Howard Stern is an American broadcaster and media personality, best known for his radio show, The Howard Stern Show.
He began his radio career in the mid-1970s and developed his show through various morning positions.
The Howard Stern Show gained wide recognition when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005, and has since aired on SiriusXM’s Howard 100 and Howard 101 channels since 2006.
Stern is known for his provocative and often controversial style, which has earned him both praise and criticism over the years.
He has also made appearances in films and television shows, such as Men in Black III and The Larry Sanders Show.
Net worth | $650 million |
Profession | Broadcaster, media personality |
Date of birth | January 12, 1954 |
Nationality | American |
Background
Stern was born on January 12, 1954, in Queens, New York, to Ben and Ray Stern.
His parents are Jewish and their families are from Poland and Austria-Hungary.
Ben worked as a radio engineer at a Manhattan radio station and later co-owned a Manhattan recording studio, while Ray was an office clerk in New York City before becoming a homemaker and later taking up work as an inhalation therapist.
Stern has described his older sister Ellen as the “complete opposite” of himself and “very quiet”.
Ben was hard on Stern and frequently called him a “moron,” while his mother, Ray, was overprotective and thought that her son would grow up sensitive if he played with puppets.
Stern’s parents took him to see R-rated movies at a young age and introduced him to adult fare, which influenced his later radio show.
Net worth
Stern has an estimated net worth of $650 million, according to TheRichest and Capitalism.
This figure is attributed to his successful radio career, including his outrageously lucrative contracts with SiriusXM, book sales and judging roles on television shows.
Stern has been a radio personality for over 40 years, starting at WCCC-FM in Hartford, Connecticut, and later becoming one of the biggest stars in radio with his show, The Howard Stern Show, on SiriusXM satellite radio from 2006 to 2015.
He also had a successful television career from 1994 to 2001 and has acted in films such as Private Parts.
Stern’s website, howardstern.com, offers exclusive content and sells merchandise related to his shows and projects, while his photography and extensive collection of photographs also contribute to his wealth.
Salary and contracts
In 1992, Stern’s estimated earnings were around $1.5 million per year.
In 2001, he signed a five-year contract with Infinity Broadcasting, which owned his home station in New York (WXRK, K-Rock), and which paid him $25 million annually.
Five years later, Stern shifted to Sirius Satellite radio, and his salary was estimated at $80 million per year.
From 2011 to 2015, he was also earning $15 million annually as a judge on the reality TV show, America’s Got Talent.
In 2014, Stern was tied with Simon Cowell as the world’s top-earning personality, with total earnings in the neighborhood of $95 million.
In 2018, Forbes reported his annual salary at $90 million, making him the 13th highest-paid celebrity of the year.
Real estate
Stern owns several luxurious properties, including a $21 million mega-penthouse in New York City, a $16 million mansion in the Hamptons, and a $52 million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.
The New York City penthouse, located in the Millennium Tower, spans 8,000 square feet and features three coveted parking spaces in the building’s basement garage.
The Hamptons mansion, custom-built for Stern and his wife, Beth Ostrosky, boasts 16,000 square feet, 8 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, a bowling alley and a wine cellar with a tasting room.
The Palm Beach mansion, acquired in 2013, underwent a $13 million renovation, adding a kitchenette and a customized 1,000-square-foot closet for his wife.
The property, featuring five bedrooms and 12.5 bathrooms, exemplifies opulence and comfort.
Radio career
Stern gained popularity with his radio show, The Howard Stern Show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005 and has been broadcast on Sirius XM Radio since 2006.
He started his radio career while at Boston University and developed his on-air personality through morning positions at various stations.
Stern’s show, known for its mix of humor, interviews, and commentary on controversial topics, became number one in Washington, D.C., leading to his move to New York City.
Despite clashes with management over content, his show gained a large following and attracted criticism from groups like the Federal Communications Commission.
In 2004, Stern signed a five-year, $500 million deal with Sirius Satellite Radio, which was not subject to FCC regulations.
Sirius Satellite Radio deal
In 2004, Stern signed a deal with Sirius Satellite Radio, leaving his longtime home on Infinity Broadcasting.
The five-year contract, estimated to cost $100 million a year, was part of a plan to build satellite radio, which is unregulated by the federal government and mostly free of commercials.
Stern was attracted to satellite radio because of the need to escape what had become ever-increasing restrictions on the content of his program.
He was known for his explicit content and had faced fines from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over sexual and scatological references on his show.
In 2015, Stern signed a new five-year deal with SiriusXM Satellite Radio, which included plans for a streaming video component to augment his four-hour daily radio program.
The deal was worth $500 million over five years, or $100 million annually, and included a 12-year deal giving SiriusXM rights to video and audio material from Stern’s 30-year radio career and a plan to launch its first venture into video programming with Howard.
The agreement was announced live on his show and sent SiriusXM shares soaring as much as 5%.
Stern’s longtime agent, Don Buchwald, called it a “cutting edge and truly unique broadcasting agreement” that “required a lot of give and take, as well as creative thinking on everyone’s part”.
He has been the cornerstone of Sirius XM’s service since 2004, prior to Sirius’ merger with XM Satellite Radio.
Stern is known to be a major draw for users to sign up as paying customers and has helped build up SiriusXM’s subscriber base to nearly 33 million in the U.S and Canada.
The deal was significant for both Stern and SiriusXM, as it allowed Stern to continue his radio show without the restrictions of traditional radio and gave SiriusXM exclusive rights to Stern’s audio and video library through 2032.
It also marked a new era for SiriusXM, as the company ventured into video programming with Howard.
TV career
Stern’s television career has been diverse and prolific, with various productions and appearances.
One of his notable projects is the television version of his radio show, Howard Stern on Demand, which was launched in 2006 and features uncensored and uncut footage from his radio broadcasts.
The show was available on demand through various cable and satellite providers, allowing fans to watch his radio show at their convenience.
Stern has also ventured into scripted television, creating and starring in the satirical show Son of the Beach, which aired from 2000 to 2002.
The show was a parody of Baywatch and other beach-themed shows, featuring Stern as the main character, a lifeguard with a bionic eye.
The show received mixed reviews but was popular with fans of Stern’s humor.
In addition to his own productions, he has made appearances in various TV shows and films.
Stern has played himself in movies like Men in Black III and Private Parts, the latter being based on his life and autobiography of the same name.
In Private Parts, he portrayed himself as a struggling radio DJ trying to make it big in the industry.
Stern has also made appearances in TV shows like The Simpsons, The Drew Carey Show and The Larry Sanders Show.
He has also served as a judge on the popular TV competition show America’s Got Talent from 2012 to 2015, where he was known for his blunt and honest critiques of the contestants.
Awards and accolades
Stern has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Adult Video News Awards (2000) where he won the Special Achievement Award.
He also won the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Male Newcomer for Private Parts in 1998.
In 1996, Stern received the Sour Apple at the Golden Apple Awards.
He was nominated for the Golden Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for Private Parts at the Satellite Awards in 1998.
Stern was also nominated for the Razzie Award for Worst New Star for the same film in 1998.
In 2005, he was a nominee for the XRCO Award for Mainstream Adult Media Favorite at the X-Rated Critics’ Organization, USA.
Additionally, Stern has won multiple Billboard Nationally Syndicated Air Personality Awards and has earned 25 Grammy Awards for his contributions to music.
Philanthropic efforts
Stern supports various charitable organizations, including The Linda Band Howard S Stern Family Foundation, which provides education in a recreation setting for children in city parks, supports community-based programs that serve New York’s marginalized population and provides nutrition therapy, cooks and home delivers medically tailored meals for severely ill NY residents.
He also supports Habitat for Humanity, The US Dream Academy, and the Boys and Girls Club of America, among others.
Stern’s philanthropic efforts are influenced by his mother, Ray Stern, who has shown compassion for others throughout her life.
Controversial interviews
One of Stern’s most contentious interviews was with Anna Nicole Smith, where he asked her to weigh herself on air, leading to accusations of fat-shaming.
Another notable interview was with Gilda Radner, where Stern’s aggressive questioning left the comedian in tears.
He also faced backlash for manipulating Dolly Parton’s audiobook to make it seem like she used a racial slur.
Additionally, Stern’s interview with Emma Bunton, where he asked invasive questions about her body and personal life, was criticized for its sexist approach.
Personal life
Stern has three daughters from his first marriage to Alison Berns, who were born in 1983, 1986 and 1993.
Emily Beth Stern is a singer, actress, and artist, Debra Jennifer Stern is a Ph.D. holder and the founding partner of Deborah Stern Partners, a brand consultancy firm and Ashley Jade Stern is a nurse at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.
Howard’s daughters have chosen to live a private life despite having a famous and influential father.