugs, as well as her recovery through rehab.
Lifestyle and Philanthropy
Dunham leads a relatively private life in London with her husband, Luis Felber. She owns properties in Los Angeles and New York but currently rents in Manhattan’s West Village. Her car collection reflects her affluent lifestyle, though specific models are not publicly detailed.
She is an active supporter of causes like women’s rights, reproductive health, and the LGBTQ+ community. Dunham has also been a vocal advocate for the Democratic Party, appearing in a 2012 ad for Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.
Future Projects and Legacy
Looking ahead, Dunham is poised to continue her creative output. Her Netflix series Too Much, co-created with Felber and starring Megan Stalter, is a semi-autobiographical comedy about an American woman in London, set to premiere in 2025. She is also finishing a memoir and producing projects under her Good Thing Going production banner.
Lena Dunham’s legacy is one of bold storytelling and unapologetic authenticity. While her work has sparked debate, it has also inspired a generation of creators to embrace vulnerability and challenge societal norms. Her ability to navigate personal and professional challenges while continuing to innovate ensures her enduring impact on the entertainment industry.
Interesting Facts
- Dunham has a tattoo of the Odeon restaurant’s neon sign on her body, reflecting her New York roots.
- She describes herself as “culturally Jewish” and draws inspiration from Hebrew poetry by Yehuda Amichai.
- Her privileged background, with ties to the Tiffany jewelry family, has been both a boon and a point of criticism.
Conclusion
Lena Dunham’s journey from a New York City artist’s daughter to a celebrated and controversial figure in entertainment is a testament to her talent and resilience. With a net worth of $12–15 million in 2025, she continues to thrive through her diverse creative endeavors. At 38 years old, standing 5 feet 3 inches tall, married to Luis Felber, and without children due to health challenges, Dunham remains a dynamic force in film, television, and literature. Her story is one of creativity, controversy, and courage, making her a compelling figure in modern pop culture.
