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GTA 5 · Characters
Michael De Santa: Everything About GTA 5's Retired Robber
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Michael De Santa, born Michael Townley, is one of the three playable protagonists of GTA V (2013): a retired bank robber living in Los Santos under a deal with the FIB, pulled back into crime with Franklin Clinton and his old partner Trevor Philips. Ned Luke provides his voice and motion capture.
Real nameMichael Townley
Played byNed Luke
Born1965
FamilyAmanda, Jimmy, Tracey
Michael's Past: North Yankton, 2004
In 2004, a robbery in Ludendorff, North Yankton, with Trevor and Brad Snider goes wrong, and Michael is presumed dead. In reality, he had struck a secret deal with FIB agent Dave Norton to disappear. The family drops the name Townley and settles in Los Santos as the De Santas.
Michael's Story in GTA V
Michael meets Franklin when Franklin tries to repossess his son Jimmy's car. After catching his wife Amanda with her tennis coach, he wrecks a house belonging to Martin Madrazo and returns to crime to pay the debt, starting with a jewelry store heist planned with Lester. The job alerts Trevor, who learns Michael is alive. Michael's family leaves him before they reconcile in Reuniting the Family; he works in the film business, where he clashes with Devin Weston, and does forced jobs for FIB agent Steve Haines. The story builds to the Union Depository heist, The Big Score.
Playing as Michael
| Michael | |
|---|---|
Special ability | Slows time during gunfights. The bar refills with combat actions, headshots in particular |
Safehouse | The De Santa Residence, a villa on Portola Drive, Rockford Hills |
Personal car | A black Obey Tailgater |
Missions he gives | Father/Son, Marriage Counseling, Fame or Shame, Did Somebody Say Yoga?, Bury the Hatchet, Reuniting the Family |
The Epsilon Program
The Epsilon side missions can only be played as Michael. In the last one, Unknowing the Truth, he makes a final $50,000 donation and drives the cult's money to a drop-off. You then choose: stay loyal and get an old rusty tractor, or betray the cult and keep $2.1 million. The series ends with the "Kifflom!" achievement.
Does Michael Die in GTA 5?
Only in The Time's Come, the ending where Franklin chooses to kill him. GTA V has three endings, chosen by Franklin after the Union Depository heist: Something Sensible (kill Trevor), The Time's Come (kill Michael) and The Third Way (save both). Every mission is on our GTA 5 missions page.
| Ending | What happens to Michael |
|---|---|
Something Sensible | Franklin chases Trevor to the oil fields; Michael arrives and rams Trevor's truck into a tanker, and Trevor dies in the fire. Michael survives, but he and Franklin no longer spend time together |
The Time's Come | Michael gets the call that Tracey has been accepted to college, realizes Franklin's meeting is a trap and flees to the Palmer-Taylor Power Station, where Franklin pushes him off a chimney walkway. If you try to pull him up, Michael headbutts Franklin and falls anyway |
The Third Way | The trio, with Lamar, takes on the FIB and Merryweather at the Grand Banks Steel Foundry. Then Michael kills Stretch, Trevor kills Steve Haines and Franklin kills Wei Cheng, and Devin Weston is pushed into the ocean in a car trunk. Michael and Trevor make peace |
Michael in GTA Online
Michael returns in GTA Online's A Safehouse in the Hills update, released on 10 December 2025, as a film producer, with Ned Luke back in the role. He and Amanda welcome you the first time you enter a villa bought on Prix Luxury.
He also has a mission, Home Sweet Home: once you own a villa and have finished Avi Schwartzman's KnoWay Out missions, Michael helps you fight off the KnoWay mercenaries who invade your villa. The first completion pays GTA$500,000.
Michael's Relationships
| Character | Relationship |
|---|---|
Amanda De Santa | Wife |
Jimmy and Tracey De Santa | Son and daughter |
Franklin Clinton | His protégé |
Trevor Philips | Former partner |
Lester Crest | Longtime associate |
Dave Norton | The FIB agent behind his deal |
Ned Luke
Ned Luke was born on 4 October 1958 in Danville, Illinois, and is deaf in his right ear. He also appears in Red Dead Redemption 2, in motion capture only: he played a moonshiner whose voice was redubbed by another actor, which Luke believes was to stop players looking for "Michael" in the game. His screen work includes The Nutty Professor (1996) and episodes of NYPD Blue, General Hospital and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Every other character, with their voice actor, is on our GTA 5 characters page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Michael De Santa?
Ned Luke, who provides both his voice and motion capture.
What is Michael De Santa's real name?
Michael Townley.
What is Michael's special ability in GTA 5?
He slows time during gunfights. The bar refills with combat actions, especially headshots.
Does Michael die in GTA 5?
Only in The Time's Come, the ending where Franklin pushes him off a chimney at the Palmer-Taylor Power Station.
Should you take the $2.1 million in the Epsilon missions?
It is your choice in Unknowing the Truth: betray the cult and keep $2.1 million, or stay loyal and get a rusty tractor.
Is Michael in GTA Online?
Yes. He returns in A Safehouse in the Hills (10 December 2025) and helps you in the Home Sweet Home mission, worth GTA$500,000 the first time.
Which GTA 5 ending is canon?
GTA Online updates point to The Third Way, where Michael, Franklin and Trevor all survive.