Who Is Greta Thunberg? Climate change activist, fame and net worth explained

Who is Greta Thunberg? The Swedish climate activist is in the headlines after she was detained by Israeli forces when she, along with other activists, was aboard a boat attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. The group’s yacht, the Madleen, was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean on Monday, June 9. But who is Greta Thunberg and why she's all over the headlines? Here's everything you need to know about her.

Greta Thunberg is one of the world's most prominent climate change campaigners. At the age of 15, she began her fight for the climate by sitting in front of the Swedish parliament, inspiring millions worldwide to join the fight for a sustainable future.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Thunberg's mother was an opera singer, and her father was an actor. She was only eight when she first learned about climate change.

By the age of 11, Thunberg said she suffered from depression and stopped talking and attending school. During this time, she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. “I think my concern about the environment and climate change began in school, when I was maybe 8 or 9-years-old,” she said in the 2020 book I Know This to Be True: Greta Thunberg.

In 2018, Greta began her climate strike, marking the start of a global movement. At just 15 years old, she gained worldwide attention by staging a strike outside the Swedish parliament, demanding urgent action on the climate crisis.

In 2018, she launched a global movement by skipping classes to protest. Her silent protest resonated loudly across the globe. She later continued the strike every Friday. Her campaign went viral, inspiring thousands of students to skip school and join the movement.

Greta has achieved numerous accolades. At 15, she addressed the United Nations. In 2019, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, she has been nominated multiple times. Her campaigns also earned Time magazine’s Person of the Year title in 2019.

Thunberg’s net worth is estimated to be around $100,000 in 2025, according to various sources. The majority of her income reportedly comes from book royalties, documentaries, and donations. It is also said that she donates nearly all of her earnings. However, nothing is confirmed.