Season 1
6 episodes Sep 12, 2024 6.2
Overview
The ruthless owner of a Norwegian fish farming company plans a hostile takeover of her local rival to become the world's largest salmon producer.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 6 episodes
- First aired
- Sep 12, 2024
- Last aired
- Sep 12, 2024
- Episode length
- 45m
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S1 E6 Queen of Solitaire (Sep 12, 2024)
Cast
12 people
Reviews
7 min readThe Salmon Wars: How Billionaire Island Turns Fish Farms Into Family Feuds
I’ll admit it: when I first heard the premise of Billionaire Island—a Norwegian corporate drama about salmon farming—I assumed it was a joke. A parody, maybe, or some kind of absurdist satire about the lengths people will go to for… fish money. But within the first ten minutes, I realized this wasn’t a gag.
It was something far more interesting: a ruthless, darkly funny exploration of power, family, and the strange ways capitalism seeps into the most unlikely places. Think Succession, but with more rain gear and fewer private jets. The show’s opening scene sets the tone perfectly.
The camera lingers on her face—weathered, determined, a little sad—and then cuts to a close-up of a salmon thrashing in a net. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be. The message is clear: this is a story about people who see the world as something to be harvested, controlled, and dominated.
And the salmon? They’re just the latest commodity in a long line of things Julie has decided to own. Their last show turned a mobster’s relocation to Norway into a fish-out-of-water comedy; here, they’ve taken the cutthroat world of Norwegian salmon farming and turned it into a family saga.
It’s a smart move. The fish-farming industry is one of those things most of us never think about, yet it’s a multi-billion-dollar global business with real stakes—environmental, economic, and, as this show makes clear, deeply personal. By grounding the story in this specific world, Billionaire Island avoids the trap of feeling like a generic corporate thriller.
This isn’t just about power; it’s about power in a place where the land, the sea, and the people are all intertwined in ways that feel almost mythic. That said, the show’s biggest strength might also be its biggest limitation. The salmon industry is fascinating, but it’s not exactly a visual goldmine.
The boardroom scenes, in particular, can feel a bit static, like a stage play where the actors are just waiting for their next line. But when the show leans into its quieter, more character-driven moments, it soars. There’s a scene in the third episode where Julie’s daughter, Amy (Ragne Grande), sits in a car with her brother, Jens Johan (Vetle Røsten Granås), and the two of them just… talk.
No music, no dramatic cuts, just two siblings trying to figure out if they even like each other. It’s the kind of moment that Succession excelled at—small, human, and devastating in its simplicity.
Trine Wiggen’s performance as Julie is the show’s anchor. The creators originally wrote the role for a man, but after casting Wiggen, they adjusted it to fit her strengths—and it shows. Julie isn’t a carbon copy of Logan Roy or any of the other corporate titans we’ve seen on screen.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBillionaire Island: The Norwegian Succession-Style Drama Making Waves in the Salmon Industry
Netflix’s Billionaire Island has arrived, and it’s not your typical billionaire fantasy. Set against the rugged backdrop of Norway’s coastal communities, this 2024 series swaps private jets and yachts for salmon farms and fjords, delivering a corporate power struggle that’s been compared to Succession—but with fish. Created by Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin, the show dives into the cutthroat world of Norway’s salmon-farming industry, where fortunes are made (and lost) in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
Here’s what we know about the drama unfolding both on and off the screen.
A Feud So Fierce, It’s Worth Billions
At the heart of Billionaire Island is a bitter rivalry between two families locked in a battle over Norway’s lucrative salmon trade. The show’s creators describe it as a story about "one of the newer marine creatures in Norway: the salmon billionaire" 
. The fish-farming industry has minted a new class of ultra-wealthy Norwegians, and the series zeroes in on the clashes that come with it—think boardroom betrayals, generational divides, and enough corporate sabotage to make Logan Roy proud.
The setting is a small coastal community, where the local economy revolves around salmon. The tension between the families isn’t just business; it’s personal, with decades of resentment simmering beneath the surface 
. While the specifics of the feud remain under wraps, early reviews suggest it’s as messy as it is high-stakes. The Guardian called it "Succession… with salmon farmers," praising the show’s ability to blend sharp corporate drama with the raw, windswept aesthetic of Norway’s fjords .
The Cast: A Mix of Veteran Talent and Fresh Faces
Leading the charge is Trine Wiggen, a Norwegian actress known for her roles in The Heavy Water War and The Kingdom. She’s joined by Svein Roger Karlsen (Ragnarok), Ragne Grande (The Quake), and Kåre Conradi (The Last Kingdom), a lineup that brings both gravitas and intensity to the series. The ensemble also includes Hanne Skille Reitan, Tor Ivar Hagen, and newcomers like Vetle Røsten Granås and Nemi Storm, suggesting a blend of established and rising talent .
What’s notable is the show’s commitment to authenticity. The creators have emphasized that the salmon industry’s real-life drama inspired the series, and the cast’s performances reflect that grit. Wiggen, in particular, has been singled out for her portrayal of a matriarch navigating the treacherous waters of family and fortune . While details about individual character arcs are scarce, the dynamic between the two warring clans promises to be the show’s driving force.
A Cliffhanger Ending—and a Possible Sequel?
Billionaire Island wraps up its first season with several unresolved storylines, leaving fans speculating about a potential second installment. Nordic Watchlist hinted that the finale sets the stage for more "salmon-shaped drama," suggesting the creators have left the door wide open for a continuation . Given the global appetite for corporate power struggles (see: Succession, Industry), it wouldn’t be surprising if Netflix greenlights another season.
The show’s release on September 12, 2024, has already sparked conversations about Norway’s real-life salmon billionaires. While the series is fictional, it’s rooted in the very real economic and environmental debates surrounding the fish-farming industry. Whether it’s the ethical dilemmas of mass salmon production or the sheer wealth generated by the trade, Billionaire Island taps into a cultural moment where corporate greed and environmental concerns collide.
The Verdict: A Fresh Take on the Billionaire Drama
Billionaire Island isn’t your typical rags-to-riches story. It’s a grounded, character-driven saga that trades Manhattan skyscrapers for Norwegian fjords and replaces tech moguls with salmon tycoons. The show’s creators have made it clear that this isn’t just a satire—it’s a reflection of how Norway’s economy has been reshaped by the fish-farming boom . With strong performances, a compelling premise, and a cliffhanger ending, it’s a series that’s already generating buzz.
If you’re craving a Succession-style drama with a Nordic twist, Billionaire Island delivers. Just don’t expect any yachts—unless they’re hauling fish.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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