Who Is Moby? Age, Biography and Wiki
Moby, born Richard Melville Hall on September 11, 1965, is an acclaimed American musician, singer-songwriter, and producer. Known for his eclectic musical style that incorporates elements of electronic, rock, and pop music, Moby has made significant contributions to the music scene since the early 1990s. In 2025, Moby continues to nurture his artistic spirit while engaging in various humanitarian and environmental causes. As of now, he is 60 years old.
| Occupation | Songwriter |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 11, 1965 |
| Age | 59 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Moby's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 155 lbs (70 kg)
- Body Stats: Moby maintains a slender physique, with a frame that reflects his active lifestyle and commitment to health.
In 2019, Moby had "Vegan for life" tattooed on his neck by his friend, tattoo artist Kat Von D. That November, he had "Animal rights" tattooed on his arms to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of being a vegan. He also had "VX" tattooed next to his right eye, the "V" standing for vegan and the "X" for straight edge, referencing his sobriety.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Historically private about his personal life, Moby has had relationships with various high-profile individuals. As of 2025, he is currently in a relationship with an undisclosed boyfriend, having kept the details of his romantic life away from the public eye. Moby’s focus remains on his music, activism, and personal wellness, with family and friends playing a significant role in his life.
He is an only child of Elizabeth McBride (née Warner), a medical secretary, and James Frederick Hall (Plainfield, 16 August 1941 - Plainfield, 23 September 1967), a chemistry professor, who died in a car crash while drunk when Moby was two.
His father gave him the nickname Moby three days after his birth as his parents considered the name Richard too large for a newborn baby. The name was also a reference to the ancestry Hall says he was told by his family, though he is not directly related to Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick.
Moby is distantly related to David Melville, inventor of the first United States-patented gas light system.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Moby's net worth is estimated at around $40 million. His earnings are derived from a combination of music sales, concert tours, and various business ventures, including the successful launch of his vegan coffee and food brand. His extensive catalog of albums, along with licensing deals and royalties, continues to contribute substantially to his wealth.
Moby's contract with Elektra allowed the opportunity to make his third full-length album, which was underway in 1994. He chose to include a variety of musical styles on the album that he either liked or had been influenced by, including electronic dance, ambient, rock, and industrial music.
Everything Is Wrong was released in March 1995 to critical praise; Spin magazine named it Album of the Year and some commentators considered it to be an album ahead of its time as it failed to crack the Billboard 200 or have an impact on the dance charts. In the UK, the album reached No. 25 and the singles "Hymn" and "Feeling So Real" went to Nos.
31 and 30, respectively. Elektra took advantage of its diverse sound by distributing tracks of the same style to corresponding radio stations nationwide. Early copies put out in the UK and Germany included a bonus CD of ambient music entitled Underwater.
Moby toured the album with some headline spots on the second stage at the 1995 Lollapalooza festival. He followed it with a double remix album, Everything Is Wrong—Mixed and Remixed.
Career, Business and Investments
Moby's career has seen him evolve from a groundbreaking electronic artist to a multifaceted entrepreneur. With over 20 studio albums and numerous accolades, including Grammy wins and nominations, Moby remains a prominent figure in the music industry. In addition to music, he has ventured into business, launching numerous products related to veganism and sustainability. His investments in eco-friendly startups reflect his commitment to the planet, emphasizing his role as both an artist and an activist.
In addition to his music career, Moby is known for his veganism and support for animal rights and humanitarian aid. He was the owner of TeaNY, a vegan cafe in Manhattan, and Little Pine, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, and organized the vegan music and food festival Circle V.
He is the author of four books, including a collection of his photography and two memoirs: Porcelain: A Memoir (2016) and Then It Fell Apart (2019).
Social Network
Moby is active on various social media platforms, where he engages with fans and discusses his music, philosophy, and lifestyle choices. You can follow him on:
- Instagram: @moby
- Twitter: @thelittleidiot
- Facebook: Moby Official
The success of "Go" led to increased demand for Moby to produce more music and to remix other artists' songs. He often arranged for the artist and himself to trade remixes as opposed to being paid for his work, which was the case for his mixes for Billy Corgan and Soundgarden.
The increased mainstream exposure led Moby to request a release from his contract with Instinct for a bigger label. Instinct refused, so Moby retaliated by holding out on new material. However, Instinct continued to put out records, mostly from demos, without his consent having previously copied many of his tapes and had the master rights.
This was the case for Moby's debut album, Moby, released in July 1992 and formed mostly of previously unreleased demos that Moby considered old and unrepresentative of the musical direction he had taken since. Nonetheless, he claimed Instinct had insisted and had the legal right to put it out.
It was re-titled The Story So Far and presented with a different track listing for its UK release. Four singles were released: "Go", "Drop a Beat", "Next Is the E", and a double A-side of "I Feel It" with "Thousand". The latter was recognised by Guinness World Records as the fastest tempo in a recorded song at 1,015 beats-per-minute.
Education
Moby attended the Northeastern University in Boston, where he studied philosophy. His education has influenced his songwriting and activism, infusing his work with a thoughtful and introspective quality.
In 1983, Moby graduated from Darien High School and started a philosophy degree at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. Around this time he had found the instruments he had learned "sonically limiting" and moved to electronic music. He spun records at the campus radio station WHUS, which led to DJ work in local clubs and bars.
Moby grew increasingly unhappy at university, however, and transferred to State University of New York at Purchase, studying philosophy and photography, to try and renew his interest in studying. He dropped out in April 1984 to pursue DJing and music full-time, which started his interest in electronic dance music.
For two years he lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he DJ'd at The Cafe, an under-21 nightclub at the back of a church. In 1987, he started to send demos of his music to record labels in New York City; he failed to receive an offer, which led to a two-year period of "very fruitless labor".
Around 1988, Moby moved into a semi-abandoned factory in Stamford, Connecticut, that had no bathroom or running water, but the free electricity supply allowed him to work on his music, using a 4-track recorder, synthesizer, and drum machine.
