Michael De Santa

Background

Michael De Santa, born Michael Townley, is one of the three playable protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V. He grew up poor in the American Midwest, drifted into petty crime as a teenager and graduated to armed robbery, where he met the pilot and fellow thief Trevor Philips. Through the 1990s and early 2000s the two of them, later joined by Brad Snider, robbed banks and armored cars across the country, with Lester Crest often doing the planning.

By the early 2000s Michael was married to Amanda and had two children, Jimmy and Tracey. Worried about prison and his family's future, he quietly made a deal with FIB agent Dave Norton. The 2004 robbery of a cash depot in Ludendorff, North Yankton, was meant to end with Michael "dying" and Trevor being taken out. Instead Brad was shot and arrested, Trevor escaped, and Michael was officially declared dead. Under witness protection he became Michael De Santa and moved his family into a mansion in Rockford Hills, Los Santos.

Events of Grand Theft Auto V

The Prologue replays the Ludendorff job. Nine years later Michael is bored, drinking too much and seeing psychiatrist Dr. Isiah Friedlander. In Complications he catches Franklin Clinton trying to repossess his son's car and, instead of killing him, takes a liking to the young man. Father/Son follows, as the two chase down the thieves running off with Michael's yacht with Jimmy still aboard.

In Marriage Counseling Michael finds Amanda with her tennis coach and, in a rage, pulls down a hillside house that turns out to belong to cartel boss Martin Madrazo. Madrazo demands compensation, so Michael calls Lester and goes back to work. The Jewel Store Job at Vangelico pays off the debt but a television report gives Trevor the clue that his old partner is alive.

Trevor's arrival in Fame or Shame pulls Michael deeper in. Dave Norton and Steve Haines then blackmail the crew into FIB dirty work: Dead Man Walking, Three's Company, By the Book and Blitz Play. After Trevor kidnaps Madrazo's wife in Caida Libre, Michael is forced to hide out in Blaine County, joining The Paleto Score, Derailed and Monkey Business. In Los Santos he also works for film producer Solomon Richards, which brings him into conflict with mobster Rocco Pelosi and with Devin Weston.

When Trevor learns the truth about Ludendorff in Bury the Hatchet, he leaves Michael to the Triads; Franklin rescues him in Fresh Meat. Michael then plans The Bureau Raid to wipe his FIB file, survives Haines's double-cross in The Wrap Up and patches things up with his family in Reuniting the Family and Meltdown. After The Big Score, his fate depends on Franklin's final choice: he dies in The Time's Come and survives in the other two endings, with The Third Way as the accepted ending.

Personality

Michael is charming, sarcastic and self-pitying. He sees himself as a family man who gave up crime for his kids, yet he is restless, short-tempered and happiest when he is planning a job. He loves old movies, plays golf and tennis, and often compares his life to a film that went wrong. His special ability slows time during gunfights.

Relationships

• Amanda, Jimmy and Tracey: a loud, broken household that slowly heals by the end of the story.
• Trevor Philips: best friend and worst enemy at once; their bond is poisoned by the lie about Ludendorff.
• Franklin Clinton: a protégé who reminds Michael of his younger self.
• Lester Crest: his long-time planner and one of the few people he trusts.
• Dave Norton: the agent who kept his secret, and the reason the FIB can control him.

Trivia

• Michael is the only protagonist who is married with children.
• He is voiced and motion-captured by Ned Luke.
• His favorite car is a dark Obey Tailgater, which is taken from him during the story and returned after Monkey Business.