Introduction to Jack White
Jack White is an immensely successful musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer hailing from Detroit, Michigan. Born John Anthony Gillis on July 9, 1975, White is the youngest of 10 siblings of Teresa and Gorman Gillis. He has a net worth of $60 million and is widely recognized as one of the key artists in the garage rock revival of the 2000s.
Early Life
White was quite religious as a young boy and planned to become a priest. He was accepted into a seminary in Wisconsin but eventually decided not to go when he realized he couldn’t bring his instruments with him. White attended Cass Technical High School where he played the trombone and drums in the school band. He started an upholstery apprenticeship with a friend of his parents, Brian Muldoon, who exposed him to punk rock, and encouraged White to form a band. White and Muldoon formed the Upholsterers and recorded the album “Makers of High-Grade Suites.” When Jack was a senior in high school, he met Meg White and formed the band The White Stripes.
Career with The White Stripes
Jack and Meg started out as part of the underground garage rock music scene in Detroit. They signed to the independent garage punk label Italy Records in 1998 and released their debut album “White Stripes” in 1999. Their second album “De Stijl” followed in 2000. The band’s third album “White Blood Cells” was a critical and commercial success, and The White Stripes were one of the leaders of the garage band sound revival of that era.
In 2003, the band’s fourth album “Elephant” was supported by the single “Seven Nation Army,” which became the band’s signature song. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for three weeks and won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The band’s fifth album, “Get Behind Me Satan,” and sixth album, “Icky Thump,” were also successful.
On February 2, 2011, The White Stripes announced on their official website that they were disbanding.
The Raconteurs and Other Work
White collaborated with Brendan Benson on the song “Steady, as She Goes,” which led to the formation of a new band called The Raconteurs. The quartet recorded an album in Benson’s home in Detroit, and “Broken Boy Soldiers” became The Raconteurs’ debut album and hit the Top 10 of the charts in the U.S. and U.K. White’s success with The White Stripes and The Raconteurs led to collaborations with other musicians and the founding of Third Man Records, his Nashville-based label in 2001.
White has proceeded to produce over 120 records through Third Man Records. In March 2015, Third Man joined in the launch of Tidal with Jay-Z and other artists. In 2012, he released his debut solo album “Blunderbuss,” followed by his second solo effort, “Lazaretto,” in June of 2014. In 2020, White announced via Third Man Records that his label would release a rare 1973 Johnny Cash performance at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on vinyl.
Personal Life
White met Meg White when he was a senior in high school, and they got married on September 21, 1996, when they were 21 years old. They divorced on March 24, 2000. When The White Stripes started to get famous, Jack and Meg claimed to be siblings. In reality, they were already divorced. Though they formed the band as a married couple, it wasn’t until after they divorced that The White Stripes found success.
In 2003, White had a brief relationship with actress Renée Zellweger, whom he met during the filming of “Cold Mountain.” They broke up in December 2004. White married British model Karen Elson in 2005, and they had two children together. The couple separated in June 2011, and their divorce was finalized in November 2013.
White is a fan of the Detroit Tigers and supported Bernie Sanders for president in 2020.
Real Estate
In 2018, White put his former Detroit-area home on the market for $1.2 million. The home, located in Detroit’s historic Indian Village, was built in 1914 and is where The White Stripes recorded “Get Behind Me Satan.” In 2005, White bought a seven-acre property in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood for $3.1 million.
Conclusion
Jack White is one of the most successful musicians of his generation and has had a remarkable career as the lead singer and guitarist of The White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and as a solo artist. His net worth of $60 million is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft. White’s success in the music industry has allowed him to pursue other passions, including Third Man Records and real estate ventures. Moving forward, fans can expect more great music and innovative projects from this multi-talented artist.
