How Much Did Tom Sell Myspace For

So, picture this: It’s 2005. You’re at a house party. Someone’s laptop (a chunky silver thing) is propped open on a coffee table. A friend leans over and says, “Dude, you have to check out this new site. It’s like Friendster, but… cooler.” You type in a URL. Suddenly, your whole social life has a soundtrack, a top 8 friends list, and an obnoxious, glittery background. That was Myspace. And it was king.

Fast forward to today. That same empire? Sold for pocket change compared to its prime. But how much did Tom Anderson, the original “Friend” of millions, actually walk away with? Let’s untangle that messy, multi-million-dollar story—because, like your old profile page, it’s more complicated than it first looks.

The Birth of a Digital Monster

Tom and his team didn't build Myspace to be sold. They built it because they wanted a social hub that wasn't boring. By 2006, it was the most visited website in the US, even outpacing Google for a hot second. Everyone was customizing their profiles with HTML they barely understood, and Tom was everyone’s first—and usually only—friend.

But here’s where it gets wild. In July 2005, just as Myspace was exploding, a media company named News Corp (owned by Rupert Murdoch) swooped in. They saw the future, and they wanted it on a silver platter. The price? A cool $580 million in cash.

That’s the number everyone remembers. But wait—pull up a chair. That $580 million went to the company, not directly into Tom’s wallet. He was a co-founder and major shareholder, so he got a fat slice, but he didn’t walk with the whole pie.

MySpace co-founder Tom Anderson now lives a retired life of landscape

So, How Much Did Tom Personally Get?

Here’s the juicy math. At the time of the sale, Tom owned roughly 6% of the company. His co-founder, Chris DeWolfe, owned a similar chunk, while early employees and investors split the rest. Doing the math? 6% of $580 million is about $34.8 million.

Now, before you scoff—that’s still life-changing money. But compared to Mark Zuckerberg’s billions? It feels almost quaint, right? Tom didn’t get the glamorous $580 million check you might have imagined. He got a very comfortable, but not absurd, exit.

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And here’s a twist that hurts a little: News Corp essentially murdered Myspace with terrible management, ads, and bloat. By 2011, they sold it for a pathetic $35 million to Specific Media. That’s less than what Tom personally made. Ouch.

What Happened to Tom After the Sale?

You’d think he’d buy a yacht and disappear into the sunset. But Tom did something surprisingly chill. He stayed on at Myspace for a year or two, then quietly left. He took up photography—seriously, he travels the world taking stunning landscape portraits. He also does some consulting and investing.

What's Myspace Tom's Net Worth Today?

Remember that rumor about him being a lizard person or a CIA agent? Yeah, he laughed at those, too. He’s very active on Instagram (where his profile is just a photo of a cat, naturally). He’s living proof that you can make a fortune, lose a digital kingdom, and still end up happy taking photos of mountains.

The Real Lesson? It’s Not Just About the Money

You might be reading this thinking, “$34 million? I’d take that in a heartbeat.” And you should. But the irony is thick: Tom sold at the peak, before the crash. Meanwhile, Facebook’s founders held on and became billionaires. But Tom also avoided the nightmare of watching his baby slowly rot.

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He dodged the 2011 fire sale, the data breaches, and the global cringe of seeing your old band’s page still load with an auto-playing Evanescence song. He got his money, kept his sanity, and is now one of the richest and most relaxed guys on the internet.

So, the final answer? Tom sold Myspace for about $34.8 million (his personal cut). But the real story is that he sold at the right time. He didn’t get Facebook-rich. He got “never have to work again, go take photos of elephants, and sleep peacefully” rich. And honestly? That might be the smarter play.

Now, go check your old Myspace profile. If it still exists, it’s probably cringing. But Tom? He’s fine. Totally fine.