Michael Eavis turns 90 this year, and for nearly two decades he’s been asked the same question: what happens to Glastonbury when he’s gone? The answer, it turns out, is already in motion.

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Age: 89 (born 17 October 1935) · Occupation: Dairy farmer, festival co-creator · Festival founded: Glastonbury Festival (1970) · Net worth (estimated): £10-20 million · Knighthood: Sir (2022) · Farm size: 150 acres (Worthy Farm, Pilton)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether he uses a wheelchair regularly or only a scooter for long distances
  • Exact net worth (private company, no public filings)
  • Details of any specific medical condition
  • Precise inheritance plan beyond family succession
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Emily Eavis and Nick Dewey already run bookings and operations (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
  • Michael remains active as ambassador, not fully retired (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
  • Inheritance tax planning may save family up to £80 million (Spears (wealth management publication))

Seven facts about Michael Eavis, one pattern: his life is a story of steady expansion from a single dairy farm to a global festival empire.

Here is what the data shows about the man behind the festival.

Label Value
Full Name Sir Joseph Michael Eavis
Year of Birth 1935
Occupation Dairy farmer, festival organizer
Festival Founded Glastonbury (first held 1970)
Current Role Director of Glastonbury Festivals Ltd; active ambassador
Knighted 2022 (New Year Honours)
Farm Location Pilton, Somerset, England

Is Michael Eavis in a wheelchair?

What has Michael Eavis said about his mobility?

Michael Eavis has not publicly confirmed using a wheelchair permanently. In 2025, he told the BBC (UK public broadcaster) that he felt “very well” and that the festival was “what’s keeping me going.” No official diagnosis of a condition requiring a wheelchair has been reported.

Has Michael Eavis used a wheelchair at Glastonbury?

He appeared at Glastonbury 2024 using a mobility scooter, not a wheelchair. The BBC (UK public broadcaster) reported that he was seen on a scooter during the festival weekend. There is no evidence he uses a wheelchair for everyday mobility.

Why this matters

The distinction between a scooter and a wheelchair matters for fans concerned about his health. A scooter suggests limited stamina but not a permanent disability.

The implication: His mobility is a minor issue, not a crisis. The festival’s continuity does not depend on his physical condition.

Does Michael Eavis still run Glastonbury?

How involved is Michael Eavis in day-to-day festival operations?

Michael Eavis remains a director of Glastonbury Festivals Ltd and an active ambassador, but he is no longer the hands-on manager. According to BBC News (UK public broadcaster), day-to-day organisation, including booking the main stages, is handled by his daughter Emily Eavis and her husband Nick Dewey.

What role does Emily Eavis play?

Emily Eavis is the public face of the festival’s future. In October 2024, Michael transferred his entire shareholding in Glastonbury Festival Events Ltd to her, as reported by GB News (UK news outlet). He also transferred three-quarters of his shares in Glastonbury Festivals Limited to a family trust. The BBC noted that he remained involved in 2025 rather than fully retiring, but the operational power is now with Emily.

The catch

Michael Eavis still owns the farm and holds the final say on major decisions, but the festival’s daily management has shifted to the next generation. For fans, the change is already in effect.

What this means: Glastonbury is now effectively run by the Eavis family’s second generation, with Michael acting as a figurehead and advisor.

How much is Michael Eavis worth?

Does Michael Eavis profit from Glastonbury?

Eavis draws a relatively modest salary from the festival. Somerset Live (regional news site) reported his net worth at £1.2 million in 2022, based on his annual salary of £60,000 and the value of his farm. NationalWorld (UK news outlet) confirmed he takes a yearly wage of £60,000 and gives the remainder of profits to charity.

What are the main sources of his wealth?

Glastonbury Festival itself is a non-profit, but the farm and land holdings add significant value. GB News (UK news outlet) reported that experts estimate the overall festival’s value at between £150 million and £400 million, while Worthy Farm alone is valued at roughly £13.5 million. The festival’s 2024 accounts showed revenue of £68 million and pre-tax profits of nearly £6 million, according to the same report.

Eavis’s personal net worth is difficult to pin down because the festival is privately held. Most estimates put it between £10 million and £20 million, factoring in the farm, land, and his shares.

The trade-off

Eavis keeps the festival non-profit and takes a modest salary, but the land he owns is worth millions. His wealth is tied to the farm, not the festival’s cash flow.

The pattern: The festival’s value is massive, but Eavis personally does not extract that value. His wealth is largely in the land.

Who will inherit Glastonbury?

What are the succession plans for Worthy Farm?

Emily Eavis is the designated successor. The share transfer in October 2024, reported by GB News (UK news outlet), gave her full ownership of the festival company. The farm itself is held in trust, with three-quarters of Michael’s shares in Glastonbury Festivals Limited placed in a family trust. This structure is designed to minimise inheritance tax, which experts estimate could be about £2.5 million on the farm alone, or up to £80 million saved through the trust arrangement, according to Spears (wealth management publication).

Is the festival likely to continue after Michael Eavis?

Yes. The festival already operates largely under Emily’s direction. The BBC reported that the festival will take a fallow year in 2026 and return in 2027, a sign of long-term planning. Family control is expected to continue.

Why this matters: The Eavis family has structured the succession so that Glastonbury remains in family hands, avoiding the tax burden that could force a sale.

What is Michael Eavis’ connection to Worthy Farm?

Where is Worthy Farm located?

Worthy Farm is in Pilton, Somerset, a village near the city of Wells. Michael Eavis inherited the 150-acre dairy farm in 1958, as recorded by Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference).

How did the farm become the site of Glastonbury?

The first festival, then called the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival, was held on the farm in 1970. The idea came from a visit to a nearby music event. The farm continues to operate as a dairy farm alongside the festival, though the festival now occupies the land for a few weeks each year.

The trade-off: The farm is both a working agricultural business and the site of one of the world’s largest music festivals — a dual identity that has been central to Eavis’s life.

Timeline

  • 1935 – Born in Pilton, Somerset (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
  • 1958 – Inherits Worthy Farm (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
  • 1970 – Hosts first Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival (later Glastonbury) (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
  • 1990s – Glastonbury grows into major international festival (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
  • 2022 – Knighted for services to music and charity (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
  • 2024 – Appears at Glastonbury on mobility scooter; transfers shares to Emily (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))

Clarity

Confirmed facts

  • Michael Eavis co-founded Glastonbury Festival in 1970
  • He is a knighted dairy farmer from Somerset
  • He appeared at Glastonbury 2024 on a mobility scooter
  • His daughter Emily Eavis co-organizes the festival

What’s unclear

  • Whether he uses a wheelchair regularly or only a scooter for long distances
  • Exact net worth figures (private company, no public filings)
  • Details of any specific medical condition or illness
  • Precise inheritance plan beyond family succession

Quotes

I feel very well. The festival is what’s keeping me going.

— Michael Eavis, interviewed by BBC News (UK public broadcaster), 2025

Michael Eavis had proceeded with a long-held plan to pass control of the festival to his daughter Emily.

— Glastonbury spokesperson, via GB News (UK news outlet), 2025

By 2025, the majority of Glastonbury’s organisation, including booking the main stages, was managed by Emily Eavis and her husband Nick Dewey.

— BBC News (UK public broadcaster)

For the Eavis family, the choice is clear: Keep Glastonbury in family hands and pay the tax bill, or structure the transfer to avoid a forced sale. They’ve chosen the latter, and the festival will outlive its founder.

Additional sources

celebsmoney.com, cinenetworth.com, youtube.com, jerseyeveningpost.com, en.wikipedia.org, bbc.com

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Frequently asked questions

How old is Michael Eavis?

Born 17 October 1935, he turned 89 in 2024 and approaches his 90th birthday in 2025 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).

Is Michael Eavis still alive?

Yes, as of 2025 he is alive and active, attending Glastonbury 2024 and speaking to the BBC.

What does Michael Eavis do for a living?

He is a dairy farmer and the co-creator of the Glastonbury Festival. He also serves as a director of the festival company.

Who is Michael Eavis’ wife?

He was married to Jean Eavis (deceased) and later to Sue Eavis.

How many children does Michael Eavis have?

He has four children, including Emily Eavis, who co-organises Glastonbury.

What is the name of Michael Eavis’ farm?

Worthy Farm, located in Pilton, Somerset.

Does Michael Eavis own Glastonbury Festival?

He co-founded it and owned the company, but in 2024 he transferred his entire shareholding to his daughter Emily Eavis.

Was Michael Eavis knighted?

Yes, he was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to music and charity.

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