Mette-Marit Biography: Net Worth, Age, Siblings, Husband, Children, Net Worth, Height, Awards, Controversy

Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby is the Crown Princess of Norway and the wife of the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon.

She became a figure of global recognition when her engagement was announced in 2000, a move that initiated a significant period of change for the Norwegian monarchy.

Unlike many who enter royal circles, she did not come from a background of nobility or wealth.

Instead, she was a single mother working in the service industry when she met the prince, a reality that triggered extensive debate regarding the evolving standards of modern royalty.

Her transition into her current role was defined by her openness about her past, which helped her build a connection with the public that was based on transparency rather than traditional formality.

Today, she is widely recognized for her work in global health and literature, representing a version of royalty that prioritizes social advocacy and human experience over rigid protocol.

Profile

• Full Name: Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby
• Date of Birth: August 19, 1973
• Age: 52 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of Birth: Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway
• Nationality: Norwegian
• Profession: Crown Princess of Norway
• Height: 1.78 m
• Eye color: Blue
• Hair color: Blonde
• Parents: Sven Olav Bjarte Høiby and Marit Tjessem
• Siblings: Per Høiby, Espen Høiby, Kristin Høiby Bjørnøy, and Trond Berntsen
• Spouse: Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
• Children: Marius Borg Høiby, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Church of Norway
• Ethnicity: Norwegian
• Net worth: $30 million

Early Life and education

Mette-Marit is now at the age of 52 and was born on August 19, 1973, in the city of Kristiansand.

She spent her formative years in the southern part of Norway as the daughter of Sven Olav Bjarte Høiby, a journalist, and Marit Tjessem, a bank clerk.

She grew up alongside her sister Kristin and her two older brothers, Per and Espen.

Her upbringing took place in a standard suburban environment where she participated in local activities such as volleyball and youth clubs.

Following the divorce of her parents in 1984, she remained in Kristiansand with her mother.

Her educational path involved several different institutions and international experiences.

She attended Oddernes upper secondary school and spent time as an exchange student at Wangaratta High School in Australia.

She eventually graduated from Kristiansand Cathedral School in 1994.

After completing her secondary education, she moved to Oslo and took her preliminary university examinations.

Later in life, she pursued higher academic qualifications, including a Master of Management from the BI Norwegian Business School, where she graduated in 2012.

She also took courses in ethics and development studies at the University of Oslo and attended the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Personal Life

Crown Princess has been characterized by a high degree of public scrutiny and significant life milestones.

Before entering the royal family, she was in a relationship with Morten Borg, with whom she had her first child, Marius Borg Høiby, born in 1997.

She first met Crown Prince Haakon at the Quart Festival in her hometown of Kristiansand during the late 1990s.

Their relationship became a major news story in Norway because of her background as a single mother.

Despite the public debate, the couple became engaged in late 2000 and married on August 25, 2001, at the Oslo Cathedral.

Following the marriage, she became the Crown Princess, and her son Marius was accepted as a member of the royal family, though he holds no title.

The couple has two biological children who are in the line of succession.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born in 2004, and Prince Sverre Magnus followed in 2005.

The family resides at the Skaugum estate in Asker.

In recent years, her personal life has been impacted by her health, as she was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018.

Career

Mette-Marit is defined by her official duties as a high-ranking member of the Norwegian Royal House.

Since 2001, she has represented Norway both domestically and internationally, focusing heavily on humanitarian efforts and social welfare.

One of her most significant roles is serving as a Special Representative for UNAIDS, a position she has held since 2006.

In this capacity, she has traveled extensively to Africa and other regions to advocate for the rights of young people and to combat the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.

She is also a co-founder of the Maverick Collective, an initiative aimed at engaging women in strategic philanthropy to improve the health and rights of women and girls globally.

In addition to her international work, she is a dedicated advocate for Norwegian culture and literature.

She frequently leads a literature train, traveling across Norway by rail to promote reading and library services.

She serves as a patron for numerous organizations, including the Norwegian Red Cross and the Norwegian Council for Mental Health.

Her work often brings attention to marginalized groups, including those struggling with substance abuse or social exclusion.

Throughout her tenure, she has transitioned from a controversial figure to a respected representative of the state, using her platform to address sensitive social issues that were previously rarely discussed by the monarchy.

Awards

• Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav (2001)
• Royal House Centenary Medal (2005)
• King Harald V’s Jubilee Medal 1991-2016 (2016)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (2006)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2004)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (2001)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of Nassau (2011)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2010)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Henry (2004)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (2005)

Net worth

Crown Princess Mette-Marit net worth is estimated to be approximately 30 million dollars.

This figure is based on the collective wealth and assets of the Norwegian Royal Family rather than personal commercial earnings, as her income is derived from the state-funded civil list.

Controversy

Mette-Marit has not been without significant controversy and public scandal.

Before her marriage, the Norwegian press focused heavily on her past involvement in the house music scene in Oslo, which was associated with drug culture.

To address this, she held a highly publicized press conference before her wedding where she apologized for her past lifestyle and condemned illegal drugs.

In 2019, she faced fresh criticism when it was revealed that she had met with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on several occasions between 2011 and 2013.

She later expressed deep regret for these meetings, stating she was unaware of the extent of his crimes at the time.

More recently, in 2024 and 2025, her family has been at the center of a major legal scandal involving her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby.

He was arrested following an incident in an apartment in Oslo and later faced multiple charges including assault, criminal damage, and more recently, serious allegations involving sexual misconduct.

These developments have led to intense media coverage and have put a strain on the public image of the Crown Prince family.

Additionally, her father, Sven O. Høiby, frequently caused controversy during her early years as a royal by selling stories and private photos to tabloid magazines, which led to a long-term estrangement between them before his death in 2007.

Social Media

• Instagram: @crownprincessmm

Filmography

• Mette-Marit: The Crown Princess (2021)

Discography

• Sorgen og gleden (2008)

Books

• Hjemlandet og andre fortellinger (2019)