Marshmello has been showing up literally ev-er-y-where these past few years—most recently tonight at the 2022 VMAs, where he’s nominated for Song of the Summer. And naturally, everyone’s been frantically googling the age-old question: What does Marshmello look like IRL? You know, under his giant smiling marshmallow mask?
We went ahead and did a deep dive and found *drumroll, pls* THE ANSWERS YOU SEEK. Just note: Marshmello hasn’t technically confirmed his identity himself—although it’s 99.9% obvious who he is—so take this all with the teensiest grain of salt.
Marshmello Is *Probably* Dotcom (aka Chris Comstock)
Marshmello’s identity was kept top top TOPPPPPP secret for a while there, but he was revealed to be DJ Christopher Comstock (who also goes by Dotcom) back in 2017. The ~UNMASKING~ actually happened in part thanks to Skrillex, who posted a video celebrating Marshmello’s birthday on May 19, 2016. Which, uh, happens to be the same day as Christopher’s b-day.
Then on November 14, 2017, Forbes declared they were ready to “conclusively report that they are the same person,” citing Marshmello being on Dotcom/Christopher Comstock’s management roster and the fact that the manager listed on Marshmello’s holding company is Christopher Comstock. The outlet also talked to anonymous sources who confirmed that Chris Comstock = Dotcom = Marshmello.
Impressive detective work, but, TBH, hints were also there as early as 2015, when Katie Couric interviewed Skrillex and he got a phone call midway through. Katie mused, “It’s Chris,” to which Skrillex responded “Oh, Marshmello.”
ANYWAY, assuming Marshmello is Dotcom/Chris Comstock, it’s not that hard to find pics thanks to Dotcom not wearing a mask and having an official Insta...
He Loves Trolling People
Marshmello has done a ton of fake reveals over the years, but my personal fave was him getting Shawn Mendes to pretend to be him at the 2018 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards.
Don’t Expect Him to Take Off the Mask
Marshmello isn’t about to confirm or deny who he is, no matter how convinced the internet is. As he put it on Twitter, “I don’t take my helmet off because I don’t want or need fame. I’m genuinely trying to create something positive for people to connect with...The helmet makes me marshmello and also makes you marshmello...we are all marshmello.”
He also more recently told the Recording Academy that Shockwave (where Marshmello uses his own voice) is “not really about following a person around and watching everything they do. It’s just listening to music, seeing the helmet and things that I say, which is fine, but I don’t think it’s about specifically who I am.”
And his manager Moe Shalizi also explained the decision to remain anonymous to Forbes, saying, “For us it was, how do you create a brand that is accessible to everybody, that everyone can be and relate to? The concept we had in mind with Mello was, How do you create a universal character?”
I mean, plenty of DJs who came before Marshmello never took off their masks either, so he’s in good company! (Note: The duo Daft Punk is probably the most famous to wear masks while performing—though there are a few unmasked pics of them lurking out there too.)
Being Masked Makes Money
Despite not revealing his identity, Marshmello has earned a huge amount of money as a DJ. Celebrity Net Worth reports that he has a whopping $40 million in the bank, mainly through touring and private gigs.
And speaking of money, Forbes reports that Marshmello’s helmet costs $55,000 and has an internal air-conditioning system and programmable LED lights, and it weighs just eight pounds.
Kay, that’s all, just gonna go ahead and leave this here:
