Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ed Bradley Net Worth?
Ed Bradley was a highly respected American journalist who, at the time of his death in November 2006, had a net worth estimated at $20 million. He was born Edward Rudolph Bradley Jr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in June 1941. Bradley’s career spanned several decades, marked by groundbreaking achievements and significant contributions to broadcast journalism.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Bradley’s journey began in Philadelphia, where he grew up and attended Cheyney State College, now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1964 with a degree in education. Initially, he worked as a sixth-grade teacher while also exploring his passion for radio at WDAS in Philadelphia. His early experiences included covering the Philadelphia race riots in the 1960s, which fueled his decision to pursue journalism full-time. He once said, “I knew that God put me on this Earth to be on the radio,” highlighting the profound impact of those early experiences. His starting salary at WDAS was $1.25 an hour. In 1967, he moved to New York City to work for WCBS radio.
Career Highlights and “60 Minutes”
In 1971, Bradley moved to Paris, France, becoming a stringer for CBS News. By 1972, he was covering the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Civil War, where he was wounded by a mortar round. His coverage earned him Alfred I. duPont and George Polk awards. In 1974, he moved to Washington, D.C., covering Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign in 1976. Bradley became the first African American White House correspondent for CBS News, a role he held from 1976 to 1978. He also anchored the *CBS Sunday Night News* during this period, until 1981. That same year, he joined *60 Minutes*, replacing Dan Rather, and remained a correspondent on the show for 26 years, reporting on approximately 500 stories.
During his tenure at *60 Minutes*, Bradley covered a wide array of significant events and topics, including the fall of Saigon, the plight of Vietnamese refugees (“The Boat People”), segregation in the United States (“Blacks in America: With All Deliberate Speed?”), the AIDS epidemic in Africa (“Death by Denial”), and sexual abuse within the Catholic Church (“The Catholic Church on Trial”). He interviewed notable figures such as Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber. His interview with McVeigh was the only television interview ever given by the man guilty of one of the worst terrorist acts on American soil and it earned Bradley an Emmy.
Bradley’s work on *60 Minutes* led to considerable recognition, including a George Foster Peabody Award for “Big Man, Big Voice” (November 1997), and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award in 1994 for a segment on nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. He received Emmy Awards for reports such as “Schizophrenia” (1985), “In the Belly of the Beast” (1983), and “Lena” (1983).
Awards and Recognition
Ed Bradley’s career was marked by numerous prestigious awards, reflecting his excellence in journalism. He received 19 Emmy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2003 and multiple Emmys in 2003 for reports on brain cancer patients (“A New Lease on Life”) and sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. He also received four George Foster Peabody Awards, the Radio Television Digital News Association Paul White Award, and the National Association of Black Journalists Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2012, he was named one of the “100 Outstanding American Journalists in the last 100 years” by faculty at New York University.
In 1994, Bradley and the Radio Television News Directors Association Foundation started a scholarship program in his name for journalists of color, awarding $10,000 annually. In 2007, he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame. In 2015, the Pennsylvania General Assembly renamed City Avenue in Philadelphia “Ed Bradley Way,” and in 2018, a mural of Bradley was completed in the city.
Financial Overview and Assets
At the time of his death, Ed Bradley’s estate controlled approximately $7 million in liquid assets. Additionally, he and his wife, Patricia Blanchet, owned several properties, including one that she sold for $7 million shortly after his death. While specific details about all of his investments and assets are not publicly available, it is known that Bradley’s financial planning ensured his family would benefit from his years of work in journalism.
While the precise figures of Ed Bradley’s salary over the years are not readily accessible, his long-standing position on *60 Minutes* suggests that he was among the highest-paid journalists of his time. His ability to report on significant stories, such as the Vietnam War, likely resulted in bonuses and incentives related to his groundbreaking work.
Personal Life and Legacy
Ed Bradley was married three times: to Diane Jefferson (1964-1967), Priscilla Coolidge (1981-1984), and Patricia Blanchet (2004-2006). He passed away on November 9, 2006, at the age of 65, due to complications from lymphocytic leukemia. Despite his public career, Bradley maintained a relatively private life, enjoying jazz music and outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing.
Bradley’s legacy extends beyond his journalistic achievements. His estate has supported causes he cared about, including a scholarship for journalists of color. This scholarship ensures his contributions to journalism and his community are maintained, providing opportunities for others in the field.
