Net Worth Ranker
What Is Philip Michael Thomas’s Net Worth?
Philip Michael Thomas, the American actor celebrated for his role as detective Ricardo Tubbs on the iconic 1980s TV series “Miami Vice,” has accumulated a net worth of $2.5 million. This figure reflects his earnings from acting roles, endorsements, and other ventures throughout his career.
Early Career and “Miami Vice” Success
Born on May 26, 1949, in Columbus, Ohio, Philip Michael Thomas’s early life involved acting in church theater groups and participation in the Pentecostal Delman Heights Four Square Gospel Church choir. He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1967. After high school, he worked as a janitor to save for college, receiving a scholarship to Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, to study religion and philosophy before transferring to the University of California, Riverside. His acting career began with a role in a San Francisco production of “Hair,” prompting him to leave school to pursue acting full-time.
His initial screen appearances included roles in films such as “Come Back, Charleston Blue” (1972), where he played a minister, and “Stigma” (1972), as Dr. Calvin Crosse. He also had roles in “Book of Numbers,” “Mr. Rico,” and “Black Fist.” His more notable early roles were in “Coonskin” (1975) and “Sparkle” (1976), opposite Irene Cara.
Thomas’s breakthrough role came in 1984 when he starred alongside Don Johnson in “Miami Vice.” He played Ricardo Tubbs, an ex-NYPD officer seeking revenge for his brother’s murder. During the first two seasons of “Miami Vice,” Philip Michael Thomas earned $25,000 per episode, which is approximately $62,000 in today’s currency. For seasons three through five, his salary increased to $50,000 per episode. This translates to a little over $1 million for seasons one and two and $3.35 million for seasons three through five, totaling $4.45 million in pre-tax earnings for the series. Adjusted for inflation, this is nearly $10 million from the original run of the series.
Post-“Miami Vice” Ventures and Earnings
Following his success on “Miami Vice,” Philip Michael Thomas engaged in various projects, including made-for-TV movies, advertisements, and endorsements. In 1994, he partnered with Florida-based Psychic Reader’s Network (later Traffix, Inc.) to become the spokesman for the Philip Michael Thomas Psychic Connection. He appeared in television ads, claiming to have met the planet’s premier psychics through his travels. He also appeared in infomercials with Todd McKee, Eileen Brennan, and his daughter Sacha Nicole. When Traffix replaced him with Miss Cleo, Thomas sued for breach of contract and won. In 2002, a New York arbitrator awarded him $1.48 million for improper use of his name and likeness and an additional $780,000 in interest.
He reunited with Don Johnson in the police drama “Nash Bridges” for two episodes in 1997 and 2001. Later, in the 2000s, Thomas ventured into the video game industry, providing the voice of Lance Vance in “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” and “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.”
Music Career and Other Projects
In 1985, Philip Michael Thomas released an album titled “Living the Book of My Life” under his own record label, Spaceship Records. He produced a video for the song “Just the Way I Planned It,” which he also performed on an episode of “Miami Vice.” In 1987, he recorded the song “Ever and Forever” with Lucia Galan. His second album, “Somebody,” was released in 1988. In 1993, he co-wrote the song “My My My Miam…I” with Kathy Rahill, which became the city of Miami’s theme song. He collaborated with Jamaican fitness instructor Sandi Morais on a musical called “Sacha,” which had runs in New York and South Florida. Additionally, Thomas produced music for Sandi’s workout videos in 2001 and 2006.
Personal Life
Philip Michael Thomas married Kassandra Green in 1986, and they divorced in 1998. They have five children together, and Thomas has six other children from other relationships. He was romantically linked to Sheila Willis, Dharma Matthews, and Dionne Warwick in the 1980s.
