Michael De Santa, formerly Michael Townley, is one of the three protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V and later appears as a major character in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Michael De Santa, formerly known as Michael Townley, is a retired career criminal and bank robber living in Los Santos under a new identity. In Grand Theft Auto V, he is one of the three playable protagonists alongside Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. After faking his death with the help of corrupt FIB agent Dave Norton, Michael attempts to live a wealthy family life in Rockford Hills, but his dissatisfaction eventually pulls him back into crime.
Michael was born in the Midwest and grew up in a troubled environment. Before becoming known as Michael De Santa, he built a reputation as an experienced bank robber under the name Michael Townley. He worked with Trevor Philips, Brad Snider and Lester Crest before arranging a secret deal with Dave Norton to fake his death after the failed North Yankton robbery.
During Grand Theft Auto V, Michael is drawn back into criminal life after his family problems and conflict with Martin Madrazo force him to contact Lester Crest. His actions reconnect him with Franklin Clinton and eventually expose the truth of his survival to Trevor Philips, creating one of the central conflicts of the story.
By the events of Grand Theft Auto Online in 2025, Michael has become a successful Vinewood film producer and the owner of the De Santa production company. In A Safehouse in the Hills, he meets the GTA Online Protagonist as a new neighbor and later helps defend them during an attack by KnoWay mercenaries.
Michael is intelligent, sarcastic, impulsive and deeply conflicted. He often struggles with self-hatred, anger and hypocrisy, while still showing genuine loyalty to his family and close allies. His criminal experience makes him a strong planner and capable marksman, but his ego and poor judgment frequently create new problems.
In Grand Theft Auto V, Michael is portrayed as a middle-aged man with a heavy build, dark hair and a polished but casual Los Santos lifestyle. By the events of GTA Online in 2025, he appears older, with greying hair and more visible age lines, while still retaining his recognizable look and confident presence.
Michael De Santa is closely associated with his black Tailgater in Grand Theft Auto V.
“Why did I move here? I guess it was the weather.”
“You forget a thousand things every day. How about you make sure this is one of them.”
“I always thought I was the good guy.”
“I have done a lot of things that I am not proud of. I never claim to be an angel.”
“Look, I made a judgment call. I do not know if it was the right one, I did what I thought I had to do.”