In our world today, there are all sorts of people to learn and listen from. Many come from a wide range of ideologies and beliefs. Because of this, they work in journalism or television so that they can speak on subjects about society and policies. One such commentator is Sean Hannity. You may have heard of the name before.
Well-known in conservative circles, he has had a career spanning two decades. But, Hannity has also had his share of controversies. Today’s article is about Sean Hannity and his life story and net worth.
Early Life
Sean Hannity was born on December 30, 1961, in New York City. His mother was a stenographer and corrections officer while his father was a World War II veteran and a family court officer. Hannity was the youngest and only boy of four siblings.
In his youth, Hannity worked as a paperboy. Over time, his family embraced Republican values, even though politics were rarely discussed. Hannity attended both New York University and Adelphi University but never graduated.
Career Begins
Hannity had created a house painting business in the 1980s and worked as a building contractor on the West Coast. It would not be till 1989 that he hosted his first talk radio show at the college station at UC Santa Barbara. He recalls, “I wasn’t good at it. I was terrible.”
Hannity’s show was later canceled in less than a year due to controversial talking points regarding gay rights. Although he had the opportunity to return, he chose to leave and placed an advertisement to become a radio host. Sean Hannity then moved to Alabama and Georgia for radio host jobs. In September 1996, co-founder of Fox News Roger Ailes discovered Hannity and had him and Alan Colmes co-host a show called Hannity & Colmes.
Hannity’s Rise to Prominence
Hannity’s radio program was famous for his conservative viewpoint and his opinions and thoughts on current events. This led to The Sean Hannity Show becoming national syndication on September 10, 2001, and was on over five hundred stations across the United States.
Hannity also had a contract with ABC Radio which was then sold to Citadel Communications in 2007. As of the spring of 2018, Hannity had 13.5 million listeners every single week. Hannity left Hannity & Colmes and created his own show called Hannity‘s America. Colmes would later leave the show and Hannity renamed it to Hannity.
Hannity also has written and published four books. All of which are related to conservative politics.
Hannity’s Personal Life and Net Worth
Sean Hannity met his now ex-wife Jill Rhodes when he worked in Alabama back in the 90s. She was a political columnist and the two married in 1993. They had Patrick who was born in 1998 and Merri who was born in 2001. Both children are avid tennis players. In 2020, it was revealed that Hannity and Rhodes had separated years prior, but divorced in 2019. Now, Sean Hannity is with Fox News colleague Ainsley Earhardt.
Sean Hannity’s net worth is around $320 million. His net worth climbed over the years, mainly from his work at Fox News. He has a salary of about $34 million and makes about $3 million a month. With this net worth, it is known that he has bought hundreds of residences and sports cars. Hannity is also a brown belt in martial arts and trains for four days every week in the activity.
Hannity and Controversy
Sean Hannity is also well-known for his outrageous claims and misinformation. He has stated many false statements and conspiracy theories regarding President Barack Obama’s birthplace, Hillary Clinton’s health, and most recently, election fraud concerning the 2020 presidential election.
Hannity has also been noted for his verdant support of Donald Trump and his close ties to Trump and his allies. Hannity has made similar claims to Trump, about the FBI, Department of Justice, and more.
These claims have made him a controversial figure in American politics.
Conclusion
Sean Hannity has become a powerful influence in right-wing circles. He managed to get lucky enough to get a radio show started. However, his controversial takes got him canned. This did not stop Hannity as he managed to get jobs in radio afterward. He then made it to Fox News where he has been one of the channel’s most-watched television hosts.
While it can be tempting to be in his position of being successful and wealthy, it can come at a price. Hannity also has a reputation for his statements and controversies. This can lead to several problems down the line such as the possibility of liability or defamation. It is especially true due to the recent lawsuits against Fox News for airing time about election fraud. Time will tell where Hannity ends up in the future.
