Net Worth Ranker
What Is Mike Rutherford’s Net Worth?
Mike Rutherford, a prominent figure in the music industry, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $120 million. This wealth is primarily attributed to his successful career as a founding member of the iconic band Genesis and his subsequent endeavors with Mike + The Mechanics. His financial achievements reflect his enduring presence and contributions to the music world over nearly five decades.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on October 2, 1950, in Chertsey, England, to Anne and William Rutherford, Mike Rutherford’s early life was marked by a growing passion for music. He received his first guitar at the age of eight, setting the stage for his future career. At the age of 9, he joined The Chesters, his first band, demonstrating his early commitment to music. His education included attending the preparatory school, the Leas, followed by Charterhouse, where he formed the band Anon at the age of 13 with Anthony Phillips, laying the groundwork for what would later become Genesis. At Charterhouse, Anon covered songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and various R&B artists of the era.
Genesis: From Progressive Rock to Global Success
In 1967, Rutherford, along with fellow Charterhouse students Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Peter Gabriel, and Chris Stewart, formed Genesis. The band’s early days saw them signed to Decca Records by record producer Jonathan King, another Charterhouse alumnus. Their debut album, “From Genesis to Revelation,” was released in 1969. Despite its initial commercial failure, Genesis regrouped and, after signing with Charisma Records, released “Trespass” in 1970. The departure of Phillips and the arrival of Phil Collins and Steve Hackett marked a shift toward progressive rock, resulting in the release of “Nursery Cryme” in 1971. “Foxtrot” in 1972 became the band’s first UK hit, followed by the even more successful “Selling England by the Pound” in 1973, which reached number three on the UK Albums Chart.
Genesis achieved continued success throughout the 1970s and 1980s with albums such as “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”, “A Trick of the Tail”, “Wind & Wuthering”, “…And Then There Were Three…”, “Abacab”, and “Invisible Touch”. Rutherford’s role as a rhythm guitar player involved using electric and acoustic 12-string guitars, creating a minimalist style characterized by chords and progressions of single notes. Later, as lead guitar duties expanded, Rutherford favored long tones that produced sonorous sonic atmospheres. As a primary songwriter, Rutherford contributed to some of Genesis’s biggest commercial hits, including “Throwing it All Away,” “Turn it On Again,” and “Follow You Follow Me.” In 2010, Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking a significant milestone in Rutherford’s career.
Genesis’s commercial peak in the mid-1980s was significantly boosted by the album Invisible Touch. The supporting world tour was a massive undertaking, encompassing 111 shows across 59 cities and 16 countries, performed in front of approximately three million fans. Around the time Genesis came off the road from the huge tour, Rolling Stone magazine named the group Band of the Year in their annual reader’s poll, highlighting the band’s widespread influence and commercial success.
Solo Projects and Mike + The Mechanics
During breaks from Genesis in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rutherford pursued solo projects, releasing “Smallcreep’s Day,” inspired by the novel by Peter Currell Brown, and “Acting Very Strange,” where he performed lead vocals in addition to playing guitar, bass, and keyboards. Both albums achieved moderate success in the UK. In 1985, Rutherford formed Mike + The Mechanics, a side project that included keyboardist Adrian Lee, drummer Peter Van Hooke, and vocalists Paul Young and Paul Carrack. Their self-titled debut album spawned hit singles like “Silent Running” and “All I Need is a Miracle.” The band’s second album, “Living Years” (1988), was even more successful, with its title track reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Rutherford co-wrote “The Living Years” with B.A. Robertson, earning him an Ivor Novello Award. Subsequent albums by Mike + The Mechanics included “Word of Mouth,” “Beggar on a Beach of Gold,” “Rewired,” “Let Me Fly,” and “Out of the Blue.”
Other Musical Ventures
Rutherford’s contributions extend beyond his work with Genesis and Mike + The Mechanics. He contributed the track “Making a Big Mistake” to the soundtrack of the 1984 film “Against All Odds,” joining fellow Genesis members Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel on the project. In 2004, Rutherford participated in the Strat Pack Concert, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, alongside numerous acclaimed guitarists. He also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with Ed Sheeran and Nick Mason.
Real Estate Investments
In 2008, Rutherford invested $5.03 million in a loft apartment on Bond Street in New York City. He extensively renovated the property, adding a state-of-the-art Miele kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows, an open-plan living room, a library, and spa-like bathrooms. In 2013, Rutherford listed the home for just under $8 million, selling it in June of the same year for his exact asking price.
Catalog Sale
In September 2022, Mike Rutherford, along with his Genesis bandmates Phil Collins and Tony Banks, sold their music catalog rights to Concord Music Group Inc. for $300 million. This significant transaction underscores the enduring value and popularity of their music.
Personal Life
Mike Rutherford married his wife Angie in 1976. They have three children: Kate, Tom, and Harry. They divide their time between Loxwood, England, and Cape Town, South Africa. His memoir, “The Living Years: The First Genesis Memoir,” co-written with Thomas Dunne Books, was released in 2014.
