Net Worth Ranker
What Is Pete Hegseth’s Net Worth?
As of 2025, Pete Hegseth, the American television host, producer, and writer, boasts a net worth of $6 million. This valuation reflects his diverse career, encompassing roles in media, military service, and political advocacy. His financial portfolio includes earnings from Fox News, book royalties, speaking engagements, and investments. Financial disclosures leading up to his potential confirmation as Secretary of Defense in January 2025 revealed significant earnings over the preceding two years.
Pete Hegseth’s Income and Financial Disclosures
Pete Hegseth’s financial disclosures, released during his January 2025 confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense, shed light on his income sources over the previous two years. These documents revealed that he earned between $6.3 million and $9 million during that period. A substantial portion of this income, specifically $4,602,340, came from his salary as a Fox News host. Based on this, it’s reasonable to estimate his annual Fox News salary, excluding bonuses and other benefits, to be approximately $2 million.
Beyond his Fox News salary, Pete Hegseth generated $900,000 in speaking fees from 40 events over the two-year period. These speaking engagements likely involved appearances at various conferences, political rallies, and corporate events, where he shared his views on topics ranging from politics and current affairs to military matters and American culture.
His financial disclosure also indicated earnings from book publishing. He received $348,000 from Harper Collins for his book “The War on Warriors” and an additional $150,000 for his book “Battle for the American Mind.” Furthermore, he earned between $100,000 and $1 million in combined royalties from both books. The wide range in royalty earnings suggests fluctuating sales performance and ongoing revenue streams.
In terms of investments, Pete Hegseth holds between $250,000 and $500,000 in a Vanguard retirement account. He also directly owns several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of stocks. While the specific stocks were not detailed in the disclosures, it is likely that they represent a diversified portfolio across various sectors. His role as Secretary of Defense was slated to come with an annual salary of $246,400.
Pete Hegseth’s Real Estate Holdings
Pete Hegseth’s real estate portfolio includes a home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, which he purchased in June 2022 for $3.425 million. This 9,000-square-foot mansion features four bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The substantial size and luxurious amenities suggest a high-end property designed for comfort and entertaining. It is located at an unspecified address in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Prior to acquiring the Tennessee property, Pete Hegseth owned a home in Baltimore, Maryland. His financial disclosure revealed a gain of $100,000 to $1 million from the sale of the Baltimore home in 2023. The wide range indicates that the exact profit from the sale remains private.
His financial disclosure also indicated that he has a mortgage on the Tennessee home in the range of $1 million to $5 million. This suggests that he financed a significant portion of the purchase price. The exact amount of the mortgage remains undisclosed within the specified range.
Pete Hegseth’s Career and Background
Born Peter Brian Hegseth on June 6, 1980, in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Pete Hegseth has built a multifaceted career spanning military service, political advocacy, and media. He is the son of Penny and Brian Hegseth and has two brothers. His early life in Forest Lake provided the foundation for his later pursuits.
After graduating from Forest Lake Area High School, Pete Hegseth attended Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2003. As a student, he demonstrated an early interest in conservative politics by publishing “The Princeton Tory,” a conservative student publication. He was also a member of the men’s basketball team. This experience in journalism and athletics likely contributed to his later career success.
He furthered his education at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, graduating with a Master of Public Policy in 2013. This advanced degree provided him with a deeper understanding of policy and governance, which informed his work in political advocacy and media commentary.
Following his graduation from Princeton, Pete Hegseth began his career as an equity capital markets analyst at Bear Stearns. He also served as a reserve infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. This combination of financial and military experience set the stage for his diverse career trajectory.
In 2004, he served as an infantry platoon leader at Guantánamo Bay as part of the Minnesota National Guard. He then served as an infantry platoon leader in Baghdad and Samarra and later as a civil–military operations officer in Samarra. His service in Iraq earned him an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star Medal, recognizing his meritorious service and valor.
In 2012, he returned to active duty, this time as a captain. After being deployed to Afghanistan, Pete Hegseth served as a senior counterinsurgency instructor at Kabul’s Counterinsurgency Training Center. He later became a major in the Individual Ready Reserve. This military experience provided him with first-hand knowledge of defense and security issues, which he frequently discusses in his media appearances.
After returning from Iraq, Pete Hegseth briefly worked at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. In 2007, he left to become the executive director of the political advocacy organization Vets For Freedom, a role he held until 2012. That same year, he formed MN PAC, using the PAC’s money on Christmas parties for families and friends. Pete Hegseth also served as the executive director of the advocacy group Concerned Veterans for America (which was funded by Charles and David Koch) until 2015.
In 2012, Pete Hegseth sought the Republican nomination for one of Minnesota’s seats in the U.S. Senate, but he dropped out of the race after the nominating convention in May 2012. In 2014, he became a Fox News contributor, where he has become known for his conservative commentary and criticism of Democrats and the media. The exact terms of his Fox News contract remain confidential, but it is likely that it includes provisions for salary, benefits, and appearances on various programs. His estimated salary from Fox News, detailed above, is approximately $2 million annually.
In 2018, he co-hosted “All-American New Year” on the network. In July 2021, Rep. James Talarico of Texas was interviewed by Pete and called him out for dishonesty regarding the 2020 election. He stated that Pete had made a lot of money personally and enriched corporations by spreading lies and conspiracy theories to viewers who trusted him.
Pete Hegseth’s Published Works
Pete Hegseth is an author of several books, contributing to his overall net worth through royalties and advances. His published works include:
- “In the Arena: Good Citizens, a Great Republic, and How One Speech Can Reinvigorate America” (2016)
- “American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free” (2020)
- “Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes” (2020)
- “Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation” (2022)
As noted earlier, his financial disclosures revealed that he earned $348,000 from the publishing house Harper Collins for his book “The War on Warriors” and $150,000 for his book “Battle for the American Mind.” He then also earned $100,000 – $1 million in combined royalties for both books. These figures provide insight into the commercial success of his books and their contribution to his overall income.
Pete Hegseth’s Awards and Decorations
Pete Hegseth’s military service has been recognized with several awards and decorations, which reflect his dedication and contributions to the U.S. Army National Guard. These include:
- Two Bronze Stars
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Expert Infantryman Badge
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Two Army Commendation Medals
These awards and decorations highlight his service in combat zones and his expertise in infantry operations. While these honors do not directly contribute to his net worth, they are indicative of his commitment to his country and his distinguished military career.
