Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallNo audited public source establishes exactly how much Gotye personally earned from “Somebody That I Used To Know.” A Belgian newspaper estimated in April 2012 that the song had brought him €2.5–3 million, but that was an outside estimate—not a verified take-home figure. It does not establish taxes, expenses, contract terms, or how much ultimately reached Gotye.
What is the reported estimate of Gotye’s earnings?
Nieuwsblad estimated in April 2012 that the song had generated €2.5–3 million for Gotye. The estimate was assembled from assumptions about downloads, royalty rates, album sales, cover use, and live performances. It is a dated press estimate, not an audited account or a confirmed figure for Gotye’s personal net income.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Somebody That I Used to Know | $1.29 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Somebody That I Used to Know (2-Tracks) | $9.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Somebody I Used to Know | $41.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Somebody That I Used To Know [feat. Kimbra]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41sTenB3qFL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Somebody That I Used To Know [feat. Kimbra] | $1.29 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Somebody That I Used to Know (Dubstep Remix) | $1.29 | Buy on Amazon |
That distinction matters: “money the song brought in” can describe revenue associated with a recording or composition, while “what Gotye made” might mean his share after rights-holder arrangements, costs, and taxes. The Nieuwsblad estimate does not document those terms or show a final amount paid to him.
Why sales and awards do not reveal his personal income
The song’s reach is well established, but reach is not a royalty statement. Forbes reported 6.8 million U.S. digital units in 2012. That sales figure indicates commercial scale; it cannot be converted directly into Gotye’s personal receipts without knowing the relevant rights, rates, and contractual shares.
#1 Best Overall
The Recording Academy identifies Making Mirrors as Gotye’s 2011 album and describes “Somebody That I Used To Know” as its No. 1 hit. APRA AMCOS records also show that Gotye was its 2012 Songwriter of the Year, that the song won APRA Most Played Australian Work and APRA Song of the Year, and that it later entered the organization’s 1,000,000,000 List. These are recognitions and usage milestones, not disclosures of the amount he earned.
How rights and royalty streams complicate the calculation
A song can generate income through different rights and uses. Songwriting and publishing income is distinct from income associated with a sound recording or performances. Kobalt representatives described Gotye as a publishing client and explained that registering the song with collection societies worldwide helped collect income from uses across formats and territories. That offers context on collection, but it is not a royalty statement or a disclosure of Gotye’s share.
A music licensing database credits Walter Andre de Backer and Luiz Bonfa as composers and lists Kobalt Music Publishing and Unichappell Music Inc. as publishers. Those credits identify parties associated with the composition; they do not disclose the complete contracts or payment split. Claims about a precise percentage owed to another rights holder should not be treated as established without a reliable rights statement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can—and cannot—be concluded about the one-hit-wonder claim
The available evidence supports a narrower conclusion than a precise fortune figure: the song became a major commercial hit, and a newspaper estimated its proceeds at €2.5–3 million by April 2012. It does not establish Gotye’s audited lifetime earnings from the song, his net income, or an authoritative royalty percentage payable to him.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
Nor does a past hit’s popularity establish what it earns now. A U.S. Copyright Royalty Board filing uses Gotye as an example of how a rightsholder’s future income from a past hit can fall as its popularity fades. That example is about changing future income, not evidence of Gotye’s current earnings.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
