Who is Daniel Neeleman? Meet the man behind Ballerina Farm
Daniel Neeleman stands at the crossroads of heritage and innovation, blending a prestigious entrepreneurial lineage with a hands-on passion for agribusiness. As co-CEO of Ballerina Farm, Daniel and his wife, Hannah, have transformed a 328-acre Utah ranch into a thriving brand and lifestyle phenomenon.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Daniel hails from a wealthy family background. His father, David Neeleman, is a popular American-Brazilian businessman.
- Daniel Neeleman and Hannah are parents to eight children.
- The controversial farmlife couple founded Ballerina Farm in 2018 after their first farm burned.
- Recently, Hannah and Daniel have faced immense backlash from the public, with many claiming that Hannah has her life controlled and manipulated by Daniel.
Daniel Neeleman's profile summary
| Full name | Daniel Neeleman |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | October 9, 1989 |
| Age | 35 years old (as of August 1, 2025) |
| Place of birth | Utah, United States |
| Current residence | Utah, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Height | 6 feet 0 inches |
| Weight | 84 kg (approx) |
| Father | David Gary Neeleman |
| Mother | Vicki Vranes |
| Siblings | Eight |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Hannah Neeleman |
| Children | Henry, Charles, George, Frances, Lois, Martha, Mabel, and Flora |
| Education | New Canaan High School, Brigham Young University, and the University of Utah |
| Profession | Entrepreneur |
| Net worth | $6 million |
| Social media |
Daniel Neeleman's age and early life
Daniel Neeleman, 35 years old as of 2025, was born in Utah, United States, on October 9, 1989. He hails from a wealthy family and grew up in a family of nine children. His parents are Vicki Vranes and David Gary Neeleman, a renowned Brazilian-American entrepreneur and founder of JetBlue Airways.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Daniel went to Brigham Young University (BYU), graduating in 2013 with a Bachelor's in Arts. He later completed an MBA at the University of Utah in 2020.
Source: Original
Who is Daniel Neeleman's wife?
Daniel Neeleman's wife is Hannah Neeleman, a prominent social media influencer, former ballerina dancer, and business owner. Together, they have eight children.
Known by her social media handle, Ballerina Farm, Hannah is often associated with the "tradwife" aesthetic, focusing on traditional home and family roles. In an interview with The Times of London, Daniel addressed the traditional portrayal. He said,
We can’t help it. This is what we are. If we’re trad dad, trad wife, so be it.
How old was Hannah Neeleman when she met Daniel?
Hannah Neeleman was 21 years old when she met Daniel. They met through a mutual friend at a college basketball game the summer before her senior year at Juilliard.
A few weeks after this encounter, they got engaged and married two months later. Hannah took to Instagram to share how they met. She captioned,
Daniel and I met at a college basketball game in our early twenties. Though he asked me on a few dates in the weeks following, I was busy with school in NYC and focused on my dancing career.
Source: Instagram
Hannah and Daniel Neeleman's relationship controversies
Recently, their relationship has been under scrutiny after a 2024 Sunday Times article portrayed her as the internet's "queen of the tradwives." However, Hannah addressed the publication, disputing the portrayal. She said,
We were taken back, however, when we saw the printed article, which shocked us and which shocked the world by being an attack on our family and my marriage, portraying me as oppressed with my husband being the culprit. This couldn't be further from the truth.
During Hannah's 34th birthday, Daniel received backlash after gifting his wife an egg apron instead of her desired ticket for a vacation in Greece. The gift prompted many reactions online, with many viewers expressing surprise and disappointment over the gift choice.
Source: Instagram
What does Ballerina Farms' husband do for a living?
Daniel Neeleman is a Utah-based entrepreneur and farmer best known for co-running Ballerina Farm alongside his wife, Hannah Neeleman. The farm, located in Kamas, Utah, spans 328 acres and produces dairy, pork, baked goods, and other farm produce.
Hannah Neeleman's husband also has a background in business. He served as the director of Vigzul, a home security company founded by his father.
How much is Daniel Neeleman from Ballerina Farm worth?
According to Distractify, Daniel Neeleman's net worth is estimated at $6 million. His fortune primarily stems from farm proceeds, his work as the director of DDN Group, and his previous work as the CEO of Vigzul.
Source: Instagram
Trivia
- The Neeleman's Utah property is named Ballerina Farm, a nod to Hannah's professional dance career.
- Daniel's online persona, "Hog Fathering," reflects his hands-on role with their pigs.
- Daniel and Hannah maintain a huge social media presence, especially on Instagram and TikTok.
- Hannah and Daniel Neeleman are co-CEOs of Ballerina Farm and are actively running the business and farm operations.
In summary
Daniel Neeleman's journey from the son of an airline magnate to a modern farmer highlights a fascinating shift from corporate empire to sustainable agriculture. Inspired by the rise of the online 'tradwife' trend, Daniel and his wife Hannah embraced a simpler way of life. Together, they have transformed their farm lifestyle at Ballerina Farm into a popular brand.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
