Mike Holmes Net Worth

Mike Holmes is a prominent Canadian builder, contractor, businessman, investor, television host, and philanthropist.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Holmes learned construction skills early on and became an award-winning contractor and a household name in Canada through his educational home improvement TV shows. 

The straight-talking builder earned a reputation as an honest contractor who highlights poor artistry in the industry, coining the phrase “make it right.” 

Known as one of the most trusted Canadians, he has built a personal brand and company valued at an impressive net worth through his contracting work, television shows, endorsements, public speaking engagements, and more.

In this article, we will look closer at Holmes’ background and career highlights and examine how he has amassed his current net worth.

Mike Holmes’s net worth and early beginnings

Holmes has built up an impressive net worth of 30 million dollars as a home improvement contractor and television personality. 

Holmes got his start in construction at a very young age – he began learning the trade from his father when he was just six years old. By 19, he had started his first contracting company; by 21, he had opened his own renovation company.

His dedication to doing quality work and “making it right” stems from watching his father work hard as a plumber when Holmes was a young boy. He was fascinated by his father’s skills and knowledge, which inspired Holmes to learn all aspects of home building and repair. 

Mike Holmes with his daughter and son in ‘Holmes Family Rescue’ (Source: HGTV)

After years of working as a contractor, Holmes got his big break in television by chance while doing contracting work on the set of a Canadian home improvement show. 

When producers heard him passionately ranting about the pitfalls of DIY home renovations and the poor artistry he often saw, they realized he would be perfect for hosting his show focused on those topics. 

That show, Holmes on Homes, debuted in 2001 and quickly made Holmes a well-known name in Canadian television.

His blunt, no-nonsense style and commitment to quality work struck a chord with viewers. They launched a TV career that made him famous across Canada and beyond.

Mike Holmes’ brand expansion

Holmes has expanded his brand significantly since his early days, starring on Holmes on Homes in 2001. 

That original show on HGTV Canada, where Holmes highlighted and repaired bad renovations, helped establish his blunt, straight-talking persona and commitment to quality craftsmanship. 

The success of that first show led to numerous other series under the Holmes brand. He starred in Holmes Inspection starting in 2009, focusing on problematic home inspections. 

In 2012, he began hosting Holmes Makes It Right, traveling to homes damaged by natural disasters and failed renovations. He has also hosted shows explicitly focused on garage construction, advising home buyers, and teaming up with his kids.

Several of these shows have aired in Canada and the United States, helping grow his fame internationally. He’s become one of HGTV Canada’s biggest stars. He is widely recognizable for his no-nonsense attitude and catchphrase “make it right.”

In addition to his TV shows, Holmes has expanded into other media. He has co-authored books about home construction and renovation targeted at DIYers, hoping to avoid the mistakes he often encounters.

He also has a successful merchandise line under his “Make It Right” motto. Between his television shows, books, products, public appearances, and sponsorship deals, the Mike Holmes brand now includes far more than just his original home renovation series.

He has become a multifaceted media personality and celebrity with business ventures propagating his identity, values, and area of expertise across platforms. 

Though he retains his contractor identity, Holmes has undoubtedly evolved into a bonafide lifestyle brand beloved by fans across North America and beyond.

Mike Holmes was pulled into a $8 million lawsuit

In 2016, Holmes lent his name and endorsement to a housing development called TerraceWood in Meaford, Ontario. The project was marketed as “Mike Holmes Approved,” Holmes even appeared in promotional materials praising the builder, Third Line Homes. 

However, after people moved into their new homes, major construction defects began emerging in 2018 – including mold, HVAC, and structural problems. The homeowners felt the builder needed to fix the issues adequately.

This led consumer protection group Tarion, which provides warranties on new homes in Ontario, to file a lawsuit seeking over $8 million in damages. 

Mike Holmes helped advertise the Terrace Wood (Source: CBC)

Named defendants include Mike Holmes’ company, The Holmes Group, the builder Third Line Homes, the municipality, and over a dozen other parties involved in the project.

Tarion alleges The Holmes Group failed to inspect the TerraceWood homes properly as advertised. Meanwhile, The Holmes Group claims it had no direct involvement in the development despite Holmes’ public endorsements.

The homeowners feel betrayed, having relied on Holmes’ reputation in buying what they thought were quality homes. Two years later, some owners are still displaced as repairs are done. In contrast, others have considered selling their problematic houses.

So, while Mike Holmes did not construct the faulty homes, his high-profile brand association with the project still landed him as part of this multi-million dollar legal battle – pitting the famous contractor against angry homeowners who feel his name misled them. 

Mike Holmes has also tried judging and hosting

In addition to starring in his home renovation shows, Holmes has made occasional forays into TV show judging and hosting. 

He was a judge across multiple seasons of the competition series Handyman Superstar Challenge as well as on All-American Handyman and the first season of Canada’s Handyman Challenge.

His biggest judging gig came when he hosted the Fox reality show Home Free in 2015. The show featured couples competing to renovate homes, with the losing team each week still getting to keep the house they had worked on. 

Beyond judging, he has made guest appearances on various home renovation programs to provide expertise. He did a guest spot on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and was a guest builder on the Canadian show Home to Win.

Showing his range, Holmes has also demonstrated his personality outside the home genre with cameos on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show and the comedy series Corner Gas. 

He reunited with DeGeneres on her show in a memorable two-part episode where he helped a needy family by renovating their problematic home purchase.

Most recently, Holmes returned to reality TV judging by appearing on Rock the Block in 2019 and competing on that show’s second season in 2021 alongside designer Alison Victoria. 

So, while Holmes is best known for hosting, he has enjoyed opportunities to critique and assist other home builders on various competitive TV projects over the years. He’s shown he can shine just as brightly in a supporting role.