Roger Ailes had an estimated net worth of $200 million at the time of his death in 2017. The American television executive built his fortune through a long career in television production, political consulting and cable news. He became one of the most influential executives in American television after serving as the founding chief executive and chairman of Fox News.
Ailes also earned substantial compensation during his years at the network. At the peak of his career, he reportedly earned about $20 million a year, including salary, bonuses and stock options. His wealth was further supported by a large real estate portfolio that included properties in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
| Roger Ailes Net Worth | $200 Million |
| Date of Birth | May 15, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | Warren, Ohio |
Early Life
Roger Eugene Ailes was born on May 15, 1940, in Warren, Ohio. He grew up in a working-class family and attended Ohio University, where he studied radio and television.
After graduating, Ailes entered the television industry and began working as a production assistant on The Mike Douglas Show. The job became the starting point for a career that would eventually take him from television production to the highest levels of the cable news business.
Over several years, Ailes advanced through the production ranks. He eventually became a producer and executive producer of the program and received a Daytime Emmy nomination.
His experience in television also introduced him to political media. During a discussion about the role of television in politics, Ailes impressed then-former Vice President Richard Nixon. Nixon later hired him as a television producer and adviser.
Political Consulting Career
Ailes developed a reputation as a political media consultant after his work with Nixon. He later advised several Republican presidential campaigns and political figures, including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
His political consulting work became an important part of his professional identity. He focused heavily on television strategy and how political candidates could communicate effectively with voters through the medium.
Decades later, Ailes also worked with Donald Trump, who would eventually become president of the United States.
Alongside television and political consulting, Ailes became involved in theater productions. Although his work in theater was less successful than his television career, it added another dimension to his experience in entertainment and media.
Roger Ailes and CNBC
In 1993, Ailes joined NBC to lead CNBC, a new cable network focused heavily on business and financial news.
As president of CNBC, he helped develop the channel during its early years. The network eventually became an important destination for financial and business coverage.
Ailes left CNBC in 1995 following disagreements within NBC. His departure came at a crucial point in his career because he soon received an opportunity that would define his legacy in television.
Roger Ailes and the Creation of Fox News
In 1996, News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch recruited Ailes to launch a new cable news network.
Ailes became the founding chief executive and chairman of Fox News. The network officially launched in October 1996 and competed directly with established cable news outlets.
Under Ailes’ leadership, Fox News developed a distinct programming model that combined traditional news coverage with opinion and commentary. The network became particularly associated with conservative political viewpoints and built a large audience over the following two decades.
Fox News also became an important source of profits for its parent company. During Ailes’ tenure, the network expanded its programming, audience and advertising business.
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were another major moment in the growth of cable news. Fox News’ extensive coverage helped increase its visibility and audience during a period when Americans were closely following television news.
By the 2010s, Fox News had become one of the most commercially successful cable news networks in the United States.
Roger Ailes’ Fox News Salary
A major part of Roger Ailes’ net worth came from his compensation at Fox News.
At the height of his career, Ailes reportedly earned approximately $20 million per year in total compensation. His package included a base salary of about $5 million, with the remaining amount coming from bonuses and stock options.
Between 2004 and 2016, that compensation would have amounted to at least $240 million before taxes if he received the reported $20 million annual package throughout the entire period.
His employment contract also reportedly provided substantial benefits. These included security services for his family, access to a full-time driver and use of the company’s corporate aircraft for business travel.
In June 2015, Ailes signed another multi-year contract with Fox News that was expected to keep him at the company beyond 2016.
His tenure ended sooner than expected.
Roger Ailes’ $40 Million Fox News Severance
Ailes resigned from Fox News in 2016 following allegations of sexual harassment by several women who had worked at the network.
Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson was among the women who publicly accused Ailes. Ailes denied the allegations, but the controversy led to an internal investigation and eventually his departure from the company.
Reports at the time said Ailes received a $40 million severance package when he left Fox News.
His departure marked the end of a two-decade period in which he had played a central role in shaping the network.
Real Estate Investments
Real estate was another significant part of Ailes’ wealth.
In October 2016, shortly before his death, Ailes and his wife reportedly paid $36 million in cash for an oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. The property measured about 10,000 square feet and was located close to the Atlantic Ocean.
Ailes had previous ties to the Palm Beach area. He once owned a beachfront condominium on Singer Island, which he later sold to Fox business journalist Neil Cavuto for $525,000 in 2003.
Ailes also owned several properties in New York and New Jersey, including homes in Putnam County, New York.
His real estate holdings added substantially to the value of his estate and reflected the considerable wealth he accumulated during his television career.
Books
Ailes also earned income and recognition as an author.
Among his best-known books was You Are the Message: Getting What You Want by Being Who You Are, which focused on communication and presentation.
He also co-authored The Fox News Factor: The Inside Story of the Fox News Network and What It Means for America, which examined the development of Fox News and its influence on the television news industry.
His writing reflected the two areas that defined much of his professional career: communication and political media.
Personal Life
Ailes was married three times and had one child. His third marriage was to Elizabeth Ailes, and the couple remained together until his death.
Beyond his work at Fox News, Ailes remained a prominent figure in American political media. His career was closely connected to Republican politics, television strategy and the growth of cable news.
Death
Roger Ailes died on May 18, 2017, at the age of 77.
His wife, Elizabeth, said he had several health problems, including hemophilia, obesity and arthritis. His death was later attributed to complications from a subdural hematoma sustained after a fall at his home.
At the time of his death, Ailes had accumulated an estimated $200 million net worth through his television career, political consulting work, executive compensation and real estate investments.
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