Gotye Wiki Biography

Wouter “Wally” De Backer was born 21 May 1980, in Bruges, Belgium, and under the stage name of Gotye, he is now known around the world as an outstanding instrumentalist and singer, having reached #1 on the US Billboard chart, and winning five Aria Awards.

So just how rich is Goyte? Sources estimate that currently he has a net worth of $1.5 million, accumulated during a career in the music industry which has so far spanned not much over 10 years.

Gotye Net Worth $1.5 Million

Gotye started his musical career at early age. He spent all of his childhood in Australia (the family moved away from Belgium when he was only two years old), and started learning to play various musical instruments at school in Sydney. He met some like-minded young teens and they started a school band called Downstares; one of the band members, Lucas Taranto, still plays in Gotye’s live shows. After another relocation, this time to Melbourne, where the artist finished his Bachelor of Arts, he received an old record collection from a neighbor, and from that point in 2001, his career started picking up.

Goyte recorded his first tracks primarily using samples, designed the cover of the CD himself, and made 50 copies. He sent them to more or less influential radio stations around the country, and made ‘phone calls to make sure they were received. However, a solo career was a while coming, and hasn’t been the only way to fill Gotye’s pockets. Since 2002, Gotye has been a member of indie pop band called “The Basics”, who have released three studio albums along with many other recordings and singles. This, of course, has notably contributed to the artist’s net worth. It is important to mention that Gotye’s vocal abilities are often compared to those of Sting and Peter Gabriel.

As they say, money do not come as easily and quickly as we would wish. Only in 2011, when Gotye released a single called Somebody That I Used to Know which made him a world known star, has his income started reaching those dreams. As mentioned before, the single reached the first place of the Billboard Hot 100 charts and made him famous all over the globe. Gotye as a solo artist has released three studio albums so far. As a strong believer of the indie movement, he never signed contracts with any record label, the albums were released independently. In addition to the three albums, Gotye has released an album combined of remixes of songs written in his early career. The money received from selling the mentioned albums skyrocketed to the overall amount of Gotye net worth.

Gotye is now considered to be one of the most successful musicians of today, as in his adopted Australia he managed to become the fifth artist to reach first place in the Billboard Hot 100 and the second artist from his native Belgium (we compare so because the artist is half- Australian, half- Belgian). Not only is he a great singer, but also a world renowned multi- instrumentalist. He is the best at playing the piano and the drums though.

Money makes the world go round, but acceptance is nice too. Goyte has received five ARIA awards – having been nominated for seven in 2011 alone – as well as three Grammy awards. The three Grammy awards were received at the same ceremony, the 55th Annual Grammy Awards to which the singer’s reaction was: “I often feel more of a tinkerer, less of a musician”.

Little is known of Goyte’s private life, but outside music he is interested in politics, even rumoured to be considering standing for the Victorian parliament. For the sake of his many fans, we can hope that he prefers to continue his music career, full time.



Full Name Gotye
Net Worth $5 Million
Date Of Birth May 21, 1980
Place Of Birth Bruges, Belgium
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.92 m)
Profession Singer-songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist, Musician
Nationality Belgium
Nicknames Wouter “Wally” De Backer , Wouter De Backer , Wally De Backer , Gaultier , Walter de Backer
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/gotye
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/gotye
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/gotye
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/gotye
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2841714
Awards Grammy Award for Record of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Billboard Music Award for Top Radio Song, ARIA Music Award for Album of the Year, Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Song, Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song, …
Music Groups The Basics, The Basics
Nominations MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist, Billboard Music Award for Top Digital Song, Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Artist, MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing, American Music Award for New Artist of the Year, MTV Europe Music Award for Best Push …
Fact
1 His birth name is Wouter, which is Flemish for Walter. When he moved to Australia, he began to go by Walter or Wally. His stage name, Gotye, is derived from Gauthier, the French form of Wouter.
2 His stage name Gotye is pronounced “go-ti-yeah”.
3 The Gotye song “Easy Way Out”, from his 2011 album “Making Mirrors”, was background music in a bar scene from an episode of Prime Suspect (2011) titled Prime Suspect: Shame (2011).
4 Performs under the stage name Gotye.

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
The Voice 2012-2016 TV Series writer – 2 episodes
888.com World Grand Prix 2016 TV Series performer – 1 episode
Tu cara me suena mini – España 2014 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Transparent TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2014 writer – 1 episode, 2014
New Girl TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2014 writer – 1 episode, 2014
So You Think You Can Dance TV Series performer – 2 episodes, 2012 – 2014 writer – 2 episodes, 2012 – 2014
Boyhood 2014/I performer: “Somebody That I Used to Know” / writer: “Somebody That I Used to Know” – as Walter Andre De Backer
Arrow 2014 TV Series performer – 1 episode
VH1 You Oughta Know in Concert 2013 TV Special writer: “Somebody That I Used To Know”
Danville 2nd Ward Young Men 2013 TV Series performer – 1 episode
The Voice of the Philippines 2013 TV Series writer – 1 episode
The Block 2013 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Paris 2013 performer: “Eyes Wide Open” / writer: “Eyes Wide Open”
The Simpsons 2013 TV Series performer – 1 episode
The Great Gatsby 2013 writer: “Hearts A Mess”
Steel River TV Mini-Series short performer – 1 episode, 2013 writer – 1 episode, 2013
The X Factor 2012 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Late Show with David Letterman TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2012 writer – 1 episode, 2012
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2012 writer – 1 episode, 2012
Suits TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2012 writer – 1 episode, 2012
Made in Chelsea 2012 TV Series performer – 2 episodes
Dancing with the Stars 2012 TV Series writer – 1 episode
In Your Light 2012 Video short performer: “In Your Light” / writer: “In Your Light”
Saturday Night Live TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2012 writer – 1 episode, 2012
Glee 2012 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Parenthood TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2012 writer – 1 episode, 2012
Gossip Girl 2009-2011 TV Series performer – 2 episodes
Prime Suspect 2011 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Puzzled Love 2011 performer: “Heart’s a Mess” / writer: “Heart’s a Mess” – as Walter De Backer
Going the Distance 2010 performer: “Learnalilgivinanlovin’” – as Gotye / writer: “Learnalilgivinanlovin’” – as Walter De Backer
Whip It 2009 performer: “Learnalilgivinanlovin” / writer: “Learnalilgivinanlovin”
Packed to the Rafters TV Series writer – 2 episodes, 2008 performer – 1 episode, 2008
The Bank Job 2008 writer: “Hey There”

Composer

Title Year Status Character
In Your Light 2012 Video short as Wally De Backer
Gotye: Easy Way Out 2012 Short music by
Precious Memories 2009 Short as Wally De Backer
Gotye: Coming Back 2008 Video short as Wally De Backer

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Re-Living Off the Land 2009 Wally / Gotye (as Wally De Backer)

Music Department

Title Year Status Character
In Your Light 2012 Video short singer – as Wally De Backer

Self

Title Year Status Character
Australian Story 2014 TV Series documentary Himsellf
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards 2013 TV Special Himself – Nominee (as Wally De Backer, credit only)
Big Morning Buzz Live 2013 TV Series Himself
Late Show with David Letterman 2012 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest / Himself – Singer
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show 2012 TV Series Himself
2012 MTV Video Music Awards 2012 TV Special Himself
Saturday Night Live 2012 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 2012 TV Series Himself
Gotye Feat. Kimbra: Somebody That I Used to Know 2011 Video short Himself
Quelli che… il calcio 2009 TV Series Himself – Performer
Spicks and Specks 2007 TV Series Himself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2013 Grammy Grammy Awards Best Alternative Music Album For the album “Making Mirrors.”
2013 Grammy Grammy Awards Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
2013 Grammy Grammy Awards Record of the Year

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2013 People’s Choice Award People’s Choice Awards, USA Favorite Breakout Artist
2012 VMA MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) Video of the Year
2012 VMA MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) Best Editing
2012 VMA MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) Most Share-Worthy Video

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