Maximillian Albert George is a British singer-songwriter and actor who rose to prominence as a former member of the British-Irish boy band The Wanted (presently on hiatus). Max was a footballer who began his professional career playing for Preston North End and was about to sign a two-year contract with the club. However, an injury forced him to give up football, after which he turned his attention to music. In the English boy ensemble Avenue, he made his debut as a singer. After the dissolution of ‘Avenue,’ he joined the newly established British-Irish boy band ‘The Wanted.’ Max was one of the five band members featured in the American reality television series ‘The Desired Life,’ which featured all of the group’s chart-topping singles and successful albums. Moving on, he made his acting début in season 6 of the popular American musical comedy-drama television series ‘Glee’ as the antagonist Clint. In addition, he appeared as a guest on the American reality documentary series ‘Chasing the Saturdays’ and the British reality survival series ‘Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.’
Youth and Adolescence
On September 6, 1988, he was born as the second son of Mark and Barbara George in Manchester, England, United Kingdom. Jack, his older sibling, is a visual effects coordinator. There is little information known about Max’s early life and education, except that he was raised in Manchester and attended the Bolton School, an independent day school in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
He developed an interest in sports as a child, which led to him beginning his job as a footballer. He was about to sign a two-year contract with Preston North End Football Club, a professional football club located in Preston, Lancashire. However, an unfortunate accident forced him to retire from sports.
Max Geoge’s Career
Max, who had developed a passion for music and dancing and was unable to continue his football career, decided to pursue a career in music. He joined the English boy band ‘Avenue’ in 2005.’Avenue’ applied to compete in the third season of the British television music competition ‘The X Factor’ in 2006. They sang a cappella version of Will Young’s composition ‘Leave Right Now’. Following the completion of the boot camp and judges’ homes rounds, Louis Walsh was appointed as their mentor.
‘Avenue’ was originally chosen as one of ‘The X Factor’s’ 12 finalists to advance to the live championships. They also inked a management agreement with the show. They were subsequently disqualified from the show after it was discovered that they already had an existing record contract with a management firm that had no involvement with ‘The X Factor’ at the time. Eton Road took its spot as one of the 12 finalists.
‘Avenue’ signed with recording label Crown Music Management after leaving ‘The X Factor,’ and ultimately got an album deal with Island Records. In 2008, the band released their debut song, ‘Last Goodbye,’ which peaked at #50 on the UK Singles Chart. The single earned place on compilation albums ‘Pop Party 6’, ‘Dance Mania Party’, ‘Clubmix,’ and ‘Floorfillers’. Max appeared naked on the cover of the British lifestyle digital magazine AXM’s naked edition that year to raise funds for cancer research.
‘Avenue’ had planned a tour for February 2009, but it was subsequently canceled. Their second single ‘Can You Feel It?’ didn’t have a commercial release and was later disseminated as a free single on the digital music and radio services platform ‘7digital’. ‘Avenue’ split up in April of that year.
Following his stint with ‘Avenue,’ Max participated in a mass audition hosted by Jayne Collins in 2009 in the hopes of forming a boy band. Max, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes, and Siva Kaneswaran were selected as the band’s five members from among thousands who auditioned.
With chart-topping singles and successful albums, the band, ultimately dubbed ‘The Wanted,’ rose to fame and recognition. It resulted in three studio albums, namely “The Wanted” (2010), “Battleground” (2011), and “Word of Mouth” (2013); two extended plays, “iTunes Festival: London 2011” (2011) and “The Wanted: The EP” (2012); and ten songs.
The band released their debut single ‘All Time Low’ through Geffen Records on July 25, 2010, as the lead track from their self-titled debut studio album ‘The Wanted,’ which was released later that year on October 22. The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, number one on the Scottish Singles Chart, and number thirteen on the Irish Singles Chart. The album’s second song, ‘Heart Vacancy,’ which was issued on October 17 of that year, debuted at #2 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at #18 on the Irish Singles Chart.
‘The Wanted’ opened at #4 on the UK Albums Chart and #11 on the Irish Albums Chart. The album’s other UK chart success was ‘Lose My Mind,’ which was published on December 26, 2010, and peaked at #19 on the UK Singles Chart and #30 on the Irish Singles Chart.
The band’s eventual popularity led to the creation of ‘The Wanted Life,’ an American reality television series. The show debuted on E! on June 2, 2013, and aired for an eight-episode season until July 14, 2013. It followed the band as they worked on their third album, ‘Word of Mouth,’ and prepared for the ‘Word of Mouth Tour,’ their first-ever world tour, which began in February 2014.
‘The Wanted Life’ was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the category of Choice TV Male Reality Star in 2013 and had its international debut on E! Australia on July 9, that year. Meanwhile, in June 2013, Max was named the new face and spokesmodel for Buffalo denim’s fall collection.
In the ad, he appeared alongside Hannah Davis, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. In November of that year, he also did an underwear advertisement for Buffalo. He has been signed with the Los Angeles, California-based American talent and sports firm Creative Artists Agency since that year.
Members of ‘The Wanted’ stated on January 22, 2014, that they have decided to take a break to pursue individual interests and will work together again in the future. That month, Max revealed in an interview that Scooter Braun, the owner of media and record firm Raymond-Braun Media Group (RBMG) and American record label School Boy Records, had signed him as a solo artist.
With the Fox-aired American singing comedy-drama television series ‘Glee,’ he made his acting debut. Beginning on January 9, 2015, he appeared as an antagonist called Clint in six episodes of the series’ sixth season. On February 2, 2015, it was announced that Max would be a part of the reality television survival program ‘Bear Grylls: Mission Survive,’ hosted by Bear Grylls.
The program, which followed eight celebrities, including Max, on a twelve-day survival mission, premiered on ITV on February 20, 2015. Max was the first star to be voted off the show. Due to safety issues, he was eliminated on the show’s second episode on February 27, 2015.
Max’s Private Affairs
Max encountered English actress Michelle Keegan, best known for her roles in the British TV series ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘Our Girl,’ in December 2010 while performing in one of his concerts. They were betrothed but split up in 2012.
He began courting Danish model Nina Agdal in 2013, but the couple ended their relationship in February 2014. He verified in October of that year that he is romantically involved with Carrie Baker, a Miss Oklahoma contestant.
Estimated Net Worth
British vocalist, musician, and record producer Max George have a net worth of $4 million. Max George was born in Manchester, England on September 6, 1988, where he grew up as a Manchester City supporter. He is primarily recognized as one of the five members of the band The Wanted.