Wouter “Wally” De Backer was born 21 May 1980, in Bruges, Belgium, and under the stage name of Gotye, he is now known around the world as an outstanding instrumentalist and singer, having reached #1 on the US Billboard chart, and winning five Aria Awards.
So just how rich is Goyte? Sources estimate that currently he has a net worth of $1.5 million, accumulated during a career in the music industry which has so far spanned not much over 10 years.
Gotye Net Worth $1.5 Million
Gotye started his musical career at early age. He spent all of his childhood in Australia (the family moved away from Belgium when he was only two years old), and started learning to play various musical instruments at school in Sydney. He met some like-minded young teens and they started a school band called Downstares; one of the band members, Lucas Taranto, still plays in Gotye’s live shows. After another relocation, this time to Melbourne, where the artist finished his Bachelor of Arts, he received an old record collection from a neighbor, and from that point in 2001, his career started picking up.
Goyte recorded his first tracks primarily using samples, designed the cover of the CD himself, and made 50 copies. He sent them to more or less influential radio stations around the country, and made ‘phone calls to make sure they were received. However, a solo career was a while coming, and hasn’t been the only way to fill Gotye’s pockets. Since 2002, Gotye has been a member of indie pop band called “The Basics”, who have released three studio albums along with many other recordings and singles. This, of course, has notably contributed to the artist’s net worth. It is important to mention that Gotye’s vocal abilities are often compared to those of Sting and Peter Gabriel.
As they say, money do not come as easily and quickly as we would wish. Only in 2011, when Gotye released a single called Somebody That I Used to Know which made him a world known star, has his income started reaching those dreams. As mentioned before, the single reached the first place of the Billboard Hot 100 charts and made him famous all over the globe. Gotye as a solo artist has released three studio albums so far. As a strong believer of the indie movement, he never signed contracts with any record label, the albums were released independently. In addition to the three albums, Gotye has released an album combined of remixes of songs written in his early career. The money received from selling the mentioned albums skyrocketed to the overall amount of Gotye net worth.
Gotye is now considered to be one of the most successful musicians of today, as in his adopted Australia he managed to become the fifth artist to reach first place in the Billboard Hot 100 and the second artist from his native Belgium (we compare so because the artist is half- Australian, half- Belgian). Not only is he a great singer, but also a world renowned multi- instrumentalist. He is the best at playing the piano and the drums though.
Money makes the world go round, but acceptance is nice too. Goyte has received five ARIA awards – having been nominated for seven in 2011 alone – as well as three Grammy awards. The three Grammy awards were received at the same ceremony, the 55th Annual Grammy Awards to which the singer’s reaction was: “I often feel more of a tinkerer, less of a musician”.
Little is known of Goyte’s private life, but outside music he is interested in politics, even rumoured to be considering standing for the Victorian parliament. For the sake of his many fans, we can hope that he prefers to continue his music career, full time.
Grammy Award for Record of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Billboard Music Award for Top Radio Song, ARIA Music Award for Album of the Year, Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Song, Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song, ...
Music Groups
The Basics, The Basics
Nominations
MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist, Billboard Music Award for Top Digital Song, Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Artist, MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing, American Music Award for New Artist of the Year, MTV Europe Music Award for Best Push ...
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Fact
1
His birth name is Wouter, which is Flemish for Walter. When he moved to Australia, he began to go by Walter or Wally. His stage name, Gotye, is derived from Gauthier, the French form of Wouter.
2
His stage name Gotye is pronounced "go-ti-yeah".
3
The Gotye song "Easy Way Out", from his 2011 album "Making Mirrors", was background music in a bar scene from an episode of Prime Suspect (2011) titled Prime Suspect: Shame (2011).
4
Performs under the stage name Gotye.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Voice
2012-2016
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
888.com World Grand Prix
2016
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Tu cara me suena mini - España
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Transparent
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
New Girl
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
So You Think You Can Dance
TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 2012 - 2014 writer - 2 episodes, 2012 - 2014
Boyhood
2014/I
performer: "Somebody That I Used to Know" / writer: "Somebody That I Used to Know" - as Walter Andre De Backer