Bill O’Reilly Net Worth & Career
Bill O’Reilly has accumulated an estimated net worth of $75 million as of 2026 through his legendary career as a television host, bestselling author, and political commentator.
Born William James O’Reilly Jr. on September 10, 1949, in Manhattan, New York, the 76 year old media personality dominated cable news by hosting The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel, which remained the highest rated cable news program for 16 consecutive years until his departure in April 2017.
At the peak of his Fox News tenure, Bill earned an annual salary of $25 million, making him one of the highest paid television hosts in American history.
His career earnings exceed $100 million when combining his Fox News contracts, book royalties totaling over $50 million, radio show income, speaking fees, and subscription based digital content revenue.
After Fox News dismissed him following sexual harassment allegations that resulted in approximately $82 million in settlement payments, O’Reilly successfully transitioned to independent media by launching the No Spin News podcast and subscription service that generates millions annually.
This profile examines Bill O’Reilly’s net worth breakdown, his journey through local news stations to cable news dominance, his bestselling Killing book series coauthored with Martin Dugard, his controversial exit and massive severance package, and his current income streams including podcasting, live speaking tours with Donald Trump, and continued book publishing success.
Quick Facts About Bill O’Reilly
| Fact | Detail |
| Full Name | William James O’Reilly Jr. |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1949 |
| Place of Birth | Manhattan, New York, USA |
| Age | 76 years old (as of 2026) |
| Height | 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) |
| Net Worth (2026) | $75 million |
| Peak Annual Salary | $25 million (Fox News, 2015) |
| Primary Occupations | Political Commentator, Author, Television Host, Podcaster |
| Education | Marist College (BA), Boston University (MA), Harvard University (MPA) |
| Career Span | 1975 to present |
| Book Earnings | Over $50 million (career total) |
Who is Bill O’Reilly
Bill O’Reilly is an American conservative political commentator, author, and former television host who became one of the most influential voices in cable news history during his 21 year run at Fox News Channel. Born into a middle class Irish American family in Manhattan and raised in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Levittown on Long Island, he attended Chaminade High School before earning degrees in history, broadcast journalism, and public administration.
His media career began in the 1970s at local television stations across Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado, and Massachusetts, where he won multiple Emmy Awards for investigative reporting including coverage of a skyjacking and corrupt city marshals. O’Reilly joined Fox News in October 1996 to host The O’Reilly Report, later renamed The O’Reilly Factor, which revolutionized prime time cable news by blending opinion commentary with news coverage and became the most watched cable news program for over 15 years.
His confrontational interviewing style and conservative viewpoints made him a polarizing figure who attracted both devoted followers and vocal critics. After his April 2017 dismissal following revelations of multiple sexual harassment settlements, O’Reilly rebuilt his media presence through podcasting, digital subscriptions, and continued book publishing while maintaining a loyal audience that supports his independent ventures.
Bill O’Reilly Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Content Focus |
| @BillOReilly | 2.5 million+ | Political commentary, news analysis, show promotion | |
| Bill O’Reilly Official | 3.8 million+ | Video clips, articles, podcast episodes | |
| @billoreilly | 400,000+ | Behind the scenes, book releases, personal moments | |
| YouTube | BillOReilly.com | 500,000+ | No Spin News episodes, interviews, commentary |
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Early Education and Career Beginnings
Bill O’Reilly attended St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School in Westbury before his father insisted he attend Chaminade High School, a private Catholic boys school in Mineola, despite Bill wanting to attend the public school where his friends enrolled.
During high school, he played goalie on the varsity hockey team and competed in Little League baseball while maintaining strong academic performance. After graduating in 1967, he enrolled at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he majored in history, wrote for the school newspaper The Circle, and played punter in the National Club Football Association.
He spent his junior year studying abroad at Queen Mary College at the University of London, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1971. After college, O’Reilly moved to Miami where he taught English and history at Monsignor Pace High School during 1970 to 1972 while also playing semi professional baseball as a pitcher for the New York Monarchs. He returned to school in 1973 to pursue a Master of Arts degree in broadcast journalism at Boston University, where he worked as a reporter and columnist for local newspapers including the Boston Phoenix and completed an internship at WBZ TV.
Local Television News Career
O’Reilly began his television news career at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a reporter and anchor while occasionally filling in as a weatherman to gain experience. His next position took him to WFAA TV in Dallas, where he won the Dallas Press Club Award for excellence in investigative reporting, demonstrating his growing skills as a journalist.
He then moved to KMGH TV in Denver, Colorado, where he earned his first local Emmy Award for his coverage of a skyjacking incident that captured national attention. Additional positions during this period included WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut, KATU in Portland, Oregon, and WNEV TV (now WHDH) in Boston, where he served as weekday reporter, weekend anchor, and host of the local news magazine New England Afternoon.
His final local position before joining national networks was at WCBS TV in New York, where he anchored the news feature program 7:30 Magazine and won his second local Emmy Award for an investigation exposing corrupt city marshals who abused their positions. These years of local television work provided the foundation for his later success by developing his reporting skills, on air presence, and understanding of how to connect with audiences across different markets.
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CBS News and ABC News Experience
In 1982, Bill O’Reilly became a correspondent for CBS News, where he covered the wars in El Salvador and the Falkland Islands, reporting on location in South America and gaining experience in international journalism. He left CBS after a dispute concerning uncredited use of footage his crew shot during a riot in Buenos Aires following the military junta’s surrender at the end of the Falklands War, which correspondent Bob Schieffer used in a report without proper attribution.
After departing CBS in 1982, O’Reilly joined WNEV TV in Boston as a weekday reporter and weekend anchor before moving to KATU in Portland for nine months, then returning to Boston to join WCVB TV as reporter and columnist at large for NewsCenter 5. His career took a significant turn in 1986 when ABC News president Roone Arledge attended the funeral of ABC correspondent Joe Spencer, who died in a helicopter crash while covering the 1985 to 1986 Hormel strike, and was impressed by the eulogy O’Reilly delivered for his friend.
Arledge hired O’Reilly based on that eulogy, bringing him to ABC News where he spent three years earning two Emmy Awards and two National Headliner Awards for excellence in reporting. At ABC, he hosted daytime news briefs previewing stories for World News Tonight and worked as a general assignment reporter for programs including Good Morning America, Nightline, and World News Tonight.
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Inside Edition Anchor Years
In 1989, Bill O’Reilly joined the nationally syndicated tabloid television program Inside Edition, which was produced by King World (later CBS Television Distribution) and competed directly with A Current Affair for ratings. He became the program’s anchor just three weeks after joining when original anchor David Frost departed the show, giving O’Reilly his first major national television platform.
During his six years anchoring Inside Edition, O’Reilly developed the confrontational interview style and bold personality that would later define his Fox News career. A famous outtake video during his Inside Edition tenure later went viral in May 2008, showing O’Reilly angrily cursing at his crew while struggling with teleprompter issues and eventually shouting “We’ll do it live!” before completing the segment.
The video became one of the most watched celebrity meltdown clips online and was parodied by Stephen Colbert, Family Guy, and Trevor Noah, even inspiring a Wednesday 13 live album title and receiving a Webby Award nomination for best viral video. O’Reilly left Inside Edition in 1995 after expressing his desire to quit the show in July 1994, and Deborah Norville replaced him as anchor while he pursued opportunities in cable news.
The O’Reilly Factor Dominance
Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of the startup Fox News Channel, hired Bill O’Reilly in October 1996 to anchor a new show called The O’Reilly Report. The program was renamed The O’Reilly Factor after branding expert John Tantillo pointed out the “O’Reilly Factor” element in the stories Bill told, creating a title that became synonymous with opinion driven cable news. The show aired weekdays at 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Time and quickly became the highest rated program across the three major 24 hour cable news channels, maintaining that position for an unprecedented 16 consecutive years. The O’Reilly Factor revolutionized prime time cable news by emphasizing opinion and commentary over straight news reporting, setting a trend that competitors soon copied across the industry.
Progressive monitoring organizations including Media Matters and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting frequently criticized his reporting, accusing him of distorting facts and using misleading statistics, with MediaMatters awarding him their first annual “Misinformer of the Year” award in 2008. Despite controversies including his promise to apologize if weapons of mass destruction were not found in Iraq (which he later did), his repeated denunciations of abortion provider George Tiller before Tiller’s murder, and accusations of propaganda in his commentary, the show averaged 2.8 million viewers in 2015 and generated an estimated$446 million in advertising revenue for Fox News during 2014 to 2016 alone.
Bestselling Author and Book Empire
Beyond television, Bill O’Reilly established himself as one of America’s most commercially successful authors, writing over 15 books since 1998 with many reaching number one on The New York Times bestseller list. His 2006 book Culture Warrior sold one million print copies in its first three months, demonstrating his ability to convert television viewership into book sales.
His most successful publishing venture is the Killing series, coauthored with Martin Dugard, which explores the deaths of notable historical figures including Killing Lincoln (2011), Killing Kennedy (2012), Killing Jesus (2013), and Killing Reagan (2015). These books sold millions of copies and were adapted into National Geographic television films during 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016, earning O’Reilly two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Television Movie.
His continued publishing success includes Killing England, which knocked Hillary Clinton’s What Happened out of the number one spot on The New York Times bestseller list in October 2017, just months after his Fox News departure. Book royalties have generated over $50 million throughout his career, with annual earnings reaching as high as $24 million in peak years, placing him alongside bestselling authors like James Patterson (with whom he coauthored the children’s book Give Please a Chance), Stephen King, and John Grisham.
The book empire provided crucial financial stability after his television career ended and continues generating substantial income through ongoing sales, new releases, and international editions.
Sexual Harassment Allegations and Settlements
In April 2017, The New York Times published an investigation revealing that Bill O’Reilly and Fox News had paid approximately $13 million to settle five separate lawsuits involving women who accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior, with one settlement alone totaling $9 million.
The revelations triggered immediate backlash, causing The O’Reilly Factor to lose more than half its advertisers within a week, with nearly 60 companies withdrawing their television advertising amid growing public pressure. O’Reilly announced he would take a two week vacation around Easter and return on April 24, but Fox News announced on April 19, 2017, that he would not be returning to the network.
The show was renamed The Factor and hosted by Dana Perino for its final episodes before ending on April 21, 2017. Following his dismissal, The New York Times reported an additional settlement in the amount of $32 million paid to former Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl in early 2017, bringing the total estimated settlement payments to approximately $82 million.
O’Reilly vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “politically and financially motivated” and claiming The New York Times had “maliciously smeared” him by printing “leaked information provided by anonymous sources that is out of context, false, defamatory, and obviously designed to embarrass Bill O’Reilly.” His talent agency, United Talent Agency, dropped him as a client following the final settlement revelation, and Marist College revoked an honorary degree previously bestowed upon him.
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Fox News Severance and Financial Impact
When Fox News dismissed Bill O’Reilly in April 2017, he reportedly received a $25 million severance package equivalent to one year’s salary under his existing contract. Just two months earlier in February 2017, Fox had renewed his contract with a four year, $100 million deal that included new protections for the company specifically aimed at harassment issues, stipulating that O’Reilly could be dismissed if the company became aware of other allegations or obtained additional relevant information in a company investigation.
The network renewed this lucrative contract despite being informed by O’Reilly that he had settled the Wiehl lawsuit personally on confidential financial terms not disclosed to the company. Financial markets responded positively to O’Reilly’s firing, with parent company 21st Century Fox rising over two percent in the stock market the day after the announcement as investors viewed the move as beneficial for the company’s long term reputation.
Tucker Carlson replaced O’Reilly in the 8:00 p.m. time slot and eventually matched or exceeded O’Reilly’s former viewership numbers while earning a fraction of O’Reilly’s $25 million annual salary, making Carlson a more cost effective option for the network until his own firing in 2023. Despite the controversy, O’Reilly later stated he regretted not fighting back against his accusers the way Sean Hannity did when facing similar advertiser pressure around the same time.
Post Fox News Career and No Spin News
Just five days after leaving Fox News, Bill O’Reilly launched the No Spin News podcast on April 24, 2017, quickly pivoting to independent media and maintaining connection with his loyal audience. By August 2017, he began digitally streaming a video version of No Spin News, creating a subscription based model where fans pay for premium content rather than relying on advertiser supported television.
The show later began airing on Newsmax TV in 2020 and on The First TV in June 2020, expanding his reach while maintaining independence beyond traditional network control. O’Reilly also returned to radio in 2019 with The O’Reilly Update, a daily 15 minute program airing during lunch hours in the time slot previously used by Paul Harvey, then launched Common Sense with Bill O’Reilly on 77WABC in September 2020. His subscription based digital content generates steady monthly revenue by charging dedicated followers for access to exclusive shows, analysis, and premium features, creating a business model that some estimates suggest earns millions annually without requiring advertiser approval.
This direct to consumer approach allows O’Reilly to speak freely without concern for advertisers pulling support, while his established brand recognition and existing fan base provide a built in customer pool willing to pay for his content.
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Speaking Tours and Live Events
Bill O’Reilly expanded his post Fox News income streams by launching live speaking tours that capitalize on his celebrity status and loyal following. In June 2017, he co headlined The Spin Stops Here tour with comedian Dennis Miller, bringing political commentary and humor to sold out venues across the country.
His most lucrative speaking venture came in December 2021 when he partnered with former President Donald Trump for a speaking tour that O’Reilly described as providing “a never before heard inside view of his administration.” These high profile events command premium ticket prices, with some seats selling for hundreds of dollars, allowing O’Reilly to earn substantial fees while connecting directly with his audience.
Live appearances also serve as marketing opportunities for his books, podcast subscriptions, and merchandise, creating multiple revenue streams during a single event. Speaking fees for prominent political commentators can range widely based on demand, venue size, and event type, but established personalities at O’Reilly’s level often command five figure or even six figure fees for single appearances. The speaking circuit provides another example of how O’Reilly successfully monetized his brand recognition and political viewpoints outside traditional television employment, diversifying his income while maintaining public visibility.
Current Income Sources and Business Ventures
As of 2026, Bill O’Reilly’s income derives predominantly by combining subscription revenue, book royalties, speaking fees, podcast advertising, and investment returns rather than relying on a single employer. His No Spin News subscription service charges members monthly or annual fees for access to daily shows, premium content, and exclusive analysis, creating predictable recurring revenue that estimates suggest could generate several million dollars annually.
Book sales continue contributing significantly, with each new release boosting sales of his entire Killing series backlist as readers discover earlier titles. His publisher Henry Holt continued releasing new books in the series even immediately after his Fox News departure, demonstrating confidence in his commercial viability regardless of television employment. Podcast advertising provides additional income, as does his radio presence across multiple platforms including 77WABC and syndicated programming.
Investment income likely represents a substantial portion of his current financial picture, as someone who earned over $100 million during their career typically generates significant returns by investing in real estate, stocks, bonds, and other assets. His estimated annual income in recent years has been calculated at approximately $450,000 to several million depending on the source, though the private nature of his subscription business and publishing contracts makes precise figures difficult to verify.
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Personal Life and Family
Bill O’Reilly married public relations executive Maureen McPhilmy in 1996, and the couple had two children together, a daughter and a son. They separated in 2010 and finalized their divorce in 2011, both continuing to reside in the upscale Manhasset neighborhood on Long Island, New York.
In May 2016, O’Reilly sued McPhilmy for $10 million, claiming she “made false representations and material omissions of existing fact for the sole purpose of inducing Plaintiff to agree to a consensual divorce and to obtain money and real property to finance an existing extramarital relationship.” McPhilmy later married Jeffrey Gross, a police officer, with O’Reilly alleging she had bragged about cheating on him with Gross during their marriage.
The divorce and subsequent custody battles received extensive media coverage, adding personal controversy to his professional difficulties. O’Reilly graduated with his Master of Public Administration degree during Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1996, the same year he married McPhilmy and joined Fox News, marking a significant year of personal and professional milestones. Despite the tumultuous divorce, both parents remain involved in raising their children, who have largely stayed out of the public spotlight as their father navigates his controversial media career.
Bill O’Reilly Income Sources
| Income Source | Estimated Annual Contribution |
| No Spin News Subscriptions | $2 million to $3 million |
| Book Royalties and Advances | $1 million to $5 million |
| Speaking Engagements and Tours | $500,000 to $1 million |
| Podcast and Radio Advertising | $300,000 to $500,000 |
| Investment Returns and Dividends | $1 million to $2 million |
| Television Appearances and Licensing | $200,000 to $400,000 |
Net Worth Comparison with Cable News Personalities
| Media Personality | Net Worth | Primary Platform | Peak Annual Salary |
| Bill O’Reilly | $75 million | Fox News (1996 to 2017), Independent Media | $25 million |
| Sean Hannity | $300 million | Fox News | $40 million |
| Tucker Carlson | $30 million | Fox News (2009 to 2023) | $6 million |
| Rachel Maddow | $35 million | MSNBC | $30 million |
FAQs About Bill O’Reilly
Conclusion
Bill O’Reilly’s $75 million net worth demonstrates how television success, publishing prowess, and brand loyalty can create lasting wealth even after career setbacks. His transition during network television to independent media shows the power of direct audience relationships. Despite controversy ending his Fox News tenure, his business acumen and loyal following ensure continued financial success through diverse income streams in 2026.
