Jack White, an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, boasts a net worth of $60 million according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Renowned as the frontman and guitarist for the iconic duo The White Stripes, he has also achieved remarkable success with other bands, such as The Raconteurs, and as a solo artist.
White is widely recognized as a pivotal figure in the garage rock revival of the early 2000s.
Early Life
Born John Anthony Gillis on July 9, 1975, in Detroit, Michigan, Jack White is the youngest of ten siblings in the family of Teresa and Gorman Gillis. Both parents worked for the Catholic Church in Detroit—his father served as the Building Maintenance Superintendent, while his mother was a secretary in the Cardinal of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s office.
As a child, White was deeply religious and served as an altar boy. He initially planned to join the priesthood and was accepted into a seminary in Wisconsin but changed his mind upon realizing he couldn’t bring his musical instruments with him.
After this decision, White attended Cass Technical High School, where he played the trombone and drums in the school band. At 15, he began an upholstery apprenticeship under a family friend, Brian Muldoon, who introduced him to punk rock and encouraged him to form a band. Together, they created The Upholsterers and recorded the album Makers of High-Grade Suites.
During his senior year of high school, White met Meg White, and the two formed a strong connection.
Career with The White Stripes
In 1997, Meg White began learning the drums, and the pair decided to form The White Stripes. Initially part of Detroit’s underground garage rock scene, the band signed with the indie garage punk label Italy Records in 1998.
The White Stripes released their debut album, White Stripes, in 1999, followed by De Stijl in 2000. Their third album, White Blood Cells (2001), gained critical and commercial acclaim, propelling the band to the forefront of the garage rock revival. The release of their fourth album, Elephant (2003), further cemented their success, featuring the iconic single “Seven Nation Army.” The track topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for three weeks and won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.
Subsequent albums included Get Behind Me Satan (2005), recorded at White’s home, and Icky Thump (2007), which was produced at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio.
On February 2, 2011, The White Stripes announced their disbandment via their official website.
The Raconteurs and Other Ventures
In 2005, White began collaborating with Brendan Benson, resulting in the creation of the song “Steady, as She Goes.” This led to the formation of The Raconteurs, with band members Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler joining White and Benson. The group recorded their debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, at Benson’s Detroit home. The album achieved commercial success and received Grammy nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Subsequent Raconteurs albums include Consolers of the Lonely (2008) and Help Us Stranger (2019).
White’s collaborations extended to various other artists, bolstering his reputation as a versatile musician. In 2001, he founded Third Man Records, his Nashville-based label, which has since produced over 120 records. In 2015, Third Man Records partnered with Tidal, Jay-Z’s streaming platform, to further expand its reach.
As a solo artist, White released his debut album, Blunderbuss, in 2012, followed by Lazaretto in 2014. In 2020, through Third Man Records, he announced plans to release a rare recording of Johnny Cash’s 1973 performance at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.
Personal Life
White met Meg White during high school, and they married on September 21, 1996, at the age of 21. Jack took Meg’s last name upon marriage. The couple divorced on March 24, 2000, but continued to claim they were siblings during the rise of The White Stripes. Ironically, the band gained significant success after their divorce.
As a teenager, White had an uncredited role in the 1987 film The Rosary Murders, filmed at Holy Redeemer parish in Detroit.
In 2003, White had a brief relationship with actress Renée Zellweger, whom he met during the filming of Cold Mountain. Their relationship ended in December 2004.
White married British model Karen Elson on June 1, 2005, in Brazil. The unconventional wedding, held in a canoe on the Amazon River, was officiated by a shaman, with Meg White serving as the maid of honor. The couple had two children, Scarlett Teresa (born 2006) and Henry Lee (born 2007).
In 2011, White and Elson separated. Their divorce, finalized in 2013, was marred by accusations of violence, though Elson later recanted her claims.
White is an avid Detroit Tigers fan and maintains a highly private personal life, often misleading the public to protect his family’s privacy.
In 2016, he publicly criticized Donald Trump for using “Seven Nation Army” without permission during his campaign, even selling “Icky Trump” T-shirts through Third Man Records. In 2020, White supported Bernie Sanders, performing at a Michigan Democratic primary event.
Real Estate
In 2018, White listed his former Detroit-area home for $1.2 million. Located in the historic Indian Village neighborhood, the house was built in 1914 and served as the recording site for Get Behind Me Satan.
White also owns a seven-acre property in Brentwood, a Nashville suburb, which he purchased in 2005 for $3.1 million.
