Net Worth Mike Huckabee: How Rich is the Former Governor and Presidential Candidate?
Mike Huckabee is an American politician, minister, author, and television personality who has a net worth of $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016. He also hosted the Fox News Channel talk show “Huckabee” from 2008 to 2015 and was a political commentator on the radio program “The Huckabee Report”. But how did Mike Huckabee earn his fortune and what are his sources of income? In this article, we will explore the career and earnings of Mike Huckabee, as well as some facts about his personal life.
Mike Huckabee’s Early Life and Education
Mike Huckabee was born in 1955 in Hope, Arkansas to working-class parents Mae, a gas company clerk, and Dorsey, a mechanic and fireman. He is of German, English, and Scots-Irish descent, and has one sister, Pat. Huckabee got his first job at the age of 14 reading the news and weather for a local radio station. He attended Hope High School, where he was student council president during the 1972-1973 year. In 1972, Huckabee entered the ministry at Garrett Memorial Baptist Church. Later on, he enrolled at Ouachita Baptist University, graduating in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in religion. Huckabee then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, but dropped out after one year to take a Christian broadcasting job. When he was 21, Huckabee became a staffer for notorious televangelist James Robison.
Mike Huckabee’s Career as a Politician
Huckabee ran his first political race in 1992 for lieutenant governor of Arkansas; he lost to incumbent Democratic senator Dale Bumpers. In the next general election, however, he won, becoming only the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as Arkansas lieutenant governor. In 1994, Huckabee was reelected to a full term.
Following the resignation of incumbent governor Jim Guy Tucker due to fraud and conspiracy convictions, Huckabee was sworn in as Arkansas governor in 1996. In 1998, he was elected to a full four-year term, and in 2002, was reelected for a second term by defeating State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher. As governor, Huckabee implemented various policies and reforms on education, health care, taxes, infrastructure, environment, and ethics. He also received national attention for his weight loss and healthy lifestyle initiatives.
In 2008 and 2016, Huckabee ran for the Republican presidential nomination. In 2008, he won eight states, including the Iowa caucuses, finishing second in delegate count and third in the popular vote. In 2016, he dropped out after a poor showing in Iowa. During his campaigns, he focused on social conservative issues such as abortion, gay marriage, gun rights, immigration, and religion.
Mike Huckabee’s Career as a Media Personality
In addition to his political career, Huckabee also pursued a career as a media personality. He hosted the Fox News Channel talk show “Huckabee” from 2008 to 2015, where he interviewed various guests and discussed current events from a conservative perspective. He also hosted the radio program “The Huckabee Report” from 2009 to 2015 on ABC Radio Networks and Cumulus Media Networks. The program featured short commentaries by Huckabee on various topics.
Huckabee also wrote several books on politics, religion, humor,
and personal development. Some of his best-selling books include From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Steps to Restoring America’s Greatness (2007), Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That’s Bringing Common Sense Back to America (2008), A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit (2009), A Simple Government: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don’t!) (2011), God,
Guns,
Grits,
and Gravy (2015), Rare,
Medium,
or Done Well: Make the Most of Your Life (2018),
and The Three Cs That Made America Great: Christianity,
Capitalism,
and the Constitution (2020).
Huckabee also appeared in several movies and TV shows as an actor or as himself. Some of his notable appearances include An Inconvenient Tax (2010), God’s Not Dead 2 (2016), Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015), The Campaign (2012), Swing Vote (2008), The Colbert Report (2007-2014), The Daily Show (2007-2015), Saturday Night Live (1993-2016), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014-2017), and The View (2008-2019).
Mike Huckabee’s Sources of Income and Net Worth
According to various sources, Mike Huckabee’s net worth is estimated to be around $18 million as of 2023. He has earned this wealth through his decades of work in the political and media fields. While his exact salary is not known, he has been able to earn a comfortable living through his various endeavors.
Some of the factors that contribute to Mike Huckabee’s net worth are:
- His governor salary: As the governor of Arkansas, Huckabee earned an annual salary of $86,890 in 2007, which was the last year of his term. He also received various benefits and perks as the governor, such as a mansion, a car, a staff, and a pension.
- His presidential campaign donations: During his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2016, Huckabee raised millions of dollars from various donors and supporters. According to the Federal Election Commission, he raised $54.1 million in 2008 and $16.1 million in 2016. While most of this money was spent on campaign expenses, Huckabee was also allowed to keep some of it for personal use, as long as he followed certain rules and regulations.
- His media contracts: As a media personality, Huckabee signed lucrative contracts with various networks and companies. According to Forbes, he earned $500,000 per year from Fox News for hosting “Huckabee” from 2008 to 2015. He also earned $500,000 per year from ABC Radio Networks and Cumulus Media Networks for hosting “The Huckabee Report” from 2009 to 2015. He also earned money from other media appearances and endorsements.
- His book sales: As an author, Huckabee has sold millions of copies of his books worldwide. According to Publishers Weekly, he sold over 800,000 copies of his book Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That’s Bringing Common Sense Back to America in 2008. He also sold over 400,000 copies of his book A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit in 2009. He also earned royalties from his other books.
- His speaking fees: As a speaker, Huckabee has been paid handsomely for delivering speeches at various events and venues. According to The Washington Post, he charged between $25,000 and $75,000 per speech in 2015. He also charged between $50,000 and $100,000 per speech in 2016. He also received travel expenses and accommodations for his speeches.
Mike Huckabee is an American politician, minister, author, and television personality who has a net worth of $18 million. He served as the governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016. He also hosted the Fox News Channel talk show “Huckabee” from 2008 to 2015 and was a political commentator on the radio program “The Huckabee Report”. He has earned his fortune through his political and media careers, as well as his book sales and speaking fees. He is a conservative leader and a popular figure in the American public sphere.
ncG1vNJzZmikmZh6rrHRnJ%2BapqRjsLC5jpuss7Jfo7K1edaoqa2gXaK2rLGMoayco5GXsqZ5x6iuZqqZmLVutdJmq6GdXZu8s7nEq2Sgp6aav6%2B70WaYp5xdpb%2Bmv8idnKesmZa5bq%2FAp5uinJGpsnA%3D