Michael Nesmith was born on the 30th December 1942, in Houston, Texas USA. He is a musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, but he’s probably still best known as a member of the rock band “The Monkees”; Nesmith was also a co-star in the TV show “The Monkees” (1966-1968), and being part of a very popular band that sold millions of albums significantly increased his wealth. His career started in 1965.
Have you ever wondered how rich Michael Nesmith is, as of mid-2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Nesmith’s net worth is $50 million, most accumulated as a musician, but he also works as a producer, novelist, and businessman which also adds to his net worth.
Michael Nesmith Net Worth $50 Million
Robert Michael Nesmith was the only child of Warren Audrey Nesmith and Bette Nesmith Graham, but they divorced when he was just four. His mother invented a typewriter correction fluid when Nesmith was 13 and later sold the company to Gillette for $48 million which certainly eventually helped Michael in increasing his wealth.
Nesmith attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, where he participated in drama and choral activities, however, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1960 without even graduating from the high school. Nesmith was trained to be an aircraft mechanic, and got his G.E.D., but discharged in 1962. He decided to continue with studying, so he enrolled in San Antonio community college, where he met John Kuehne, and the pair began a musical collaboration. Nesmith also met Phyllis Ann Barbour there, and they married in 1963, before moving to Los Angeles so Nesmith could pursue a musical career.
Nesmith was cast in the role of guitarist Mike in TV series “The Monkees” in 1965, and that role changed his life. The series aired from 1965 to 1968, but he continued to perform with the band afterwards. He subsequently formed the band called “First National Band” in 1969, along with his old friend Kuehne, Red Rhodes, and John Ware. A pioneer of the country-rock genre, “First National Band” had a hit single in 1970 titled “Joanne”, which reached No. 21 on the Billboard Top 40. In 1972, Nesmith co-founded the record label “Countryside Records” with Jac Holzman, the ownership of which significantly added to his net worth.
He was the member of “The Monkees” from 1965 to 1970, but he reunited with the rest of the band members several times, and participated on ten out of band’s twelve albums. Following his departure from “The Monkees”, Nesmith was involved in producing, having worked with Iain Matthews and Bert Jansch among others in the early ’70’s. A few years later, Nesmith collaborated with songwriter Linda Hargrove. He also produced some notable music videos such as Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” in 1983, and Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” in 1987. He won the Grammy for the Video of the Year “Elephant Parts” in 1981.
Nesmith had a concert tour in America to promote his album “Live at the Britt Festival” in 1992, and released both video and CD by the same name. Nesmith has recorded 13 solo studio albums, an instrumental album with his music, and a movie soundtrack. He has also appeared in several films, including Whoopi Goldbergs’ “Burglar” in 1987, and “Tapeheads” (1988), starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins. Nesmith has published two novels as well: “The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora” in 1998, and “The America Gene” in 2009. Most recently, Nesmith briefly reunited with the former members of “The Monkees” for the band’s 50th anniversary.
Regarding his personal life, Nesmith was married to Phyllis Ann Barbour from 1963 to 1972; they have two sons and a daughter. Nesmith has another son, Jason, born from his relationship with Nurit Wilde in 1968. He married Kathryn Bild in 1976, but they divorced on 1988. His third marriage was with Victoria Kennedy from 2000 to 2011.
