What is Michael Diamond's Net Worth?
Michael Diamond, also known by his stage name Mike D, is an American musician with a net worth of $100 million. He earned his fortune as a founding member of the hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, contributing to their massive success in the music industry. He has also worked on remixes for artists like Moby and Bjork.
Early Life
Michael Louis Diamond was born on November 20, 1965, in New York City. His mother, Hester, was an interior designer, and his father, Harold, an art dealer. Raised in a Jewish family, he attended Saint Ann's School and Walden School, both of which emphasized the arts. In 1979, at just 14 years old, he co-founded the band The Young Aborigines. Adam Yauch, aka MCA, joined the band as a bass player in 1981, leading to a name change to the Beastie Boys. By 1983, Adam Horovitz, aka Ad-Rock, joined, and their sound transitioned from hardcore punk to hip hop. Mike D later attended Vassar College but left to focus on his music career.
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Career
The original members of the Beastie Boys included Mike D, Adam Yauch, John Berry, and Kate Schellenbach. After their first gig in 1981, Berry and Schellenbach left, and Adam Horovitz joined. Their comedic talent shone early on with the 1984 track 'Cooky Puss,' which featured prank calls to an ice cream shop. They soon met DJ Rick Rubin and started working with him and Russell Simmons of Def Jam. In 1985, the band toured with Madonna, a pairing that didn't quite fit, but later that year, they released their debut album, Licensed to Ill, which became the first rap record to top the Billboard 200 chart.
The success of Licensed to Ill led to a split with Def Jam and a new deal with Capitol Records. Their second album, Paul's Boutique, released in 1989, showed artistic growth and peaked at number 14 on the US Album Charts. The single 'Hey Ladies' reached the Top 40 in the US. Their third album, Check Your Head, recorded in their own Los Angeles studio, peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and was certified double Platinum.
In 1994, Ill Communication hit number one on the Billboard 200, with the single 'Sabotage' achieving significant success. The band released four more albums: Hello Nasty (1998), To the 5 Boroughs (2004), The Mix-Up (2007), and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011). They sold over 40 million albums globally, with seven going platinum. In 2012, the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They won three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2008 for The Mix-Up.
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In 2013, a year after Yauch's death, Mike D expressed excitement about creating new music. He released 'Humberto Vs the New Reactionaries (Christine and the Queens Remix)' and a remix of Yoko Ono's 'Bad Dancer'. In 2014, he worked with Portugal. The Man as a producer and produced Slaves' second studio album, Take Control, released in 2016. In 2017, he remixed Jack Johnson's 'Big Sur'. In 2020, Mike D appeared in the Spike Jonze documentary, Beastie Boys Story.
Personal Life
Mike D married Tamra Davis, a film, television, and music video director, in 1993. They have two sons, Davis and Skyler. The family lived in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and Tribeca, Manhattan, before separating in 2018. Mike D is also an avid surfer.
Real Estate
In 2005, Mike D purchased a house in Malibu on over an acre of land. He renovated the property extensively, adding a trampoline with a basketball hoop, a pool house that doubles as a movie theater, an avocado orchard, and several palm trees. The property showcases his unique style and passion for fun, making it a true reflection of his personality.
