Michael Ginsberg
Portrayed by	Ben Feldman
First appearance	Tea Leaves
Details
Gender	Male
Employer	Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce
Occupation	Copywriter
Residence	Brooklyn
Relations
Parent(s)	Morris Ginsberg - adoptive father

Michael Ginsberg is a copywriter for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

In summer 1966, Ginsberg's portfolio is noticed by Peggy, who despite discouragement by Stan Rizzo, resolves to interview him for a copywriting position. Ginsberg in his interview strikes her as abrasive and bizarre. Later in his follow-up with Don, however, he has toned down his brusque manner and is welcomed to the agency. He is as of January 1967 the only Jewish copywriter in SCDP.

According to the story he relates to Peggy in the episode 'Far Away Places', Michael was born in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. His mother later died there, and he was taken to a Swedish orphanage where his foster father, Morris, adopted him when he was five years-old. Ginsberg lives with him in New York City.

Ginsberg quickly establishes himself as a talented and ambitious copywriter, and is seen leading the presentation for Butler Footwear in 'Mystery Date'. Even though the presentation is successful, he can't stop himself from telling them the rejected idea, which they found 'too dark'. The client ends up picking the rejected idea, which annoys Don. In 'Lady Lazarus', Ginsberg is seen pitching another successful idea to Chevalier Blanc. Roger, who is chasing the Manischewitz account, approaches him for ideas and implies that he will get the account if they ever get the client.

There is a strained relationship and implied rivalry between Ginsberg and his creative director, Don. One night, Don finds a folder on Ginsberg's desk named 'Shit I Gotta Do', and his unorthodox and witty ideas for Sno Ball amuse him and inspire him to come up with some of his own. Ginsberg's 'snow ball in the face' joke is favoured over Don's 'not a Sno Ball's [sic] chance in hell' and Peggy's New Yorker cartoon idea. Don is compelled to bring both ideas to the client and pretends to forget Ginsberg's folder in the taxi. Even though the presentation is successful, Ginsberg is beside himself with anger and storms out of the room. When they confront each other in the elevator, Michael tells Don that he feels bad for him, Don retorts, 'I don't think about you at all.' But as he walks to his office, he looks troubled.

Later in 'The Other Woman', Ginsberg is seen working on the creative team for Jaguar. He comes up with a concept for Jaguar (after his former colleague, Megan, visits her husband at work) and a line, 'At last. Something beautiful you can truly own.' Don is shown speechless, and the idea ends up winning the Jaguar account. It is expected that after Peggy's departure to Cutler Gleason and Chaough, Michael will take over Peggy's accounts and assume the role of copy chief.