Mike Shinonda’s net worth soared to $65 million after the release of his Post Traumatic album in 2018. The album was inspired by the death of his Linkin Park bandmate Chester Bennington which broke hearts all around the world.
Even though Shonnda already had an impressive net worth from his band and solo career, amongst many other sources he earns from, there is no doubt that the Post Traumatic Album contributed immensely to the growth of his worth.
Mike Shinoda’s Net Worth Sources
- Solo Music Career
- Linkin Park Collaboration
- Fort Minor Collaboration
- Art and design career
- Machine Shop Records
Mike Shinoda’s Net Worth Accrued Primarily Through His Linkin Park Career
Mike Shinoda is one of the founding members of Linkin Park. Born on the 11th of February 1977 in Panorama City, California, the singer and songwriter grew up in Agoura Hills and dabbled into music at the age of six. While in high school, Shinoda befriended two other music enthusiasts, namely Brad Delson (guitarist) and Rob Bourdo (drummer), and they formed a band known as Xero. The band managed to produce a four-track demo but made no further headway.
Xero later recruited Arizona vocalist, Chester Bennington, and settled on the name Linkin Park. The band went on to drop their first album, “Hybrid Theory”, in 2000 which sold more than four million copies as its lead track, “Crawling”, won the Grammy award for best hard rock performance. Linkin Park is now one of the bestselling bands of the 21st century, and this undoubtedly contributed a significant portion of Mike Shinoda’s net worth.
Mike Shinoda’s Post Traumatic Album
The aptly-named “Post Traumatic” album is simply Shinoda’s heartfelt response to the death of his bandmate, Chester Bennington. The Linkin Park frontman was found dead in his L.A. home on the 20th of July 2017. His death was later ruled as a suicide by hanging.
The news shocked many of his fans as well as his bandmates who had no inkling that such would happen. Shinoda was particularly in disbelief as he had spent some time with Bennington a few days before his demise. The two had met up at the studio during which Bennington introduced Shinoda to an upcoming rapper and poet he had discovered. They thereafter spent some time in the studio doodling around without any premonition of what the future held. Shinoda was thus devastated when the news of Bennington’s demise broke. He and the rest of the band later held a memorial concert for their frontman.
Mike Shinoda’s Net Worth After He Released the Post Traumatic Album
Mike Shinoda immersed himself in music as a means of grieving the loss of his friend. The speed of the creative process convinced him that he was not just creating for himself, but also for the purpose of helping others who may be going through something similar. Shinoda subsequently dropped the Post Traumatic EP in January 2018. The EP, which received positive reviews and was lapped up by fans, contained three songs and was an unabashed expression of his own personal and intimated grief. Mike Shinoda returned to the studios once more and in June 2018, he dropped the full-length Post Traumatic album.
The album, which was his debut solo effort, was a journey out of darkness and grief. It featured several healing tracks such as “Place To Start”, “Hold It Together”, “World’s On Fire”, and “Can’t Hear You Now”. It took about nine months to complete and featured the contributions of other artists such as Darren King, Blakcbear, K.Flay, Moreno, Machine Gun Kelly and Grandson.
Post Traumatic EP received high ratings from several sources as it made it to number 16 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It also topped the top alternative albums and top rock albums charts. Since dropping the hit album, Mike Shinoda has performed at several concerts including the 2017 iHeartRadio Release Party. He has also embarked on a Post Traumatic tour of Europe, and all these have boosted his net worth to an admirable $65 million.
Charity
If there is one thing that Linkin Park is renowned for, it is their passion for helping others. The band has raised money for victims of natural disasters through their non-profit, Music for Relief. Linkin Park has thus far assisted victims of Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Katrina, the October 2007 California wildfires, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Sandy, as well as the devastating 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.
On an individual level, Shinoda has instituted a college scholarship at his alma mater, Art Center College of Design. The initiative is to benefit deserving graphics design and illustration students.