Michael Hutchence Net Worth: What Happened to His Millions?

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Published June 9, 2025 1:28 AM PDT

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Michael Hutchence Net Worth 2025: The Lost Fortune of INXS's Magnetic Frontman.

Michael Hutchence, born January 22, 1960, in Sydney, Australia, was the electrifying frontman of INXS—one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s and early 1990s. At the time of his death in 1997, his official net worth was reported to be just $1 million, a figure shockingly low given his estimated career earnings of $40–60 million. Despite global success, millions in royalties, and lucrative performance deals, Hutchence died virtually penniless. His financial legacy remains tangled in mystery, offshored trusts, and an estate that never reached his only daughter, Tiger Lily.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Michael Hutchence was born to makeup artist Patricia Glassop and businessman Kelland Hutchence. He spent much of his childhood abroad due to his father’s business, living in Brisbane and then Hong Kong, where he attended King George V School. After returning to Sydney, he met Andrew Farriss at Davidson High School—an encounter that would change both their lives. Hutchence soon joined Farriss’s early band, Doctor Dolphin, laying the groundwork for INXS.

The Rise of INXS

In 1977, Hutchence and the Farriss brothers formed the band that would become INXS. The group rose from the Aussie pub rock scene to international superstardom with hits like "Need You Tonight," "Never Tear Us Apart," and "New Sensation." Albums like Kick and X sold millions, and the band filled arenas across the globe. Hutchence’s charisma, voice, and magnetic presence made him not just the voice but the face of INXS.

Record Deals, Album Sales & Tour Revenue

As INXS’s fame exploded in the 1980s, so did their financial potential. After signing international deals with WEA, Atlantic, and PolyGram in the early '80s, the band began commanding substantial advances and royalties. Their landmark 1987 album Kick sold over 14 million copies worldwide and was certified multi-platinum in the U.S., Australia, and the UK. With typical royalties ranging from $1 to $2 per album after production and distribution costs, industry estimates suggest INXS may have earned $14–28 million from that album alone.

Touring added another lucrative layer. The band’s 1991 X-Factor tour drew over 1.2 million fans across four continents, including a sold-out show at London’s Wembley Stadium for nearly 74,000 attendees. That single concert grossed roughly $2.5 million. Cumulatively, their touring revenue during their peak years likely reached $20–30 million. After management and band splits, Michael Hutchence’s personal cut may have exceeded $10 million in certain tour cycles. Despite these figures, most of the earnings disappeared into a web of management fees, offshore trusts, and untraceable accounts—a financial black hole still under scrutiny decades later.

Side Projects and Acting

During his peak, Hutchence launched a side project, Max Q, and ventured into film. He starred in 1986’s Dogs in Space, contributed to the soundtrack, and played Percy Shelley in 1990’s Frankenstein Unbound. In 1995, he began working on a solo album, which was released posthumously in 1999.

Romantic Life and Fatherhood

Notorious for his relationships, Hutchence was linked to Kylie Minogue, Helena Christensen, and Belinda Carlisle. But it was Paula Yates, the British TV presenter, who became his most public and tragic romance. Their daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence, was born in 1996. By all accounts, Hutchence adored being a father and hoped to build a stable life for his young family.

Shocking Death and Aftermath

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On November 22, 1997, Michael Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room in Sydney. The death was ruled a suicide by hanging, though drugs and alcohol were also involved. He was just 37 years old. At the time, Hutchence had been despondent over not being able to see Tiger Lily amid legal disputes involving Paula Yates and her former husband, Bob Geldof.

Real Estate and Vanishing Assets

Bellevue Hill apartment in Sydney

Despite his rock star status, Hutchence’s financial footprint was tragically underwhelming. He reportedly owned luxury apartments and had access to high-end properties in Sydney, London, and the South of France, but very few were held directly in his name. His Bellevue Hill apartment in Sydney was later sold under estate management, while rental properties in Europe were linked to management firms and not traceable to him.

Legal records later showed that his personal bank account contained just $40,000 at the time of his death, with total assets liquidating to roughly $700,000—most of which disappeared into legal fees. His brother Rhett revealed that none of Michael’s personal effects were returned to the family after his death. “All we got back was the belt he used,” he said. Guitars, notebooks, and priceless memorabilia were never accounted for.

Financial Controversy and the Paradise Papers

A 2017 Guardian investigation, based on the leaked Paradise Papers, revealed that Hutchence’s former business manager, Colin Diamond, had set up an offshore company called Helipad Plain in Mauritius. The company was formed just before the 20th anniversary of Hutchence’s death to exploit unreleased recordings, images, and films. Emails between Diamond’s legal team and the firm Appleby show that he claimed sole beneficial ownership of Hutchence’s intellectual property—despite the singer’s will naming Tiger Lily, Yates, and his family as beneficiaries.

Court cases in 2005 and 2010 revealed that assets were funneled into various offshore trusts, including Chardonnay Investments, a firm Diamond controlled. Millions in royalties from INXS were allegedly redirected, bypassing Hutchence’s daughter entirely. Bequests to Amnesty International and Greenpeace listed in Hutchence’s will were never fulfilled.

Tiger Lily’s Life and 2025 Baby News

Tiger Lily, adopted by Bob Geldof after Paula Yates’ death in 2000, lived mostly outside the public eye in Australia. But in 2025, she quietly announced via Instagram that she is expecting her first child with her partner Ben Archer. The baby news offers a poignant coda to a family saga marked by brilliance, tragedy, and unresolved questions.

Legacy and Unreleased Works

Unreleased Hutchence tracks—up to 15 in total—are reportedly still under the control of Chardonnay Investments. A 2017 documentary, The Last Rockstar, aired rare footage and diary entries, sparking backlash from the surviving members of INXS and Hutchence’s family, who were not consulted.