Michael De Santa

Updated 28 October 2026 · Fan site. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.

Michael De Santa is one of the three playable protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V (2013). Born Michael Townley, he is a retired bank robber who faked his death in 2004 and lives in Los Santos under a deal with the FIB. A debt pulls him back into crime alongside Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. Ned Luke voices him.

Who is Michael in GTA V?

Michael De Santa is the oldest of the three leads in Grand Theft Auto V. He is a former bank robber who wants a quiet life and is bored to death by it. He lives in Los Santos with his wife Amanda and their two adult children, Jimmy and Tracey. None of them respect him much, and he pays a therapist, Dr. Friedlander, to listen to his complaints.

His real name is Michael Townley. In 2004 he took part in a robbery in Ludendorff, North Yankton, with Trevor Philips and Brad Snider. It went badly. Michael was shot and presumed dead, and Trevor escaped. In fact, Michael had made a secret deal with FIB agent Dave Norton. He gave up his crew in exchange for a new name and a new life.

Story

The game opens in 2013, nine years later. Michael meets Franklin Clinton when Franklin tries to repossess his son's car, and the two become friends. Soon after, Michael discovers that Amanda is having an affair. In his anger he damages a mansion that belongs to a drug lord, and he now owes a huge debt.

To pay it, he plans a jewellery store robbery with Franklin and his old hacker friend Lester Crest. News of the job reaches Trevor in Blaine County, who realises his old partner is alive and comes to Los Santos. Michael reluctantly lets him back into his life.

Dave Norton and his boss Steve Haines then force the crew to do jobs for the FIB. Michael also falls out with the billionaire Devin Weston after Michael accidentally causes the death of Devin's lawyer. Along the way Michael gets into the film business as a producer, and his family walks out on him for a time.

When Trevor learns that Michael set up the 2004 job so that Brad would die, he leaves Michael in mortal danger, then comes back to save him. The crew pulls off one last heist: the Union Depository gold robbery. Michael reconciles with his family around this point.

How does Michael's story end?

In the final mission, Franklin must choose. He can kill Trevor, kill Michael, or try a near-suicidal plan to save both. If Franklin kills Michael, their story ends with Michael's death. If he saves both, the three wipe out their enemies, and Michael and Trevor make peace. Later GTA Online updates show both men still alive, which fits this third ending.

Michael in GTA Online

Michael has appeared in GTA Online years after the story. According to the GTA Wiki, he is mentioned in The Contract (2021) as still working at a film studio. In the later A Safehouse in the Hills update, he and Amanda appear as neighbours of the player, now living as empty nesters, with Michael still a Vinewood producer.

Who voices Michael De Santa?

Ned Luke voices Michael and provided most of his performance through motion capture. Wikipedia says the three leads were cast after auditions. Each has a special ability. Michael's slows time during gunfights.

Development and reception

Three playable leads were a core aim from the start of development, which Rockstar North began in 2008. Wikipedia notes that the idea dated back to San Andreas but was not possible on the hardware of the time. Players can switch between the three outside missions.

GTA V was released on 17 September 2013 and became one of the best-selling games ever. By June 2026 it had shipped more than 230 million copies, according to Game Developer, as cited by Wikipedia. Reviewers were split on the story's characters, but most of that debate centred on Trevor rather than Michael.