PASADENA, CA - JULY 24: Chairman & CEO, FOX News Roger Ailes from "Fox News" speaks onstage during the 2006 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour for the FOX Broadcasting Company at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel on July 24, 2006 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes has passed away at the age of 77. According to his wife, the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Fox News who resigned last July following allegations of sexual harassment has died.
Roger Ailes’ Net Worth as of 2019: $100 Million
How did Ailes amass his fortune? Let’s explore.
1960s-1970s
(Photo by Alex Wong/Newsmakers)
Ailes began his career in television in 1962 with KYW-TV. His first job was as a property assistant before he was promoted to producer and executive producer for the channel. He served in this role until 1968.
During this time, one of Ailes’ programs – The Mike Douglas Show – earned a daytime Emmy Award. One of the show’s most notable moments was a frank interview with Richard Nixon. Later, Nixon would even serve as the executive producer for Ailes’ show.
Nixon’s election victory would push Ailes into the world of politics.
1980-1995
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Ailes was credited for helping George H.W. Bush win the White House in 1988. The newsman scripted and produced Revolving Door, an ad that is today considered one of the driving forces behind Bush’s victory over Michael Dukakis. Ailes also handled all of the broadcast shows of Bush along with the campaigns.
Ailes is also responsible for the Orchestra Pit Theory, which coupled sensationalism with political coverage. After the failure in Richard Thornburgh campaign in November 1991, he withdrew from political counseling. He continued to work as behind the scene as a speech writer. However, Ailes did not work in the George Bush campaigns against Bill Clinton.
1996-2015
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Ailes became CEO of Fox News in 1996. Under his leadership, Fox News doubled down on its Republican leanings while giving voice to controversial but undeniably popular figures such as Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.
In 2002, Fox News surpassed CNN as the most-watched news network. In 2005, Ailes was named the chairman of Fox Television after the network experienced steady growth in reach and leaps in the ratings. At its peak, Fox News was worth more than $15 billion, making it one of the most profitable underneath the 21st Century Fox umbrella.
In 2012, with Fox News reaching 95 million households in the U.S., Ailes’ contract was renewed for for more years. This deal included a base annual salary of $7 million that rose to as much as $21 million when incentives and stock options were considered.
2016 – Present
(Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
In July 2016, Ailes left Fox News after a slew of sexual harassment claims. He was given a $40 million severance package to leave the network.
On May 18, 2017, Ailes passed away at the age of 77.
2018
Former Fox News CEO, Roger Ailes will see a much-deserved tribute, after his death last year, with the slated launch of an untitled documentary based on him.
2019
New Roger Ailes movie star Connie Britton said people are going to learn a lot about history because Roger Ailes has really had a huge impact in the last two decades.
