Net Worth Ranker
What Is Al Sharpton’s Net Worth?
Al Sharpton, a prominent American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $500,000. His financial standing is a result of his diverse career, which includes decades of activism, media appearances, and leadership roles within various organizations.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. was born on October 3, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York City. His early life was marked by significant changes, including his family’s move from a middle-class neighborhood to public housing in Brownsville after his father left in 1963. Sharpton’s formal education included attendance at Samuel J. Tilden High School followed by two years at Brooklyn College before he dropped out. At the young age of nine or ten, he was ordained as a Pentecostal minister by Bishop F.D. Washington. After Washington’s death in the late 1980s, Sharpton transitioned to the Baptist faith, getting re-baptized in 1994 by the Reverend William Augustus Jones.
Sharpton’s career in activism began early. In 1969, Jesse Jackson appointed Sharpton as the youth director of the New York City branch of Operation Breadbasket, an organization focused on improving employment opportunities for African Americans. By 1971, Al Sharpton established the National Youth Movement to support impoverished youth through resource and fund allocation. These early roles laid the foundation for his future as a nationally recognized civil rights leader.
Activism and Media Career
The 1980s marked a period of increased national visibility for Sharpton as an advocate for racial justice. He became involved in several high-profile cases, including the Tawana Brawley case, where a teenager claimed to have been abducted and raped by white men (claims that were later proven false). He has also spoken out on behalf of others like Bernhard Goetz, Yusef Hawkins, Amadou Diallo, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others, solidifying his role in addressing racial prejudice and injustice. In 1991, Al Sharpton founded the National Action Network (NAN), an organization committed to voter education, supporting community businesses, and providing resources to those facing poverty.
Al Sharpton’s media career significantly contributes to his visibility and income. In January 2006, he launched his own daily national talk radio program, “Keepin’ It Real with Al Sharpton,” on Radio One. Since 2011, he has hosted “PoliticsNation” on MSNBC and frequently appears as a contributor on NBC’s “Morning Joe.” He has also authored several books, including “Al on America,” “The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership,” and “Go and Tell Pharaoh” with Nick Chiles. The financial details of these media contracts and book royalties are not publicly disclosed, but they undoubtedly contribute to his overall financial profile.
Political Campaigns and Controversies
Sharpton has made several unsuccessful attempts to enter elected office, including bids for a United States Senate seat from New York in 1988, 1992, and 1994, as well as a run for Mayor of New York City in 1997. In 2004, he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination. However, his campaign faced financial challenges, including exceeding federal limits on personal expenditures. In 2005, he agreed to repay $100,000 in public funds, and in 2009, the Federal Election Commission fined his 2004 campaign team $285,000 for violating campaign finance rules.
In November 2014, a “New York Times” exposé reported that Al Sharpton allegedly owed $4.5 million in state and federal back taxes, with $3.7 million attributed to his personal tax debt. While Sharpton disputed these reports, claiming the liens had been reduced, the exact amounts and repayment details were not disclosed, leaving some uncertainty about his financial obligations.
Personal Life and Relationships
Al Sharpton married Kathy Jordan, a backup singer he met while touring with James Brown in 1971, in 1980. They separated in 2004. In January 1991, Sharpton survived a stabbing in the chest by Michael Riccardi while preparing to lead a protest in Brooklyn. Riccardi was apprehended, convicted of first-degree assault in 1992, and sentenced to 15 years in jail, eventually being paroled after serving 10 years. Sharpton filed a lawsuit against New York City, alleging that the police present at the planned protest failed to protect him, which resulted in a $200,000 settlement in December 2003.
In 2001, Al Sharpton was jailed for 90 days at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn for trespassing during a protest against U.S. military target practice exercises in Puerto Rico. Al Sharpton has evolved on LGBTQ issues, becoming an advocate for ending homophobia within the African-American community after previously making controversial comments.
National Action Network and Continued Activism
Since its founding in 1991, the National Action Network (NAN) has been a central part of Al Sharpton’s activism. NAN focuses on increasing voter education, supporting small community businesses, and providing resources to those struggling with poverty. The organization’s revenue and expenses are derived from donations, grants, and program service revenue. While specific financial details are not publicly available, NAN’s activities contribute to Sharpton’s public profile and influence.
Al Sharpton’s work with the National Action Network has involved organizing numerous protests and campaigns addressing critical issues such as police brutality, voting rights, and economic inequality. His involvement in major cases like the Bernhard Goetz shooting, Howard Beach incident, and more recently, the deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, underscore his consistent advocacy for racial justice. While views on his legacy are divided, with supporters praising his advocacy for racial justice and critics questioning his methods and motivations, Sharpton remains an influential figure in American civil rights activism.
Summary of Al Sharpton’s Net Worth
Al Sharpton’s net worth of $500,000 reflects a career built on activism, media, and leadership roles within civil rights organizations. While he has faced financial challenges and controversies, his contributions to American politics and civil rights have made him a prominent figure. His income is derived from various sources, including his work as a television and radio host, book royalties, and his role as the head of the National Action Network. The financial details of his media contracts, book sales, and NAN operations are not publicly disclosed, but these various roles contribute to his overall financial standing. Al Sharpton’s financial stability is a testament to his diverse career and sustained presence in American media and politics.
