Michael Bivins has built a remarkable £3-16 million fortune as a founding member of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe, while simultaneously pioneering the New Jack Swing sound and discovering some of R&B’s biggest acts, including Boyz II Men.
This multifaceted artist, producer, and entrepreneur remains actively performing in 2025, having just completed a sold-out Las Vegas residency and continuing to influence the music industry he helped revolutionise.
Born in Boston’s Orchard Park Projects, Bivins transformed from a working-class kid into one of the most successful talent scouts in modern music history, discovering Boyz II Men and launching careers that have collectively sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Michael Bivins Biography
Michael Lamont Bivins was born on August 10, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised by his single mother, Shirley Bivins, in the Orchard Park Projects of Roxbury. The neighbourhood’s vibrant urban culture exposed him to music early on, although basketball initially captured his attention. He’d later trade the basketball court for the stage—a decision that would reshape R&B history.
In 1978, at just 10 years old, Bivins co-founded New Edition alongside childhood mates Ricky Bell and Bobby Brown. The group’s name came from manager Brooke Payne, who envisioned them as a “new edition of the Jackson 5.”
After lineup changes that brought in Ralph Tresvant and Ronnie DeVoe, the five teenagers caught the attention of producer Maurice Starr at Boston’s Strand Theatre in 1982. They came in second place at a talent competition, but Starr was so impressed that he brought them to his studio the very next day.
New Edition
The group’s debut single, “Candy Girl,” dropped in 1983 and immediately knocked Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” off the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart. Pretty impressive for a bunch of teenagers. Their self-titled 1984 album went double platinum, spawning massive hits like “Cool It Now” and “Mr Telephone Man”.
However, there’s a darker side to that early success—after their first major tour, each member received just $1.87 due to “expenses,” which ultimately led to their split from Starr.
New Edition’s evolution continued through the 1980s and 1990s, marked by changing lineups and increasingly sophisticated sounds. The 1988 album “Heart Break”, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, marked their transition from bubblegum pop to mature R&B and went double platinum.
Their 1996 reunion album, “Home Again,” became their most commercially successful release, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over two million copies.
As of 2025, New Edition has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and continues to perform together, having just completed an extended Las Vegas residency at the Encore Theatre, which ran through February 2025.
Bell Biv DeVoe
When New Edition went on hiatus in 1989, Bivins formed Bell Biv DeVoe with fellow members Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe at the suggestion of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
The trio wanted something edgier, grittier—something that married hip-hop’s street credibility with R&B’s smoothness. What they created became known as New Jack Swing, and it dominated the early 1990s.
Their 1990 debut album “Poison” went quadruple platinum, selling over four million copies and peaking at number five on the Billboard 200. The title track reached number three on the Hot 100 and became one of the decade’s most iconic songs.
Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad, who produced the album, credited Bivins as “the engine for Bell Biv DeVoe,” noting that he spearheaded their street-level look—complete with Timberland boots, sagging trousers, and a harder edge that contrasted sharply with New Edition’s polished image.
BBD released four studio albums between 1990 and 2017, with their most recent, “Three Stripes,” reaching number 18 on the Billboard 200 and featuring collaborations with Boyz II Men and SWV. Their latest single, “Act Like You Know,” featuring Rev Run, dropped in October 2023.
Throughout autumn 2024, the group co-headlined the R&B Forever Tour alongside TGT and Silk, performing at major venues including Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre and Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
Boyz II Men
Bivins’ impact extends far beyond his own performances. In 1989, after a Valentine’s Day party at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, four teenagers calling themselves “Unique Attraction” snuck backstage at a Power 99 concert in search of Will Smith. Instead, they found Bivins and performed New Edition’s “Can You Stand the Rain” for him. He was immediately hooked.
Bivins renamed them Boyz II Men after a New Edition song, became their manager, and executive produced their 1991 debut album “Cooleyhighharmony.” He appeared on their breakthrough single “Motownphilly,” rapping about how he discovered them and positioning them as Bell Biv DeVoe’s protégés. The album went diamond, with over 10 million copies sold, and Boyz II Men became the best-selling R&B male vocal group of all time, having sold more than 60 million records worldwide.
His Midas touch didn’t stop there. Bivins founded Biv 10 Records in 1992 through a groundbreaking 50/50 joint venture with Motown Records—he was the first young music executive to secure such a deal with a major label. Through Biv 10, he discovered and developed:
- Another Bad Creation – The Atlanta-based pre-teen group whose 1991 debut went platinum with top-ten hits “Iesha” and “Playground”
- 702 – The Las Vegas girl group he dubbed his “Supremes,” whose 1999 self-titled album went platinum behind the top-five hit “Where My Girls At?”
Today, Bivins runs Sporty Rich Enterprises, a lifestyle company that combines music, fashion, and entertainment, while continuing to develop emerging talent.
Michael Bivins Personal Life
Bivins married Teasha Bivins on October 14, 2006, and the couple celebrated their 19th anniversary in 2025. Teasha isn’t just a celebrity spouse—she’s a successful businesswoman in her own right, serving as CEO and broker-owner of Coldwell Banker Bivins Realty in Connecticut’s Fairfield County.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern Connecticut State University and has built a thriving luxury property business since passing her estate agent exam in 2003.
The couple has four daughters: Savannah (born 2007), Shilah (born around 2008-2009), Starlah (born around 2012), and Sanaah (born May 3, 2018). Bivins affectionately calls them his “Lil Supremes” and frequently shares family moments on his Instagram account, where he has over 601,000 followers.
In a 2015 interview, he articulated his parenting philosophy: “To me, there is a difference between a father and daddy. When I married my wife, Teasha, I knew that now that I had my own family and three beautiful little girls, I was gonna make time to raise them and help them understand who they are and not who I wanted them to be.”
The family splits their time between Boston, Massachusetts, where Bivins was born and maintains strong community ties, and Connecticut, where Teasha’s business operates. Some older sources mention a son named Michael Bivins Jr., who appears to be from a relationship before his marriage to Teasha and isn’t part of their current public family unit.
Michael Bivins Net Worth
Estimates of Bivins’ net worth vary considerably, ranging from £3 million to £16 million (approximately $4 million to $20 million). Celebrity Net Worth, generally considered one of the more conservative and reliable sources, places his fortune at around £3 million as of 2025.
The variance stems from the use of different valuation methods and the complexity of calculating royalties, touring income, and business ventures.
His wealth flows from multiple streams. Music royalties from New Edition’s extensive catalogue and Bell Biv DeVoe’s platinum albums provide ongoing passive income. Touring remains lucrative—New Edition’s October 2024 through February 2025 Las Vegas residency sold out all shows, with tickets disappearing within 45 minutes of going on sale.
The group extended the residency three times due to overwhelming demand. Production royalties from discovering and developing Boyz II Men, 702, and Another Bad Creation continue generating revenue decades later.
Beyond music, Bivins has invested in various business ventures through Sporty Rich Enterprises, operates an apparel line, and earns from television appearances and production credits.
He served as executive producer on “The New Edition Story,” BET’s 2017 miniseries that attracted 28.4 million viewers and remains the most-watched music biopic in history. His wife’s successful estate agency business also contributes to the family’s overall wealth.
Recent honours and continued relevance in 2025
New Edition was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame on March 16, 2024, joining legendary acts like Earth, Wind & Fire and iconic figures including Oprah Winfrey and Eddie Murphy. Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block presented the honour, with Bivins delivering an emotional acceptance speech about their journey from Boston’s housing projects to music immortality.
The group is only the seventh musical act to receive this prestigious recognition.
Earlier, in September 2023, New Edition was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. They’d already received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in January 2017, the same month their BET biographical miniseries premiered. In 2012, they were honoured with the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing their status as R&B royalty.
As of October 2025, Bivins remains active across multiple fronts. New Edition concluded their extended Encore Theatre residency in February 2025 after selling out 15 shows throughout 2024. The group described performing in the intimate 1,480-seat venue as a “bucket list dream come true,” with Bobby Reynolds of AEG Presents Las Vegas noting that “their exclusive residency at Encore Theatre has set a high standard for Las Vegas residencies.”
Bell Biv DeVoe toured extensively in autumn 2024 on the R&B Forever Tour, co-headlining with TGT. The seven-date run, produced by Global Events Production, hit major markets including Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and New York.
The group performed at venues like the 17,500-capacity Intuit Dome in Inglewood and the 19,200-seat Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, demonstrating their continued drawing power 35 years after formation.
Beyond performing, Bivins remains deeply committed to his Boston community through the Bivfam Foundation, which provides fundraising, entertainment, and athletic programming for inner-city and underserved youth.
He hosts an annual basketball tournament at Boston’s Ramsay Park in Roxbury, and the city honoured him by naming a basketball court after him. In early 2025, he co-hosted a father-focused community event in Boston, continuing his advocacy for engaged fatherhood and youth development.
Influence
Michael Bivins’ influence on contemporary R&B is undeniable. As a founding member of New Edition, he helped establish the template for modern boy bands that groups such as the Backstreet Boys and BTS have followed. His pioneering of new jack swing with Bell Biv DeVoe created a blueprint that influenced everyone from Jodeci to Usher to Ne-Yo. His talent-scouting acumen launched Boyz II Men into stratospheric success, fundamentally shaping the 1990s R&B scene.
At 56 years old, Bivins shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to perform, discover talent, run businesses, and give back to his community. From the Orchard Park Projects to sold-out Las Vegas residencies, from teenage talent shows to the NAACP Hall of Fame, his journey embodies the American dream whilst remaining grounded in the Boston streets that raised him. Not bad for a kid who once considered choosing basketball over music.
