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This article or section contains information about a subject scheduled to be featured in upcoming Grand Theft Auto Online content.
Please do not add unconfirmed or speculative content unless it can be confirmed by its release or by Rockstar Games.
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I want to be a good dad, love my family and live the dream. But at the same time, I really want the other stuff too.
— Michael talking to his therapist

Michael is one of the three main protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V.

Background

You see it in the movies. I wanted to retire. From what I was doing, you know? From that, that... line of work. Be a good guy for once, a family man. So, I bought a big house. Came here, put my feet up, and thought I be a dad like all the other dads. My kids, would be like the kids on TV. We could play ball and sit in the sun. But well, you know how it is.
— Michael during Trailer #1

Michael's background is unknown at the moment, but it has been said that he is from somewhere in the East Coast and at some point in his young life he became a bank robber, and through the years he became highly successful at his job. Whilst young Michael somehow ran into an ex-military pilot named Trevor Phillips, who also had a flare for criminal acts and the two became close friends, performing several major heists in the past. Michael then met his future wife Amanda and had two children, Jimmy and Tracey.

Events of GTA V

Before the events of Grand Theft Auto V, Michael retired from his life of crime after making a "sweetheart" deal with the FIB. In the process of that deal, he and his family got rich off of it, now living in a large mansion with several sports cars and a private tennis court and golf course.

But Michael's domestic life is sadly coming to an end. In fact, his wife who now barely tolerates him anymore, spent almost all of his money in the city’s finest boutiques. Both his son and daughter have little -if any- time left for him. Even Trevor had a severe falling out with Michael. This caused a severe rift between the two. Running out of money quickly and tired of being bored and miserable, Michael gets back to the criminal life.

His personal story is how the breakdown of his bought idyllic life pushes a man to breaking point. He is described as a man with everything and nothing to lose both at the same time, and his seemingly blissful existence in San Andreas will be changed forever by the events of GTA V.

Overview

Personality

Michael's good side is that he is thoughtful and calculated and likely to keep his motives hidden. But, he also has a composed side as well, which is his large ego, an inability to control his temper, his willingness to make large moral compromises and his hypocrisy. He wants to compartmentalize and be a good guy some of the time. But yet, Michael also wants to return to his old life that place him in this predicament. Another bad thing about Michael is that he hasn't been a good husband or father. Michael's aggressiveness towards his family and his addiction to chaos makes him alienate them. But yet, he loves and cares for his family. Dan Houser has also stated that despite seeming to be the good guy (at least compared to Trevor), he might end up being worse than Trevor in the end.

Relationships With Other Characters

  • Trevor - Trevor's relationship with Michael started at an unknown time period, but the two had a long and often troubled friendship with one another. But both men had a falling out which caused a rift in between their friendship (some believe that it was Michael's deal with the FIB that caused that rift). Since that brief rift, it caused both men to stay friends but with an even more troubled relationship with one another. When the two old buddies see each other, they often bicker a lot.
  • Franklin - After meeting one another, Franklin and Michael began this father-son relationship with Michael holding some affection for Franklin, and saw potential and a younger Michael in Franklin, and Franklin doesn't really have a family but wants to move up in the criminal underworld but at the same time, doesn't know how to do so. So, he saw his way in after meeting Michael. Dan Houser has also stated that the father-son relationship between the two could lead to some "interesting situations."
  • Amanda - Amanda's relationship with Michael also started in an unknown time. The two fell in love with one another, got married and had two children. During the events of the game, she can barely tolerate him anymore, (mainly because Dan Houser also confirmed that Michael has been awful to her in the past few years). One of the reasons she fell in love with Michael is because she is bound to him by their past lives, but now both of them can't stand each other anymore (Another statement by Dan Houser).
  • Jimmy - Jimmy's relationship with his father is rocky as well and even though Michael is far from perfect, so is his son. They've both got a confused and awful relationship with each other. Michael does try to improve there relationship by spending time with his son, but all to no avail. 
  • Tracey - Michael's relationship with his daughter was also said to be weak, by Rockstar, though the second trailer, her first appearance, didn't show any dialogue with Michael.

Appearance

Michael has a nice clean-cut appearance, along with nice clothes, usually seen in screenshots and artworks with a gray, black or dark blue dress suit with a light green or white dress shirt underneath. In the "Michael, Franklin and Trevorartwork he is seen dressed with a creamy-yellow collared shirt with blue dress pants. During the opening scene in the second trailer, Michael walks outside to his pool with nothing on but sandals, swimming trunks and a pair of glasses, showing us that he is a small portion over weight but still in good shape.

Skills and Abilities

Like Franklin and Trevor, Michael has a special ability to slow down time while shooting (Bullet Time).

Development

As Rockstar Games made there way into the character development stages of Grand Theft Auto V, Michael was the first protagonist that Rockstar came up with.

Reception

Michael has had a very positive responses from critics and fans, one of the reason is because of him being the first playable character in the entire GTA Series that has a family. Another reason is that he is much like Tommy Vercetti, or Carl Johnson who have already lived there lives out as an highly professional criminal and gotten rich off of it.

Dan Houser's Way of Describing Michael

"Michael, to me, is... Who is he? I know who he is, I'm just trying to... He's the person who is trying to ignore some rather large mistakes that they have made. The person who's trying to forget about certain practical but still selfish decisions that they took. He's a man, also, obsessed by images and by appearances and who, when the world doesn't live up to those images and appearances, doesn't know what to do. He just retreats into his head. What he also is, when we started out... What he kind of evolved into as we began thinking about him and developing him... He was the first character we came up with. He began as the idea of, what happens to a regular GTA protagonist after they retire? Then you think, what would make him retire? He's a man with a big ego and plenty of good values and plenty of bad values."

"A guy who's in his mid-40s and on the cusp of middle age who doesn't know what to do, but made a bunch of money and does not know what to do with it. He's theoretically won, but the spoils of victory aren't necessarily what he imagined. For us that's a very interesting character, unlike what we've done in the past or what we've seen in much entertainment in general, let alone any video games. That was interesting."

"He's the person who is trying to ignore some rather large mistakes that they have made. The person who's trying to forget about certain practical but still selfish decisions that they took. He's a man, also, obsessed by images and by appearances and who, when the world doesn't live up to those images and appearances, doesn't know what to do. He just retreats into his head."

Character Trailer

Trivia

  • Michael was the first protagonist that came to Rockstar's mind when they began the development of Grand Theft Auto V.
  • Michael is the only protagonist in the entire series to be a family man.
  • As seen in Trailer one and two, Michael is seen with green eyes and an older look. In the Michael and Gameplay trailer, Michael has brown eyes and a younger look. This includes a Beta version of this protagonist.
  • Being in his mid 40s, he is the oldest protagonist in the GTA series.
  • The song that plays in the Michael trailer is "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen.
  • Michael's special ability might be a reference to Rockstar's game Max Payne, where the title character can also slow time during a shootout.

Gallery

Screenshots

Artworks

References

  • GameInformer December issue.
  • [1] - IGN info about Michael.
  • [2] - Info from Meristation.
  • [3] - Info from Polygon.
  • [4] - Info from a translated interview with Dan Houser about GTA V.
  • [5] - Info from another translated interview with with Dan Houser.
[ ve ]Characters in Grand Theft Auto V
ProtagonistsMichael De Santa | Franklin Clinton | Trevor Philips
Central charactersLester Crest | Lamar Davis | Dave Norton | Steve Haines | Devin Weston | Harold "Stretch" Joseph | Wei Cheng
Main charactersAmanda De Santa | Jimmy De Santa | Tracey De Santa | Martin Madrazo | Patricia Madrazo | Ron Jakowski | Wade Hebert | Solomon Richards | Molly Schultz | Brad Snider | Chop
Supporting & minor characters
SupportingAndreas Sanchez | Denise Clinton | Fabien LaRouche | Floyd Hebert | Isiah Friedlander | Lazlow Jones | Tanisha Jackson | Tao Cheng | Cheng's Translator | Simeon Yetarian
MinorAaron Ingram | Ahron Ward | Al Di Napoli | Albert Stalley | Alex | Anton Beaudelaire | Art Student | Ashley Butler | Baby D | Barbara Watkins | Blake | Bob Mulét Stylist | Boonie | Brandon Roberts | Brett Lowrey | Carlos | Casey | Cathi | Chad Mulligan | Chico | Chip Peterson | Clay Simons | Curtis Weaver | D | Daisy Bell | Danny | Debra | Denise's Friend | Deputy Grimes | Deputy Kirkman | Dexie | Don Percival | Donato | Donna | Eddie Low | Emanuelle Pasorelli | Enzo Bonelli | Esteban Jimenez | Eva | Ferdinand Kerimov | Freddy Slade | Getaway Driver | Gianni | Glenn Mather | Glenn Scoville | Greg Howles | Grove Street Dealer | Hailey Downs | Haines' pilot | Harvey Molina | Ira Richards | Isaac | Isaac Penny | Jackson | Jackson Skinner | Jaspers | Javier Madrazo | Javier Madrazo's pilot | Jay Norris | Jeff Chartier | Jeff Miller | Jewelry Store Clerk | Joe Lawton | Johnny Klebitz | Jolene Cranley-Evans | Joseph Womac | Julio Fabrizo | Justin | Karen Daniels | Katy Loden | Karina Pearl | Kerry McIntosh | Kidnapper | Kush-Chronic | Kyle Chavis | Larry Loden | Lenny Avery | Leon | Leroy | Libby Doe | Lucien Stark | Magenta Andrews | Mark Fostenburg | Maria | MC Clip | Melisa Porche | Melvin | Molly Schultz's Driver | Moses | Natalia Zverovna | Nelson Strauser | Officer Jernigan | Ortega | Oscar Guzman | Patrick | Ponsonbys Manager | Poppy Mitchell | Porndude | Princess Georgina | Rae | Raul | Rocco Pelosi | Rosalind | Ryan Philips | Spider | Stalker | Stanley | Suburban Clerk | Tahir Javan | Terry Thorpe | Tracker | Triad Knife Assassin | Tyler Dixon | United Liberty Paper contact | Underbelly Of Paradise Cameraman | Union Depository Bank Manager | Unknown LSPD Pilot | Unnamed Bobcat Security Guard | Unnamed Merryweather Pilot | Zeus Karachi
Heist Crew MembersChef | Christian Feltz | Daryl Johns | Eddie Toh | Gustavo Mota | Hugh Welsh | Karim Denz | Karl Abolaji | Norm Richards | Paige Harris | Patrick McReary | Rickie Lukens | Taliana Martinez
Strangers and FreaksAbigail Mathers | Barry | Beverly Felton | Joe | Josef | Manuel | Cletus Ewing | Dom Beasley | Peter Dreyfuss | Madison Fox | Marnie Allen | Miranda Cowan | Jimmy Boston | Tom | Cris Formage | Hao | Josh Bernstein | Mary-Ann Quinn | Maude Eccles | Mrs. Philips | Nigel | Mrs. Thornhill | Omega | Phil | Sasquatch Hunter | Sasquatch Roleplayer | Tonya Wiggins
Random EventsAltruist Cult Victim | Antonia Bottino | Castro Lagano | Drunk Couple | Drunk Driver | Girl Hitchhiking | Gray Nicholson | Groom in Trouble | Lacey Jonas | Runaway Bride | Saeeda Kadam | Space Monkey Street Artist | The Lost Fugitive | The Lost Girl | Timm | Ursula | Prison Escapee | Crazy Groom
Private Taxi FaresThe Three Bankers (Paulie, Clyde and Darren) | Derrick | Kwak | Otis | Felipe | Keyla | Alonzo | Elisa Macallen | Walter | Miranda (Lady of the Best Tailor)
SoapboxersAndy Moon | Andy Whitford | Baygor | Bill Binder | Clinton | Graham | Griff | Impotent Rage cosplayer | Jane | Jerome | Jesco White | Jesse | Mani | Mimes | Pamela Drake
StrippersChastity | Cheetah | Fufu | Infernus | Juliet | Nikki | Peach | Sapphire
O'Neil BrothersElwood | Walton | Wynn | Ernie | Earl | Doyle | Daryl | Dan | Dalton | Ned | Larry | Chester | Dale | Cletus | Don
Radio station characters
Radio hostsBig Boy | Bootsy Collins | Cara Delevingne | Camilo Lara | Don Cheto | DJ Pooh | Gilles Peterson | Flying Lotus | Jesco White | Keith Morris | Kenny Loggins | Mama G | Lee "Scratch" Perry | Nate Williams | Stephen Pope | Soulwax / 2manydjs | Twin Shadow | Chemical Bro | Doctor No | Cliff Lane | Andee | Frank Ocean* | Danny Brown* | Skepta*
Radio guestsMNDR | Eddie | Earl Sweatshirt | Aloe Blacc | Tunde Adebimpe | MC Eiht | Jermaine Renegade | King Avriel
Talk Show hosts
(& assistants)
Michele Makes | Lazlow Jones | Fernando Martinez | Jo | Ron Jakowski | Duane Earl | Bobby June | Ray De Angelo Harris | Cheryl Fawkes
Talk Show guestsSue Murry | Ricky | Jock Cranley | Samantha Muldoon | Brother Adrian | Sophia Bowles-Carmichael* | Reed Tucker
TV Show characters
TV Show hosts
(& assistants)
Lazlow Jones | Hugh Harrison | Anita Mendoza | Imran Shinowa | Steve Haines | Rufus Bellows | Jack Howitzer | Ho Chi Sock
TV Show guestsWilliam Angio | Tracey De Santa
Movie characters
ActorsMilton McIlroy | John Cohn | Theodore Bickford | Charlie Fleming | Chippy | Leo Hornstein
Named PedestriansAdam | Brincat | Clark | Fort Zancudo Colonel | Frederico Nathan | G. James | Lloyd
Internet characters
Lifeinvader usersAaron Fisk | Adric Howard | Alan Felton | Alan McClean | Amy Turner | Anak Horozian | Andre Barnes | Andy Hamilton | Andy Whitford | Barbara Watkins | Benton Cox | Bree Young | Colin Easton | Dana Ellis | Darnell Stevens | Darryl Knox | Deja Medwell | Demarcus Bradley | Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris | Dr. Stanovicz | Dr. Wetherbrook | Duane Earl | Evan Arnold | Fiona Larsson | Foster Matthews | Gary Harby | Gary Scales | Gerald | Gerry Colford | Guadaloupe Romero | Hailey Watson | Hank Terrel | Hayden Dubose | Jamal Reynolds | JB Bradshaw | Karl Kelly | Lahronda Whitfield | Lance Wharrie | Leon | Melinda Dubose | Mary-Ann Quinn's Mother | Moe Chinpoko | Nicolson Bell | Owen Yates | Ray Navarro | Renatta Sidwell | Sacha Yetarian | Susan Chavis | Tavell Clinton | Jenny Tilman | Jane Smith
Bleeter usersAnton Lemeaux | Billy Blue | Bobby Blue | Brother Adrian | Bruce Spade | Brucie Kibbutz | Charlotte Crown | Clay 'PG' Jackson | Cloe Parker | Dale Jenkins | Delancey Medua | Henry Smith IV | Jill Von Crastenburg | Mad Wayne Thunder | Martha Term | Mitch Dexter | Pete | Scott Stephens | The Craze | Tony McTony
Journalists and news reportersFaith Bailey | Anne Bimby | Reed Brazier | Martina Bryans | David Christian | Donna DeSimons | Jerry Donaldson | Mike Dunn | Frank Edwards | Anna Foster | Leslie Gardner | Ian Garraway | Jimmy Henderson | Shelia Hitano | Bucy Joe Houston | John Jackson | Cynthia Kelly | Michael MacKenzie | Gavin McTavern | Kate Ohajan | John Rios | Jeremy Sim | Forrest Simon | Rick Simpson | Joyce Stewart | Makayla Taylor | Jack Vinton | Robin Wark
Mentioned characters
A. Jones | Abe Schwartzman | Ace Jones | Adam Rowney Jr. | Alphonse | Andrew Victoria | Andy Smith | Anne Bimby | Audrey Margaret | Barry Andrews | Barry Wheatsheaf | Betsy O'Neil | Bill Anthony | Billy Dexter | Billy Grey | Blue Brothers | Bob | Bruce Wright | Chip Hampton | Corner Killahz | Daisy Bell | Darius Fontaine | Daryl Bint | David Cho | David Richards | David Shapiro | Dennis Marquez | Derrick McReary | Destiny Arnold | Dick R. Rogers | Donna DeSimons | Doug Richman | Dutch London | Eugene Reaper | Evelyn | Faith Bailey | Francesco Mexi | Francis F. Morton | Frank Brookes | Frank Mathers | Franklin Clinton's mother | Fred Quincy | Gail Gulps | GTA Online Protagonist | Hank Oak | Hugh Bonnar | Hughie McGill | Ira Richards | Joe Oliva | John Bison | Jose | Kill.D.Sac | Kush-Chronic | Lenny Semour | Leonora Johnson | Luis Francesco | Merle Abrahams | Michael Keane | Miriam Turner | Moses | Nicholas | Niko Bellic | Pathos | Phil Davidson | President Joe Lawton | Ronson | Robert | Robert Cholla | Rosby Wilkins | Roy Lowenstein | Ryan Philips | Sam Austin | Sammy Bottino | Shanda Murphy | Sindee Suttin | Slim Skills | Tico | Tommy Smith | Tony Prince | Vasquez | Wayne | Yusuf Amir
Hashtag crewAllie Valasquez | Benita Render | Clinton Aumick | Clinton Salsman | Cody Nishimoto | Connie Bruening | Darren Hohn | Earlene Rivenburg | Ericka Vanderborst | Fernando Gasset | Guy Harrigan | Hugh Rasnick | Julianne Cabaniss | Katy Meaux | Kelly Mease | Lenare Welte | Liza McKiernan | Mallary Focht | Mary Jane Blunts | Nelson Altieri
GANGSTA 101 crewJay Williams III | Alicia Angel | Tony Adventura | P. Dough | Lyndon Moore | G. A. Richman | Doug Richman | Nate Anderson
Removed charactersDale | Jackie | Jordan | Kyle P. Slater | Mrs. A | Mrs. B | Zimbor
* - Anachronistic appearance. Appears in GTA V as part of a radio station ported from GTA Online.
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