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What Glenn Beck is up to in 2024: Donald Trump gave him a shock interview last year, and the controversial political commentator makes millions from Blaze media and podcasts – even after leaving Fox

American conservative TV and radio host Glenn Beck has gradually accumulated his US$200 million fortune over the years. Photo: Getty Images
Political commentator Glenn Beck once made a name for himself for heavily criticising former US president Barack Obama.

Then he made headlines for political flip-flopping and announcing “president Obama made me a better man”.

TV and radio commentator Glenn Beck is not afraid of being outspoken. Photo: Getty Images

His outspoken remarks have even seen him booted from shows. But Beck has still managed to find his right-wing niche, starting new platform Blaze Media in 2018 to disseminate his controversial ideas, as well as those of other high-profile conservative commentators.

Here’s what you need to know about the radio and TV presenter who America has a love-hate relationship with.

Glenn Beck’s TV career

Glenn Beck at the 114th Anniversary Justice Louis Brandeis award dinner given by the Zionist Organisation of America in New York, US, in 2011. Photo: AP Photo
Back in 2006, Beck hosted a show on CNN that was billed an “unconventional look at the news of the day”. The host moved to conservative news channel Fox News in 2009, starting his prime time show on the day before Obama took office as president of the US. Beck made his opposition to Obama much of the focus of his show, with The Washington Post explaining that his strong criticism saw ratings soar.

But in 2011, he left the network after ratings started to decline and advertisers left, refusing to be associated with the show, per NPR.

What is Glenn Beck’s connection to Donald Trump?

Glenn Beck has a large following online. Photo: @theblazetv/Instagram
In 2016, Beck said “opposing Donald Trump is the moral and ethical” choice, even if it meant Hillary Clinton won the election, reported The New York Times. Clinton and Trump went head-to-head in the 2016 US presidential elections, with Trump becoming the 45th president.

But, over the years, Beck has flip-flopped in his support of Trump with the presenter telling Tucker Carlson on Fox News in early 2023 that Trump had “taken arrow after arrow” and that “he is the symbol of the average, everyday guy that keeps getting screwed every single time”.

Trump also makes time to speak with Beck and controversially told the presenter that he would “prosecute political enemies if elected president again” during an interview in August last year.

What is Glenn Beck’s platform, Blaze Media?

Glenn Beck started digital platform Blaze Media with another famous host, Mark Levin. Photo: @theblazetv/Instagram

After leaving Fox, Beck and Mark Levin created Blaze Media, a digital platform that hosts radio, TV and written content. Its well known conservative contributors include Levin, Steve Deace, Jase Robertson, Jason Whitlock and Lauren Chen. Blaze Media states its aim is to be “unapologetically American and pro-free speech”.

 

It adds, “We are committed to America’s founding principles and rebuilding America’s cultural, political, civic and journalistic institutions on the foundation of bold discourse, big ideas and free expression.”

The platform also implemented a digital subscriptions model, telling readers it wouldn’t allow “big tech” to control how the website operated.

Glenn Beck’s fallout with Apple

Glenn Beck speaks during the NRA convention at the George R. Brown Convention Centre in Houston, US, in 2013. Photo: AP Photo

In August 2023, Beck made waves after he said on X, formerly Twitter, that his podcasts had been removed from Apple Podcasts without an explanation.

However, Variety reported that Apple stated the episodes had been removed because of a “trademark dispute” that was later resolved. The podcasts were later re-added to the platform.

Beck updated his followers with the news, but claimed he received no clear answer regarding why they had been removed. The drama resulted in speculation that Beck was being “censored”, which increased the presenter’s fans’ positive sentiments around him.

Glenn Beck’s multimillion-dollar fortune

Glenn Beck addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC, in 2010. Photo: AP Photo

In 2014, Beck had an estimated net worth of US$90 million, per Forbes. Since the founding of Blaze Media and his podcasts, his estimated net worth has climbed to around US$200 million, reports Celebrity Net Worth.

 

Besides the revenue from his digital platform, Beck is a well-known public speaker, often hired to MC events or attend conservative rallies as a guest speaker.

Glenn Beck sells mugs of Donald Trump (pictured) and himself online. Photo: @glennbeck/Instagram

His fee for speaking at events ranges between US$50,000 and US$100,000, according to AAE Speakers. He also sells merchandise featuring Trump and himself online.

  • Beck started his career at CNN before moving to Fox News, starting his show the day before Barack Obama took office – and his strong criticism of the former US president saw his ratings soar
  • Since then, his ventures with Blaze Media and Apple Podcasts have seen his net worth grow to a staggering US$200 million – he also sells merchandise featuring himself and Donald Trump online