What is Mike Gordon's Net Worth?
Mike Gordon is an American musician and singer who has a net worth of $60 million. Mike Gordon is best known as the co-founder and bass guitarist of the rock band Phish. He is also an accomplished banjo player, and has released multiple studio albums as a solo artist and with acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke. In addition to his music career, Gordon directed the feature films "Outside Out" and "Rising Low."
Early Life and Education
Mike Gordon was born on June 3, 1965 in Sudbury, Massachusetts to abstract painter Marjorie and entrepreneur Robert, the founder of the New England convenience store chain Store 24. He was educated at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Gordon went on to attend the University of Vermont, from which he earned his BA degree.
Phish
While a student at the University of Vermont, Gordon met fellow students Trey Anastasio, Jeff Holdsworth, and Jon Fishman. Together, they formed the rock band Phish in 1983. Gordon played bass, Anastasio and Holdsworth guitar, and Fishman the drums; all of them performed vocals as well. In 1985, the band added keyboardist Page McConnell, and the year after that, Holdsworth made his exit. Phish went on to self-release its debut album, "Junta," in 1989. The following year, the band released "Lawn Boy" via Absolute A Go Go Records and Rough Trade Records. In 1992, Phish made its major-label debut with "A Picture of Nectar," released by Elektra Records. The album established the band's eclectic style, incorporating such genres as jazz, rock, psychedelia, and country. Subsequent Phish albums were "Rift," "Hoist," and "Billy Breathes," which brought the band to more mainstream attention. Closing out the decade, the group released "The Story of the Ghost" and "The Siket Disc." Notable studio albums by Phish in the 21st century include "Farmhouse," "Undermind," "Joy," and "Get More Down." Since 2005, the band has issued albums through its own independent record label, JEMP Records.
Albums with Leo Kottke
Outside of Phish, Gordon has frequently collaborated with acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke. Together, they released their first studio album, "Clone," in 2002. The pair followed that in 2005 with "Sixty Six Steps." Following a long break, Gordon and Kottke reunited to record their third studio album as a duo, "Noon," which was released in the summer of 2020. Phish drummer Jon Fishman appears on a number of the album's tracks.
Solo Career
As a solo artist, Gordon released his debut album, "Inside In," in 2003. Five years later, he released his second solo album, "The Green Sparrow." Gordon's subsequent solo albums have included "Moss" (2010), "Overstep" (2014), "OGOGO" (2017), and "Flying Games" (2023).
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Other Musical Projects and Collaborations
Throughout 2004 and 2005, Gordon performed with the Benevento-Russo Duo at various venues in the US. He returned to the band in the summer of 2006 alongside his Phish bandmate Trey Anastasio. From 2008 to 2014, Gordon toured and performed with guitarist Scott Murawski, drummer Todd Isler, percussionist Craig Myers, and keyboardist Tom Cleary. After the departures of Isler and Cleary, Gordon added John Kimock and Robert Walter to his touring band.
Gordon has had several other musical side projects outside of Phish, including Grappa Boom, with Jamie Masefield; SerialPod, with Phish bandmate Trey Anastasio and Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann; and Ramble Dove, with Scott Murawski, Brett Hughes, Neil Cleary, and Marie Claire. Gordon also briefly played with the Rhythm Devils, a band led by former Dead members Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.
Film Career
Gordon has made many forays into filmmaking. He made his directorial debut in 1994 with the documentary "Tracking," about Phish and the recording of the band's fifth studio album, "Hoist." Gordon's next film as director was the 2001 fiction drama "Outside Out," about a teenager named Rick who gets tangled up with some strange musicians, one of them played by Gordon himself. The film won the audience award at the South by Southwest festival. Gordon subsequently returned to documentary filmmaking with 2002's "Rising Low," based on the life and career of late Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody.
Personal Life
In 2008, Gordon married Susan Schick. They have a daughter together named Tessa.
Real Estate
In September 2003 Mike Gordon paid $425,000 for a 12-acre property in Essex, Vermont. He sold this property in March 2021 for $895,000.
