Petter Pilgaard Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Height, Instagram, Parents, Awards, Siblings, Movies

Names in this article: Petter Andre Pilgaard, Bjørn Pilgaard, Wenche Pilgaard Mark, Siv Pilgaard, Vendela Kirsebom, Julia Annette Thommessen, Hannah Thommessen, Mari Haugersveen, Thomas Numme

Petter Pilgaard is a Television personality, entrepreneur, and construction worker who emerged as a prominent figure in the Norwegian media landscape through his victory in the first season of the reality television competition Paradise Hotel in 2009.

His success on the show provided a platform for a multifaceted career that includes roles as a radio host, financial advisor, and more recently, a construction professional.

His transition from a participant in high-stakes reality games to a legitimate television presenter and business owner has kept him at the forefront of public interest for over a decade.

Profile

• Full Name: Petter Andre Pilgaard
• Date of Birth: February 20, 1980
• Age: 45 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Bærum, Norway
• State of Origin: Viken (formerly Akershus), Norway
• Nationality: Norwegian
• Eye Color: Blue
• Hair Color: Blonde
• Parents: Bjørn Pilgaard and Wenche Pilgaard Mark
• Siblings: Siv Pilgaard
• Spouse: Vendela Kirsebom
• Children: Julia Annette Thommessen (stepdaughter), Hannah Thommessen (stepdaughter)
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Norwegian
• Net Worth: $1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Petter Pilgaard is now at the age of 45 and was born on February 20, 1980, in the municipality of Bærum, which is located just outside of Oslo.

He spent his formative years in this affluent region, raised by his parents Bjørn Pilgaard and Wenche Pilgaard Mark alongside his sister, Siv Pilgaard.

His background is of Norwegian ethnicity, and he grew up in an environment where he eventually pursued a career in the financial sector before his foray into entertainment.

For his formal education, Pilgaard attended local schools in Bærum during his primary and secondary years.

He later pursued higher education with a focus on finance and administration.

He completed studies that allowed him to work professionally as a financial advisor in the years leading up to 2009.

This educational foundation in business and finance provided him with a professional background that he would later leverage in his various entrepreneurial ventures and media roles.

Personal Life

Petter Pilgaard has been a subject of significant media coverage, particularly his long-term relationship and subsequent marriage to the Swedish-Norwegian model and television host Vendela Kirsebom.

The couple first crossed paths in 2017 while they were both participating as contestants on the reality show Farmen Kjendis.

Their bond became a central storyline of the season, leading to the creation of their own reality series titled Vendela + Petter, which followed their journey as a couple.

After several years of dating, they married on June 17, 2022, in a highly publicized ceremony at the Oslo Cathedral.

Petter Pilgaard does not have biological children, but he holds a significant role as a stepfather to Vendela Kirsebom’s two adult daughters, Julia Annette Thommessen and Hannah Thommessen.

The family is often seen together at public events, and Pilgaard has frequently spoken about his positive relationship with his stepchildren.

Prior to his marriage to Kirsebom, he was involved in a long-term relationship with Mari Haugersveen, a partnership that was also the focus of a docudrama titled Petter elsker Mari.

Following their split, he remained a bachelor for several years before meeting his current wife.

Career

Petter Pilgaard career began in the financial sector, where he worked as a consultant and advisor.

However, his life took a drastic turn in 2009 when he entered the inaugural season of the Norwegian version of Paradise Hotel.

His victory in the competition not only earned him a share of the prize money but also turned him into a public figure overnight.

Following his win, he transitioned into the media industry, becoming a reporter for the subsequent season of Paradise Hotel and securing a position as a host for the radio program Morgenshowet on NRJ.

In 2011, he expanded his hosting portfolio by leading the reality series Big Brother on TV 2 Bliss.

His career continued to evolve with appearances on various entertainment shows, including 4-stjerners middag, Fangene på fortet, and Lurt av Karlsen.

A significant turning point occurred in 2017 when he appeared on Farmen Kjendis, which helped broaden his appeal to a wider audience.

In a surprising career shift in 2019, Pilgaard announced he was pursuing a new path as a construction worker (anleggsarbeider), focusing on heavy machinery and infrastructure projects.

By 2025, he has balanced this manual labor career with his media duties, including a return to radio with the P4 Group and the launch of his own workwear brand, Arbeidshelt.

Awards

• Reality TV Award – Paradise Hotel Season 1 Winner (2009)
• Nomination: Gullruten for Best Reality Participant (2017)

Net worth

Petter Pilgaard has a current net worth estimated at $1.5 million.

This wealth has been accumulated through various streams, including his early career as a financial advisor and his subsequent decade-long career as a high-earning reality television personality and host.

Social Media

• Instagram: @petterpilgaard

Filmography

• Paradise Hotel (2009)
• Empty Barrels (2010)
• Nummer (2010)
• Petter elsker Mari (2010)
• Big Brother (2011)
• 4-stjerners middag (2012)
• Skal du ha juling? (2014)
• Huskestue (2015)
• Farmen Kjendis (2017)
• Vendela + Petter (2017)
• Sofa (2021)