Holly Michelle Gilliam was born on the 4th June 1944, in Long Beach, California USA, and is a singer, songwriter and an actress, who under her (first) married name Michelle Phillips, is best known for being a member as well as a co-founder of the 1960s popular vocal group – The Mamas & the Papas. Michelle is also the co-songwriter of the band’s most popular hit single “California Dreamin'”. Apart from music, she is also famous for her acting career in which she appeared in, among plenty of others, “Dillinger” (1973), “Valentino” (1977), “Bloodline” (1979) and “Scissors” (1991) movies as well as “Knots Landing”, “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Rude Awakening” TV series.
Have you ever wondered how much wealth this “California Dreamgirl” has accumulated so far? How rich Michelle Phillips is? According to sources, it is estimated that the total amount of Michelle Phillips’ net worth, as of late 2016, is over $8 million, acquired through her music and acting careers which have been active since 1965.
Michelle Phillips Net Worth $8 million
Michelle was born the younger daughter of an accountant Joyce Leon and a merchant mariner Gardner Burnett Gilliam. Although a native of California, the majority of her childhood she spent in Mexico City, Mexico. At the age of 13 she returned to the states, and after matriculating from high school, in 1961 she relocated to San Francisco, California, where she began doing modeling engagements. In the same year, she met her future husband and band mate John Phillips while he was touring with his band, The New Journeymen. On 31st December 1962 John and Michelle, only 18 years old at that time, married, after he left his then wife.
Michelle and John transferred to New York City where they began writing songs together. In 1965, alongside Denny Doherty, they formed a vocal rock group – The Mamas & the Papas; the trio soon became a quartet when Cass Elliot joined the crew. Although they performed for only three years, between 1965 and 1968, The Mamas & the Papas certainly left an indelible trace in world music and pop culture, especially in the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll music with hit singles such as “California Dreamin'”, “Monday, Monday” and “Dedicated to the One I Love”. This entire experience provided the basis for Michelle Phillips’ future commercial successes, as well as for her overall net worth.
Apart being the one of the co-founders, Michelle Phillips also served as the band’s co-songwriter, contributing to the lyrics of the group’s biggest hits such as “California Dreamin'” and “Creeque Alley”, both featured on their debut album named “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears” which was released in 1966. Later that year, the band released their second, eponymous, studio album “The Mamas & the Papas”. Prior to group officially disbanding in 1968, they released two more studio albums, “The Mamas & the Papas Deliver” (1967) and “The Mamas & the Papas” (1968). After a brief reunion in 1970/71, “People Like Us” was released in 1971. It is certain that all these accomplishments helped Michelle Phillips to dramatically increase her overall wealth.
In the early 1970s, Michelle Phillips turned to acting – Michelle’s first movie appearance is actually “The Last Movie”, the 1971 drama directed by Dennis Hopper. After the role of Billie Frechette in “Dillinger” (1973), Michelle was honored with the prestigious Golden Globe Award nomination for the Most Promising Newcomer. In 1977, Michelle made a short excursion back to music and released her first and, so far, only solo music album – “Victim of Romance”. The real breakthrough in her acting career occurred later that year when she appeared in “Valentino”, portraying Rudolph Valentino‘s second wife, Natasha Rambova. These ventures traced the path for her future acting career in which, up to the present day, she has recorded over 80 motion picture credits.
In 1998, she was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, with her former colleagues. Doubtlessly, all the achievements above have contributed to the overall size of Michelle Phillips’ wealth.
When it comes to her personal life, Michelle Phillips has been married five times. From her marriage with John Phillips from 1962 to 1969, she has a daughter. In 1970 she married Dennis Hopper, but they divorced after only eight days – yes, you read it correctly – eight days! Between 1978 and 1982, Michelle was married to Robert Burch.
From her marriage with Grainger Hines she has two sons. Since 2000, Michelle Phillips has been married to Steven Zax. Apart from these, Michelle Phillips has been involved in several affairs, with Gene Clark from the Byrds as well as with her band mate Denny Doherty, while she was married to John Phillips. She was also apparently romantically connected to Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson.
