William James “Bill” O’Reilly is a popular American television personality, host, author and a political commentator. He is best known for his show “The O’Reilly Factor” which is broadcasted by the Fox News Channel. Towards the beginning of 2009 he hosted a popular radio program called “The Radio Factor”. In addition to this, he also wrote several popular books.
Early Life and Background
Bill O’Reilly was born on 10th September 1949 in New York City, United States of America. He was born to William James Sr and Winifred Angela. He has a younger sister named Janet. In the year 1951, his family shifted from New Jersey to Levittown, Long Island.
Bill completed his school education from St. Brigid parochial school in Westbury, and Chaminade High School. After graduating from school, he joined Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1967 and earned his graduation degree in history in 1971. In the year 1973, Bill acquired his master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University. He got the chance to study at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and attained the master of public administration degree in 1996
Career
Bill O’ Reilly started his career as a reporter and anchor at WNEP-TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He later joined the WFAA-TV in Dallas ,where he got the Dallas Press Club Award for his excellent investigative reporting skills. He then shifted his base to Denver and joined the KMGH-TV where he earned a local EMMY. In subsequent years he was associated with many channels which include the KATU in Portland, Oregon, WFSB in Hartford, WNEV-TV in Boston etc.
In the year 1986, Bill got the opportunity to join the ABC News as a correspondent. Later on he started hosting many daytime briefs for the channel. He also served as a general assignment reporter for various popular shows of the channel like the Good Morning America, Nightline and World News Tonight. In 1989, Bill became the part of a tabloid gossip television program called Inside Edition. After expressing his desire to quit the show in 1994, Deborah Norville replaced him in the show in the year 1995.
In October 1996, Bill was hired by the CEO of Fox News Channel Roger Ailes as the host of the show O’Reilly Report. This program was later renamed as the “The O’Reilly Factor”. The show became very popular in the American media world and helped him to earn huge popularity.
Apart from this, he has authored several books to his credit, which include the “Those Who Trespass”, “Who’s Looking Out For You?”, “Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency”, The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times,” The Day the President Was Shot” and many more. He also wrote weekly columns which appeared in various popular newspapers like the New York Post and Chicago Sun-Times. He also appeared in movies in cameo roles ,which include “An American Carol”, “Iron Man 2” and “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”. He is also the recipient of the 2008 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors’ Award .
Controversies
Bill O’ Reilly has been a part of several controversies. On 13th October 2004, Bill sued the former producer of The O’Reilly Factor, Andrea Mackris for extortion charges. He was also accused by the Gawker.com for physically assaulting his ex-wife Maureen McPhilmy. Bill also appealed to American citizens to boycott products of Pepsi on 27th August 2002. Bill was sent a letter by the Anti-Defamation League on 8th December 2004 criticizing his remarks that he expressed about Jews in his radio talk show called “The Radio Factor”.
As per the current media reports, Bill has decided to sue his ex-wife for $ 10 million for cheating him. He has further alleged that his ex wife has misled him in relation to the terms and conditions of their divorce in order to support her extramarital affair.
Bil O’ Relly- Wife and Children
Bill O’ Reilly married Maureen E. McPhilmy on November 2, 1996. She is a public relations executive. They have two kids- a son and a daughter. They got divorced 1st September 2011.
Bill O’ Reilly – Net Worth and Salary
He is one of the highest paid news personalities. Bill O’ Reilly’s annual salary is an average of $19 million. He has also earned about $30 million for his book royalties. Bill O’ Reily’s net worth is close to $80 million.
Ousting from Fox News
There were emerging allegations from various sections of media about Reilly’s involvement in s**ual harassment against women working for Fox. A detailed report in New York Times in April 2017 showed that Fox and he had paid close to $13 million to five women who had leveled charges against him. Finally, following a detailed investigation from Murdoch Family (owners of 21st Century Fox), it was clear on November 19, 2017, that O’Reilly will not be a part of the Fox Network anymore.