Michael Edward Mills was born on the 17th December 1958, in Orange County, California USA, and is a musician, multi-instrumentalist and composer, but probably best known to the world as one of the founding members of the alternative rock band R.E.M., with which he released 15 studio albums, including Out of Time” (1991), “Automatic for the People” (1992), and “Collapse into Now” (2011), among others.
Have you ever wondered how rich Mike Mills is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Mills’ net worth is as high as $60 million, an amount earned through his successful career as a musician which began in the early 1980s. Aside from R.E.M., Mike has also collaborated with a number of other bands and musicians, including The Backbeat Band, The Baseball Project, Hindu Love Gods and Automatic Baby, which also improved his wealth.
Mike Mills Net Worth $60 Million
At the age of 10, Mike moved to Macon, Georgia, becoming a student of the Catholic preparatory school Mount de Sales Academy, where he met Bill Berry, his future R.E.M. bandmate; they started several bands, including Shadowfax, but they were only short-lived.
Mike then enrolled at the University of Georgia, Athens and continued to collaborate with Berry. The two soon met and befriended Peter Buck and Michael Stipe who already worked together, and R.E.M. was formed. They found a manager in Jefferson Holt, who helped them reach stardom, and was regarded as the band’s fifth member.
Their debut release was the EP “Chronic Town” (1982), through I.R.S. Records, which was followed by the full length album “Murmur” released the next year, which achieved gold status in the US, increasing Mike’s net worth and encouraging him and the other members to continue making music. They slowly built their popularity, and with albums “Fables of the Reconstruction” (1985), “Lifes Rich Pageant” (1986), and “Document” (1987), earned a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records.
R.E.M.’s first album for the major label was the double platinum “Green” released in 1988, while three years later they had their first No. 1 album “Out of Time”, which spawned the hit single “Losing My Religion”, which has been their most recognizable song. Throughout the ‘90s Mike and the rest dominated the alternative rock scene, and with albums “Automatic for the People” (1992), “Monster” (1994), and “New Adventures in Hi-Fi” (1996), only cemented their spot in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, their induction occurring in 2007.
R.E.M. existed until 2011, and from the start of the 2000s released four albums, including “Accelerate” (2008), and “Collapse into Now” released in 2011.
Although R.E.M. ceased, Mike continues to play music, and has collaborated with many musicians, most recently with Robert McDuffle, embarking on a tour in support of Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and String Orchestra.
Regarding his personal life, little is known about Mike, except for the fact that he has a son named Julian. Combating rumours, he has confirmed that he is ‘straight’!
