What is Michael Anthony's Net Worth?
Michael Anthony, an American musician, has amassed a net worth of $50 million. Renowned as the bass guitarist and vocalist for Van Halen, Anthony's fortune and fame grew exponentially during his tenure with the iconic rock band. He met guitarist Eddie Van Halen while studying at Pasadena City College. After auditioning to be the bassist for the Van Halen brothers' band, Mammoth, he officially joined them in 1974 when the band was rebranded as Van Halen, including Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth. Anthony remained an integral part of the band until 2004. He later became a founding member of Chickenfoot, joining forces with Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, and Joe Satriani. Anthony has been married to his high school sweetheart, Sue, since 1981, and they have two daughters. The family resides in Newport Beach, California.
Early Life
Michael Anthony was born on June 20, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. His family relocated to California in 1966, where Anthony attended Dana Junior High School in Arcadia. His interest in music began early, influenced by his father's trumpet playing. He also took up playing the trumpet and joined his school's marching band. Despite his involvement in track and baseball, Anthony chose to concentrate on music during high school, learning guitar and bass. He graduated from Arcadia High School in 1972 and subsequently pursued a music degree at Pasadena City College.
Early Bands
Before his career with Van Halen, Anthony played in several bands, such as Poverty's Children, Black Opal, Balls, and Snake. In Snake, he performed as the lead vocalist and bassist, covering hits from bands like ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Foghat, along with their original compositions. Notably, Snake once opened for Mammoth, the precursor to Van Halen.
Van Halen
Anthony and Eddie Van Halen crossed paths at Pasadena City College. With Mammoth's bass player gone, Anthony auditioned and joined the band, which later became Van Halen in 1974. The lineup included Eddie, Alex Van Halen, and David Lee Roth. The band secured a deal with Warner Bros. in 1977, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1978. During Anthony's time, Van Halen released eleven studio albums, a live album, and two greatest hits compilations.
Initially, Anthony held a 20% share of the band's earnings. However, in 1984, amid rising tensions, he relinquished his future songwriting credits and royalties. Despite rumors of his firing, Anthony remained with Van Halen, albeit in a reduced role. He played bass on only three tracks of the 1998 album, "Van Halen III". He participated in reunion tours and officially left the band post the 2004 tour.
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After Van Halen
Post-Van Halen, Anthony explored various projects. In 1998, he produced a demo for Asylum Suite, his brother's band. He frequently collaborated with Sammy Hagar, performing with the Waboritas and Los Tres Gusanos. During a 2002 tour, Anthony made notable guest appearances. He also co-founded the supergroup Planet Us with Hagar, Neal Schon, Deen Castronovo, and Joe Satriani. The group disbanded after recording two tracks. In 2006, Anthony toured with Hagar in The Other Half. In 2007, Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where Anthony and Hagar were the only attendees from the band. In 2009, Anthony helped found Chickenfoot, releasing two albums. By 2014, he became a key member of Sammy Hagar and the Circle.
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Personal Life
Michael Anthony met Sue Hendry in high school, and they got married in 1981. They have two daughters, Elisha, born in 1985, and Taylor, born in 1992. The family resides in Newport Beach, California, where Anthony indulges in his passion for classic cars and motorcycles, often seen at local car shows and in interviews about his collection. Remarkably, Anthony never embraced the rock-and-roll lifestyle's darker aspects, maintaining a low-profile personal life.
Real Estate
In 2012, Anthony purchased a waterfront home in Newport Beach, California, for $2.865 million. He previously sold a home in Glendora, California, for $1.77 million in 2011, but still owns another property in Glendora.
