Dan Rather: A Legendary Journalist's Journey

What's the Scoop on Dan Rather's Net Worth?

Dan Rather, a name synonymous with integrity and groundbreaking journalism, has amassed a net worth of $70 million. His illustrious career spans over five decades, during which he reported some of the most pivotal moments in history. From covering the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, which earned him a promotion to CBS News and a White House correspondent role, to anchoring the CBS Evening News for 24 years, Rather's career was anything but ordinary. However, a controversy in 2005 involving the Killian documents eventually led to his departure from CBS.

Early Days and the Start of a Journalism Legend

Let’s rewind to October 31, 1931, in Wharton, Texas, where Dan Rather entered the world. His parents, Byrl Veda Page and Daniel Irvin Rather Sr., raised him with values that would later shape his career. While his father worked as a ditch digger and pipe layer, young Dan found his passion in storytelling. The family eventually moved to Houston, where Rather attended Lovett Elementary School, Hamilton Middle School, and John H. Reagan High School. His academic journey continued at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, where he earned a BA in journalism. During his college years, he honed his skills by calling local football games for KSAM-FM radio. After graduation, he briefly attended South Texas College of Law, but his heart was set on journalism.

Rather's journalism career officially kicked off in 1950 as an Associated Press reporter. He then worked for the Houston Chronicle, United Press, and several Texas radio stations. By the late 1950s, he became the play-by-play announcer for the University of Houston football team. His talents didn’t go unnoticed, and soon he transitioned to television, working as a reporter for KTRK-TV, an ABC affiliate in Houston, before moving to KHOU-TV, a CBS affiliate, where he was promoted to the director of news.

Read also:

Meet The Worlds Richest Actresses Our Top 35 List

Hurricane Carla: A Defining Moment

In September 1961, Hurricane Carla barreled toward the Texas coast. Rather's coverage of the storm for KHOU-TV was nothing short of extraordinary. He provided the first-ever radar image of a hurricane on television, which convinced over 350,000 people to evacuate. This massive evacuation, the largest known at the time, saved countless lives and thrust Rather into the national spotlight, marking the beginning of his rise in the world of journalism.

Joining CBS News: The Big Break

1962 was a pivotal year for Rather when he moved to New York City for a trial run at CBS. His performance was impressive enough to earn him the role of chief of CBS's Southwest bureau in Dallas. Later, he was promoted to chief of the Southern bureau in New Orleans. In November 1963, he found himself in Dallas on the day of President Kennedy's assassination. His reporting during this tragic event and the subsequent national mourning period caught the attention of CBS executives, who appointed him as the network's White House correspondent in 1964. Over the next few years, he served as a foreign correspondent in London and Vietnam before returning to cover President Nixon's administration. His coverage of the Watergate scandal, the impeachment proceedings, and Nixon’s eventual resignation further cemented his reputation as a tenacious journalist.

Building a Legacy at CBS

After Nixon's resignation, Rather was named chief correspondent for "CBS Reports." The following year, he joined the team at "60 Minutes" as a correspondent. His success didn’t go unnoticed, and in March 1981, he was promoted to managing editor of "CBS Evening News," replacing the legendary Walter Cronkite as anchor. During his tenure, the ratings for "Evening News" experienced significant fluctuations due to the rise of new media alternatives. Despite challenges, Rather managed to reclaim the top spot from 1985 through 1989. In 1988, he became the host of "48 Hours." From 1993 to 1995, he co-anchored "Evening News" with Connie Chung, and later joined "60 Minutes II" as a correspondent in 1999.

Throughout his career at CBS, Rather covered a multitude of major stories, including the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the Soviet-Afghan War, the Iran-Contra affair, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He even conducted an interview with the infamous Saddam Hussein just before the invasion of Iraq.

The Killian Documents Scandal: A Tumultuous End

In September 2004, just two months before the presidential election, Rather aired a segment on "60 Minutes II" that questioned George W. Bush's service record in the Texas Air National Guard. The segment featured four documents purportedly from 1973. Unfortunately, CBS failed to authenticate these documents, and typography experts later concluded they were forgeries. Initially, CBS and Rather defended the story, but they eventually retracted it after mounting criticism. An internal investigation followed, leading to the firing of story producer Mary Mapes. Rather's role in the scandal would ultimately lead to his departure from CBS.

Salary and Contracts: The Financial Side

At the peak of his career, Rather was earning an impressive $6 million annually from CBS. However, in 2005, he retired as anchorman and managing editor of "CBS Evening News," though he initially remained with the network. Unfortunately, CBS decided not to renew his contract a year later, leading to his termination. Rather responded by filing a $70 million lawsuit against CBS in 2007, accusing the network of making him a scapegoat in the Killian scandal. In 2009, a New York state appeals court dismissed the lawsuit.

Read also:

Online Vs Landbased Casinos A Modern Perspective

Life After CBS: A New Chapter

Despite leaving CBS, Rather's career continued to thrive. He joined Mark Cuban's cable network AXS TV, where he hosted and produced "Dan Rather Reports" for seven years, from 2006 to 2013. He then launched "The Big Interview with Dan Rather," a show where he conducts in-depth interviews with notable figures in the entertainment industry. Additionally, he hosts a 30-minute newscast on the YouTube channel "The Young Turks" and frequently appears on MSNBC programs such as "The Rachel Maddow Show" and "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell."

Personal Life and Achievements: A Legacy of Excellence

In 1957, Rather married Jean Goebel, with whom he has two children: daughter Robin, an environmentalist and activist based in Austin, Texas, and son Dan, an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. Over the years, Rather has received numerous accolades for his work, including multiple Peabody Awards and a lifetime achievement award at the Emmys. In 2007, he was honored with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Siena College in New York, recognizing his contributions to journalism and society.