What is George Michael's net worth?
George Michael was an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who had a net worth of $200 million at the time of his death. George Michael rose to fame as half of the pop duo Wham! in the early 1980s alongside Andrew Ridgeley. The duo achieved massive success with hits like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper," and "Everything She Wants" before disbanding in 1986.
Michael's solo career launched with the groundbreaking album "Faith" (1987), which produced six hit singles, including the controversial "I Want Your Sex," the soulful "Father Figure," and the iconic title track. The album sold over 25 million copies worldwide and established him as a global superstar. His second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" (1990), showed his artistic evolution with more introspective songwriting and the hit "Freedom! '90." Throughout the 1990s, he released successful albums, including "Older" (1996) and "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), while dealing with personal challenges and legal issues.
Michael was known for his powerful, soulful voice, sophisticated songwriting, and his evolution from teen idol to serious artist. He sold over 120 million records worldwide, won numerous awards, including two Grammys, and was recognized for his charitable work and LGBTQ+ advocacy after coming out in 1998. Notable hits throughout his career included "Jesus to a Child," "Fastlove," "Outside," and holiday favorite "Last Christmas." He collaborated with artists like Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and Queen, cementing his place among pop music's greatest voices. Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, leaving behind a legacy as one of pop music's most influential artists, known for both his commercial success and artistic integrity. His impact on popular music and culture continues to influence new generations of artists.
Early Life
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963, in East Finchley, London. His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou, was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated to England in the 1950s. His mother, Lesley Angold, was an English dancer. Michael spent most of his childhood in London. He attended Roe Green Junior School and Kingsbury High School. He has two sisters: Yioda (born 1962) and Melanie (1964–2019). He attended Bushey Meads School, where he met and befriended Andrew Ridgeley. They bonded over the fact that they both wanted to be musicians.
Career
Michael got his first taste of success when he formed the group Wham! With Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. The band's first album, 1983's "Fantastic," had a series of top 10 singles, including "Young Guns," "Wham Rap!" and "Club Tropicana." Their second album, 1984's "Make It Big," contained the hit singles "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Freedom," "Everything She Wants," and "Careless Whisper," which reached number one in two dozen countries, including the U.S. and U.K. Michael and Ridgely officially disbanded Wham! in 1986. Michael went on to have a very successful solo career.
In late 1987, Michael released his debut solo album, "Faith," which became basically an instant classic. The first single released from the album was "I Want Your Sex." The song was banned by many radio stations across the globe due to its sexually suggestive lyrics. The second single, "Faith," was released in October 1987, a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of George Michael's most popular songs. The song was the best-selling single of 1988 in the U.S. "Faith" issued four singles –"Faith," "Father Figure," "One More Try," and "Monkey."
"Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" was released in September 1990. The first single, "Praying for Time," has lyrics about social ills and injustice. The second single was "Waiting for That Day" and was released in October 1990. The album produced five UK singles, which were released quickly within an eight-month period: "Praying for Time," "Waiting for That Day," "Freedom! '90," "Heal the Pain," and "Cowboys and Angels."
"Freedom '90" was the second of only two of its singles to be supported by a music video directed by "Se7en" director David Fincher. Instead of showing George singing the song, they hired supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford to appear and lip-sync the song.
"Older "came out in 1996, "Songs from the Last Century" in 1999, and "Patience," his final album, in 2004.
At the time of his death, George Michael had sold over 115 million records worldwide. As a solo artist, he sold over 80 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He sold a further 30 million records with Wham!. His debut solo album "Faith" sold more than 25 million copies.
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Legal/Drug Issues
During his life, Michael was arrested numerous times for drug charges and public indecency in the involvement of sexual acts. He struggled with substance abuse. On April 7, 1998, Michael was arrested for engaging in a lewd act in a public restroom of a park in Beverly Hills. Michael was arrested by an undercover policeman in a sting operation. Michael was fined US$810 and sentenced to 80 hours of community service after pleading "no contest" to the charges against him.
In February 2006, Michael was arrested for possession of drugs, an incident that he described as "my own stupid fault, as usual." In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving after obstructing the road at traffic lights in northwest London. He was banned from driving for two years.
On July 23, 2006, Michael was accused of engaging in anonymous public sex in London.
On September 19, 2008, Michael was arrested in a public restroom in London for possession of drugs.
On Sunday, July 4, 2010, Michael was returning from a Gay Pride parade when he crashed his car into the front of a store in North London and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. On August 12, he was charged with possession of marijuana and with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. On September 14, 2010, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, and a five-year ban from driving. Michael was released from prison on October 11, 2010, after serving four weeks.
Michael admitted to smoking up to 25 joints a day and abusing sleeping pills during his heavy drug use days.
Personal Life
Michael dated Chinese-American make-up artist Kathy Jeung in the late 1980s. She appeared in the "I Want Your Sex" video. Michael later said that she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend.
In 1992, Michael started dating Anselmo Feleppa, who he had met at the Rock in Rio concert in 1991. Six months into their relationship, Feleppa discovered that he was HIV-positive. In 1993, Feleppa died of an AIDS-related brain hemorrhage. Michael's song "Jesus to a Child" and the album "Older" is dedicated to Feleppa.
Between 1996 and 2009, he was in a relationship with sporting goods heir Kenny Goss. In late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their relationship as a civil partnership, but because of negative publicity and his upcoming tour, they postponed their plans. They split in 2009.
In 2012, Michael started dating Fadi Fawaz, an Australian celebrity hairstylist based in London. It was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Christmas morning in 2016.
Real Estate
At the time of his death, Michael owned a $12 million mansion called Highgate House in north London. He left the home to his sister Melanie.
Michael also owned a 16th-century cottage in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Michael purchased and renovated the home in 2007, a process that retained the house's original low ceilings and wooden beams – all part of Michael's attempt to preserve the house's historical qualities.
