Net Worth Ranker
What Is Moby’s Net Worth?
As of 2024, Moby’s net worth is estimated to be $25 million. This substantial net worth has been accumulated over a career spanning several decades and encompasses diverse sources, including music sales, DJing, real estate ventures, and investments. While specific breakdowns of his income streams are not publicly available, we can infer that his album sales, particularly those of “Play,” have significantly contributed to his wealth.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Richard Melville Hall, known professionally as Moby, was born on September 11, 1965, in Harlem, Manhattan. His early life included periods in San Francisco, California, and Stratford, Connecticut, before his family eventually settled in Darien, a suburb of New York City. Moby’s musical journey began at age nine with classical guitar lessons and piano instruction from his mother. He later explored music theory, jazz, and percussion. In 1983, he joined the hardcore punk band Vatican Commandos as a guitarist and briefly fronted the band Flipper as lead vocalist.
After graduating from Darien High School, Moby enrolled at the University of Connecticut as a philosophy major. He worked as a DJ at local bars and clubs and, dissatisfied with his experience at Connecticut, transferred to the State University of New York at Purchase. He dropped out in 1984 to pursue music full-time. In 1989, Moby moved to New York City with his friend Damian Loeb. During this time, he performed DJ sets at clubs and played guitar in the band Ultra Vivid Scene. Moby’s career began to gain momentum in 1990 when he signed with the independent dance label Instinct Records. His remix of the 1991 song “Go” gave him exposure in the UK.
Music Breakthroughs and “Play”
Moby released his self-titled debut album in 1992 and “Ambient” in 1993. He signed a five-year contract with Elektra Records in 1993. He had eight top-ten hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart between 1992 and 1997, including “Feeling So Real,” “Move (You Make Me Feel So Good),” and “James Bond Theme (Moby Re-Version).” In 1995, his album “Everything is Wrong” was released to critical acclaim. Following this, Moby released dance singles under pseudonyms such as DJ Cake and Lopez. His 1996 punk-influenced album “Animal Rights,” marked a major stylistic change.
Moby’s fifth album, “Play,” released in 1999, became his commercial and critical zenith. The album sold 12 million copies and was licensed to films, TV shows, and commercials. “South Side,” featuring Gwen Stefani, reached #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Moby’s subsequent albums spanned various genres, including electronic, dance, rock, and downtempo. His 2002 album, “18,” topped charts in the UK and 11 other countries, and reached #4 in the US. “Hotel,” released in 2005, featured hit singles “Lift Me Up” and “Slipping Away.” In 2008, Moby returned to electronic dance with “Last Night.” Later albums explored ambient music, including “Wait for Me” and “Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep.”
In 2016, he formed the Void Pacific Choir, releasing “These Systems Are Failing” and “More Fast Songs About the Apocalypse.” Further albums included “Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt,” “Long Ambients 2,” “All Visible Objects,” “Live Ambients – Improvised Recordings Vol. 1,” and “Reprise” in 2021, which featured orchestral and acoustic arrangements performed by the Budapest Art Orchestra.
Collaborations and Film Work
Moby has an extensive history of collaborations with other musicians, including Public Enemy, the Bongos, Lou Reed, Kris Kristofferson, Michael Stipe, Slash, New Order, and Mylène Farmer. In 2018, he appeared on “A$AP Forever,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100. He composed the score for the 2007 film “Southland Tales” and his music has been featured in films such as the “Bourne” series, “Charlie Countryman,” and “Cathedrals of Culture.” Specific financial details regarding these collaborations and film placements are not publicly available. The extent of such works has doubtlessly augmented Moby’s cash flow over the years.
Real Estate Investments and Sales
Moby has been involved in several real estate transactions. In 2005, he purchased a penthouse above Central Park West in New York City for $4.5 million and sold it in 2008 for $6.7 million, realizing a profit of $2.2 million. In 2009, he bought a penthouse loft in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood for $3.75 million, selling it in 2012 for $5.8 million. In March 2010, Moby acquired a castle-like mansion in Los Angeles known as the Wolf’s Lair for $4 million. Following $2 million in renovations, he sold the property in 2014 for $12.4 million. In 2016, he purchased a home in Los Feliz for $3.4 million, which he sold to Leonardo DiCaprio in 2019 for just under $5 million. The success of these sales has substantially boosted Moby’s net worth over time.
Personal Life and Activism
Moby lived in New York City for 21 years before moving to Los Angeles. He purchased the Wolf’s Lair in the Hollywood Hills for around $4 million and later downsized to a smaller home in Los Feliz. He also owns an apartment in Manhattan’s Little Italy neighborhood. Moby is an advocate for various causes, including animal rights and veganism. He has worked with the Humane Society, Farm Sanctuary, and MoveOn. He previously owned vegan eateries in Los Angeles and Manhattan, though details about the financial performance of these ventures are not available.
