By Lydia Warren
Last updated at 4:12 PM on 13th November 2011
He is the booming voice of the Occupy protests, encouraging activists to continue their battle against the wealthy one per cent of Americans.
But it seems left-wing documentary maker Michael Moore has been uncharacteristically quiet about one thing: his own wealth.
While Moore has denied he is among the top-earners in the country, tax records show he owns an extensive property in one of the country’s most elite communities.
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Pricey: Michael Moore's sprawling second home on Torch Lake, Michigan has been valued at around $2 million
Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart posted the details Thursday, detailing Moore's large holiday home on Torch Lake, Michigan.
The documentary film maker owns the luxurious lakeside escape in addition to his pricey Manhattan residence.
The spacious 10,000 sq ft property is a far cry from the scene of tightly-packed tents near Wall Street in New York City.
The sprawling timber property has large bay windows, a number of small turrets, a private drive and decking that leads right to the water’s edge.
It is located on the southeastern shore of Torch Lake, regarded by locals as the ‘third most beautiful lake in the world’.
Moore's neighbours include Hollywood stars such as Bruce Willis, Madonna and Tim Allen.
He also shares the stunning views with corporate executives loathed by Occupy protestors, including ex-Chrysler Chairman Bob Eaton, according to The Michigan View.
Extensive: The waterfront mansion includes a private drive and decking to the water's edge. Moore also owns a property near Park Avenue in Manhattan
Elite: The 10,000-square foot summer mansion is in an exclusive neighbourhood. Fellow home owners include Bruce Willis, Madonna, Tim Allen - and corporate executives including ex-Chrysler Chairman Bob Eaton
Houses on the lake cost as much as $3million.
Moore originally bought the 2,500 sq ft home before expanding to two surrounding lots, according to local real estate sources.
Public records show the property in the name of Moore and his wife, Kathleen Glynn, and notes its taxable value at nearly $1 million.
Local real estate agents estimate the real value of the compound at $2 million, according to The Michigan View.
It places the property near the top one per cent of home values in the Forest Home Township and in the state of Michigan.
The township is roughly 98 per cent white residents, according to statistics from 2009.
Wealthy: Michael Moore, pictured addressing Occupy Denver protesters two weeks ago, bought a 2,500 sq ft plot and expanded it to create the mansion, sources say
Luxury: Public records place the property's worth at $1million, as shown in the pictured document, but local estate agents have suggested its actual worth is nearer $2million
Moore, who has toured the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations across the country, has previously defended his wealth.
He has claimed he never set out to write a book or film with the intention of making money.
On his blog, he wrote: ‘I do very well - and for a documentary filmmaker, I do extremely well. That, too, drives conservatives bonkers. "You're rich because of capitalism!" they scream at me.
'Um, no. Didn't you take Econ 101? Capitalism is a system, a pyramid scheme of sorts, that exploits the vast majority so that the few at the top can enrich themselves more. I make my money the old school, honest way by making things.’
Questions: Moore was forced to defend his involvement with the Occupy protests as he was interviewed by Piers Morgan this week
Talking with Piers Morgan about Occupy, he joked: ‘I’m here talking against my own interests.’
He added: ‘I’m not in the one per cent. For a documentary filmmaker I do very well. There’s a big difference between a documentary and Avatar.’
In another interview on Tuesday, Morgan said: ‘I need you to admit the bleeding obvious. I need you to sit here and say, “I'm in the one per cent”, because it's important.’
Moore refused, saying: ‘I'm not.’
He said that, even though he is wealthy, ‘I am devoting my life to those who have less and who have been crapped upon by the system.
'That's how I spend my time, my energy, my money on trying to up-end this system that I think is a system of violence, it's a system that's unfair to the average working person of this country.’
Multimillionaire rapper Jay-Z has removed t-shirts in support of the Occupy movement from his clothing company's website - just one day after they went on sale.
The rapper faced a backlash after a spokesperson from Rocawear revealed it did not intend to share the profits with the protesters.
He was recently seen wearing one of the $22 shirts, which changes the phrase 'Occupy Wall Street' by crossing out the 'W' and adding an 'S' to read 'Occupy All Streets'.
A spokesperson for the rapper's clothing company, Rocawear, told Business Insider: 'At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement.'
Following the launch, TMZ spoke with an Occupy leader named 'Grim' who said: 'To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as Occupy Wall Street.'
The t-shirts no longer appear on the company's website.
Jay-Z is worth an estimated $450 million. In 2009, he sold Rocawear for $204 million but still oversees product development and remains a stakeholder. The company has annual sales of $700 million.
Credit: The Michigan View
Comment
one hat, one change of clothes and no treadmill...lol.
Michael, yep you're right.
I actually have respect for Michael Moore... went to college in Flint, MI which is where is first big documentary was filmed about GM and Roger Smith. Peace Bro!
Occupy All Streets...
Love it!
For what its worth Moore was on MSNBC last month talking to an OWS-Empire's-Territory crowd last month and admitted he was in the top 1%. I don't see much fruit coming from knocking people like The Beatles for having made lots of money.
Can't believe i have the same Spartan hat....although nobody's given me crap....yet.
"Destroying the New World Order"
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