What is Gotye's Net Worth?
Gotye is a Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter and musician who has a net worth of $10 million. Gotye rose to international fame in 2011 with his hit single "Somebody That I Used to Know." Featured on his album "Making Mirrors," the song reached number one on the charts in numerous countries and earned two Grammy Awards. Gotye is also a member of the Melbourne indie pop trio the Basics, alongside Kris Schroeder and Tim Heath.
YouTube Royalties
Gotye is famously against monetizing his music directly on platforms like YouTube. He also famously gave 50% of all royalties generated by "Somebody That I Used to Know" to the estate of Luiz Bonfa, whose 1967 song "Seville" provided the sample. He likely could have given the estate a much smaller percentage, but believed Bonfa deserved more.
Speaking on his royalties and feelings about ads in an interview, Gotye said:
"I'm not interested in selling my music. That's the reason I don't put ads on my YouTube channel, which seems strange to people in today's climate, but that is a decision you can make. I'm like that with all my music. I generally never want to synch my music for products (on ads). Ads are calling for our attention anywhere we turn in the world. If you can do something you care about and that other people care about and keep it out that world that feels like it's all about "hey buy this stuff" then that's a good thing."
Early Life and Education
Gotye, whose real name is Wouter De Backer, was born on May 21, 1980 in Bruges, Belgium. Two years later, he immigrated with his family to Australia, living in Sydney before settling in suburban Melbourne. As a kid, he was nicknamed Gotye by his mother, which was based on the French equivalent of his Dutch name, Gauthier. He was passionate about music growing up, and took especially to the piano and drums. With three of his high school mates, Gotye formed a band called Downstares. For his higher education, he attended the University of Melbourne, from which he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree.
Career Beginnings
Gotye recorded his first music tracks in 2001, mostly using samples. He ended up putting together a four-track CD that he made 50 copies of and sent to numerous radio stations and music industry contacts. Gotye went on to create two more four-track CDs, with some of the tracks making it onto the Australian youth radio station Triple J.
First Studio Albums
Thanks to the exposure he got from his early recordings, Gotye managed to land a distribution deal with the record label Creative Vibes. Through the label, he released his debut studio album, "Boardface," in 2003. Gotye had his breakthrough in Australia three years later with his second album, "Like Drawing Blood," which he had recorded in various different locations during his frequent moves between 2003 and 2005. Featured heavily on rotation on the Australian radio station Triple J, the album was nominated for the J Award for Australian Album of the Year. Gotye went on to win the ARIA Award for Best Male Artist in 2007. "Like Drawing Blood" had a steady rollout around the world over the subsequent years, and was officially released in the United States in 2012.
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International Success
Gotye rose to international fame in 2011 with his third studio album, "Making Mirrors." The album included the singles "Eyes Wide Open" and "Somebody That I Used to Know," the latter featuring New Zealand artist Kimbra. "Somebody That I Used to Know" became a worldwide sensation, peaking at number one on the singles charts in 18 countries, including Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The song also spawned a music video that became one of the most-viewed of all time on YouTube, amassing over two billion views. Gotye went on to win three ARIA Awards for the song. He also won three Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album for "Making Mirrors" and Record of the Year for "Somebody That I Used to Know."
Other Projects and Collaborations
Beyond his solo career, Gotye is a member of the indie pop group the Basics, which he formed with fellow singer-songwriter Kris Schroeder in 2002. Tim Heath joined two years later. The Basics have released many studio albums, EPs, and live albums, and have gone on many tours. Live shows by the Basics are known for their energy and boisterous sense of humor. Elsewhere, Gotye has collaborated with such artists as Tex Perkins, Nicky Bomba, Bibio, Martin Johnson, and Les Campbell. He also launched the record labels Spirit Level and Forgotten Futures; through the latter, he released "Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline," a compilation of rare and unreleased recordings by the titular French electronic musician. In honor of Perrey, Gotye created the Ondioline Orchestra, which debuted in New York in late 2016.
Personal Life
With his girlfriend Maud, Gotye has a daughter named Léonie.
