Bill O’Reilly was once the biggest name on Fox News and the host of the highest rated cable news show in history, The O’Reilly Factor. But his storied career at Fox came to an abrupt end in 2017 after revelations that both he and the network had paid out millions to settle sexual harassment allegations made against him by numerous women over the years. This scandal raised many questions about power, money, and workplace accountability in the media world. As an investigative journalist, I decided to take a deep dive into exactly how much O’Reilly was earning at Fox, and what settlements the network chose to pay in order to keep his behavior quiet and keep him on the air.
O’Reilly’s Sky-High Salary at Fox
Bill O’Reilly joined Fox News when it first started up in 1996. By 2002, his show The O’Reilly Factor was the most-watched cable news show. As O’Reilly’s popularity and ratings continued to grow, so did his paycheck. He was making about $25 million a year from Fox News by 2017. He made over five times as much as his closest competitors, like Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow, who only made $5 million a year. This made him by far the highest paid personality on cable news.
In total, it is estimated that between 2014 and 2016 The O’Reilly Factor generated around $446 million in advertising revenue for Fox News O’Reilly’s value to the network’s bottom line was immense. He was responsible for 10% of Fox News’ total revenue, and a striking 25% of its total operating income In financial terms, O’Reilly’s show was the undisputed cash cow for Fox News.
Big Money to Cover Up Bad Behavior: Settlements Paid by O’Reilly and Fox
In April 2017, the New York Times broke the story that Bill O’Reilly and Fox News had paid out over $13 million in settlements to five women who had accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment and misconduct over the years. Further revelations brought the total number of known accusers to six, with the Settlement amounts remaining undisclosed for some. Here is a summary:
- Andrea Mackris, Producer on The O’Reilly Factor: $9 million settlement in 2004
- Rebecca Gomez Diamond, Fox Business Host: Settled for undisclosed amount in 2011
- Laurie Dhue, Fox News Anchor: Settled for undisclosed amount in 2016
- Juliet Huddy, Fox News On-Air Personality: Settled for undisclosed amount in 2016
- Rachel Witlieb Bernstein, Junior Fox News Producer: Settled for undisclosed amount in 2002
- Lis Wiehl, Fox News Legal Analyst: $32 million settlement in January 2017
The eye-popping $32 million O’Reilly personally paid to Wiehl in 2017 was by far the largest known settlement As part of the settlement, Wiehl signed an affidavit agreeing not to sue O’Reilly, Fox News, or parent company 21st Century Fox. All evidence of the case was destroyed as part of the terms
Why Pay So Much? The Seriousness of Sexual Harassment Allegations
Many questioned why O’Reilly or Fox News would ever agree to pay tens of millions of dollars in settlements if O’Reilly had done nothing wrong. O’Reilly claimed he only settled to protect his family from controversy But experienced attorneys pointed to Wiehl’s reported allegations of “repeated harassment, a nonconsensual sexual relationship, and the sending of gay pornography and other explicit material” as likely answer The phrase “nonconsensual sexual relationship” suggested serious evidence of either an assault or coerced relationship, which O’Reilly likely wanted to keep hidden at any cost.
Accepting such a huge amount of money also got Wiehl to shut up and stopped any further legal action. Fox News had a huge financial reason to keep O’Reilly on the air, even though he was being accused of harassment. The public’s anger against O’Reilly finally got to be too much, and in April 2017 he was fired from Fox News. But for more than ten years, Fox News was willing to pay O’Reilly’s victims a lot of money to keep him on as the network’s face.
The Bottom Line: Money and Power Allowed O’Reilly to Stay on Air
What does this sordid O’Reilly saga reveal about money, power and accountability in media? First, it shows networks will pay almost any price to keep their cash cow hosts employed and scandals quiet, even if it means silencing victims and enabling repeat harassers like O’Reilly. Second, it reveals how much star TV anchors can financially exploit their fame and high ratings. O’Reilly made $25 million a year while his victims received undisclosed settlements likely capped in the low millions.
Lastly, it shows how important it is to keep fighting for accountability at work, especially in the media world. Fox News was ready to pay O’Reilly’s victims to keep quiet so they could protect their top performers and bottom line. Eventually, O’Reilly’s accusers were able to hold him responsible for what he did by speaking out and demanding action in public venues. These women’s bravery gives us hope that powerful media outlets like Fox News will be more fair and honest. Rich and famous people can play by different rules because they have money and power.
Bill O’Reilly talks about Megyn Kelly, Fox News
FAQ
Did Bill o reilly get a settlement with Fox News?
Does Bill Oreilly still work for Fox?
What is the Fox News harassment settlement?
How much did Fox News Pay Bill O’Reilly?
A New York Times investigation published on Saturday revealed that Fox News and Bill O’Reilly have paid a cumulative $13 million to five women since 2002 to settle harassment allegations brought against the Fox host.
How much money does Bill O’Reilly make a year?
Bill O’Reilly will receive a maximum of one year’s salary following his ouster from Fox News, according to multiple reports. His annual salary is thought to be worth about $25 million.
Why did Wiehl agree to a settlement with Fox News?
The settlement required Wiehl to agree not to sue Mr. O’Reilly, Fox News or 21st Century Fox, and to agree to the destruction of all text messages, photos, and other communications between the pair. Smith and Katz said O’Reilly may have paid such a high amount to make sure the evidence would be destroyed.