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What is Mark Mothersbaugh’s Net Worth?
Mark Mothersbaugh, the American musician, composer, and artist, has an estimated net worth of $15 million. He gained fame in the late 1970s as a co-founder, lead singer, and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo. Their hit song “Whip It” reached No. 14 on the US charts in 1980 and continues to have a dedicated fan base.
Aside from his role in Devo, Mothersbaugh has a prolific career composing music for television series, films, and video games through his production company, Mutato Muzika. Notably, he provided the music for the popular animated series Rugrats and its three related theatrical films during its 13-year run.
In addition to his collaborative work, Mothersbaugh has also released four studio albums as a solo musician: Muzik for Insomniaks, Muzik for the Gallery, Joyeux Mutato, and The Most Powerful Healing Muzik in the Entire World.
Recognized for his contributions to the world of film and television music, Mothersbaugh received the Richard Kirk award at the BMI Film and TV Awards in 2004. Furthermore, in 2008, he was honored with an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kent State University, his alma mater.
Here’s the breakdown of his net worth:
Name: | Mark Mothersbaugh |
Net Worth: | $15 Million |
Date of Birth: | May 18, 1950 |
Salary: | $2 Million Per Year |
Source of Wealth: | Musician, Composer, Singer, Actor, Painter, Film Score Composer |
Learn more: richest singers in the world
Early Years
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh was born on May 18, 1950, in Akron, Ohio. He comes from a family of musicians, with his parents being Mary Margaret (“Mig”) and Robert Mothersbaugh, Sr. Mark grew up alongside two younger musical brothers, Bob and Jim, and two sisters, Amy and Susan. He completed his education at Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio.
Interestingly, Mark’s father had a role in early Devo films and fan events, portraying the character General Boy, while both of his brothers briefly contributed to the band’s music, with Jim’s involvement being limited to a few early demos.
Career
Devo
Mark Mothersbaugh’s journey into music began at Kent State University, where he connected with Devo’s co-founders, Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis. Inspired by the concept of “devolution” following the Kent State shootings, they formed the band in 1973.
After early success, Devo faced challenges with their album “Shout” and left Warner Bros. Records. Drummer Alan Myers departed, leading to the abandonment of video and tour plans.
Devo regrouped in 1987 with drummer David Kendrick, worked on film soundtracks, and released albums like “Total Devo” (1988) and “Smooth Noodle Maps” (1990). Internal conflicts led to a brief breakup in 1991.
Mark Mothersbaugh later established Mutato Muzika in 1989, a music production studio with Devo members’ involvement.
In 2006, Devo collaborated with Disney on Devo 2.0, featuring children re-recording their songs. “Something for Everybody” marked their 2010 comeback.
In recognition of their groundbreaking work, Devo received the Moog Innovator Award in 2010 during Moogfest. Despite setbacks, they continued to create music, collaborating with The Octopus Project at the event.
Other Work
In 1989, Mark Mothersbaugh and fellow Devo members formed Visiting Kids, releasing an EP in 1990. They contributed music to “Rockula” and appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.
Post-Devo, Mothersbaugh excelled as a composer. He scored four Wes Anderson films and worked on projects like “The Lego Movie” and “Thor: Ragnarok.”
His compositions became TV classics, from “Rugrats” to “Super Mario World.” In the gaming world, he contributed to titles like “Crash Bandicoot” and “Jak and Daxter.” His music production company, Mutato Muzika, played a vital role.
Mothersbaugh’s musical prowess extended to commercials, including Apple’s “Get a Mac” ads. He composed for TV series like “Big Love,” “Eureka,” and “Regular Show.”
In 2013, he appeared on “The Aquabats! Super Show!” and produced music for other artists, such as Toni Basil.
Visual Art and Exhibitions
Mark Mothersbaugh isn’t just a musician; he’s also a prolific visual artist. Over the past two decades, he’s showcased his work in more than 150 art gallery shows.
In 2014, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) presented a major retrospective exhibition, offering a comprehensive view of Mothersbaugh’s art and music. Accompanying this exhibition was the publication “Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia” from Princeton Architectural Press. In 2015, 50 postcard-sized artworks from “Myopia” were compiled into a book called “Mark Mothersbaugh: Collected Facts & Lies.”
Before the Myopia exhibit’s Cincinnati debut, Mothersbaugh treated audiences to a special concert featuring classical renditions of Devo songs and movie scores. He also shared anecdotes and performed pieces on a unique six-keyboard hybrid instrument, refurbished by his brother Bob, designed for teaching, and played by six people simultaneously.
Mothersbaugh even connected with young artists by hosting “Mark’s Magic Pictures,” a drawing segment on the Nick Jr. Channel’s “Yo Gabba Gabba!” where he taught kids how to create simple drawings that came to life through animation.
Personal Life
Mark Mothersbaugh’s life has been shaped by his vision challenges, starting to wear glasses at just seven years old due to severe myopia and astigmatism. Before glasses, he was legally blind. His interest in eyewear design blossomed, especially for Devo performances, where he favored stainless steel frames from LA Eyeworks, buying as many as he could due to wear and fan pilfering.
In partnership with eyewear maker Shane Baum, he’s designed his own frames, featuring a beryllium build with a stainless steel chrome finish, available in three styles.
Mark has had two marriages, with actress Nancye Ferguson being his first wife. His current spouse, Anita Greenspan, co-manages the film music company Greenspan Kohan Management. The couple adopted two daughters from China, learning of the unfortunate practice of abandoning female children there.
Beyond music, Mark is a collector of song poems and unique vintage musical devices. He even owns Raymond Scott’s Electronium, though it’s not functional currently.
In a more personal note, Mark battled COVID-19 in 2020, spending 18 days on a ventilator. The ordeal left him with lasting neuropathic pain and surreal delusions, like believing he’d been hit by a brick in Little Tokyo.
Additionally, he was once associated with the parody religion, the Church of the SubGenius.
Honors and Awards
Mark Mothersbaugh has received several well-deserved honors and awards throughout his career:
In 2004, he was honored with the Richard Kirk award at the BMI Film and TV Awards, recognizing his outstanding contributions to film and television music.
On May 10, 2008, Kent State University awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters, acknowledging his significant impact on the world of music and art.
In a hometown tribute, on May 28, 2016, Mark was presented with the key to the city of Akron during a special ceremony held at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
Real Estate
Mark Mothersbaugh and his wife, Anita Greenspan, have lived in a grand modern mansion in the Hollywood Hills for over a decade. This impressive home boasts 7,000 square feet of space and is valued at an estimated $8-10 million.
In August 2020, Mark and Anita found themselves in a widely publicized dispute with their neighbors. Just across the street, a group of TikTok stars, aged 17 to 19, had rented a mansion for a reported $50,000. They called their party central “the Sway House.” However, their rowdy gatherings resulted in numerous noise complaints, leading to multiple police visits. Eventually, the city had to intervene and cut off the mansion’s electricity.
