Bill O’Reilly paid $32 million to settle a sexual harassment claim right before he signed his last contract with Fox News. He was fired from the network.
A report in the New York Times published Saturday said O’Reilly made the settlement to Lis Wiehl, a longtime contributor to his program, who alleged that O’Reilly forced her into a nonconsensual sexual relationship and sent her sexually explicit material.
The news report says the settlement, which is a huge amount for a sexual harassment case, was made in January, right before O’Reilly signed a new four-year deal that would pay him $25 million a year to keep hosting his popular prime-time show “The O’Reilly Factor.” ” Advertisement.
A representative for 21st Century Fox, the company that owns Fox News, said that the company knew about the settlement but didn’t know how much it would cost at the time.
“When the company renewed Bill O’Reilly’s contract in February, it knew that a sexual harassment lawsuit had been threatened against him by Lis Wiehl, but was informed by Mr. O’Reilly that he had settled the matter personally, on financial terms that he and Ms. Wiehl had agreed were confidential and not disclosed to the company,” the representative told the Los Angeles Times.
O’Reilly denied the allegations to the New York Times. “I have never mistreated anyone,” he said, suggesting that his downfall was “politically and financially motivated.” Advertisement
O’Reilly’s new deal included a stipulation that any further sexual harassment allegations made against him could lead to his termination.
That came just a couple of months later in April, when psychologist Wendy Walsh filed a new complaint with 21st Century Fox. She accused O’Reilly of reneging on a commitment to get her a position as a paid contributor at Fox News after she rejected his advances at a 2013 dinner meeting at Hotel Bel-Air.
O’Reilly, long the highest rated personality on the cable news network, was fired on April 19. Walsh’s complaint had followed the disclosure in the New York Times that a total of $13 million in payouts were made by O’Reilly and Fox News to five women who asserted they were sexually harassed or verbally abused by the host over the last 16 years. Advertisement
Debra Katz, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who specializes in sexual harassment cases, said the reported size of the settlement amount for Wiehl is “tantamount to a class-action suit.”
Katz said a settlement of that size typically includes a promise to withdraw the allegation. “It’s done as a way to put a hammer over the individual who signs so they will never come forward and disclose the allegations,” she said. “If she does, the person who has settled for an obscene amount of money can pull the declaration and say ‘she recanted.’”
Mark Fabiani, a representative for O’Reilly, told the New York Times that 21st Century Fox was “well aware” that Wiehl had signed a sworn affidavit repudiating the allegations against him.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Fabiani said the New York Times report on Wiehl’s complaint is “based on leaked information provided by anonymous sources that is out of context, false, defamatory, and obviously designed to embarrass Bill O’Reilly and to keep him from competing in the marketplace.”
The disclosure of the new settlement is likely to derail any hopes O’Reilly had of making a television comeback. There has been chatter among TV news business insiders that O’Reilly was looking to get back on the air, possibly as a commentator or host with the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
O’Reilly recently started TV appearances to promote his new book “Killing England,” including on his formal rival Sean Hannity’s Fox News program. He has also given interviews to NBC’s “Today” and CNN. Advertisement
The revelation of the settlement is yet another obstacle in 21st Century Fox’s efforts to get past the sexual harassment scandal that has engulfed the company since former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit against the division’s founding chief executive, Roger Ailes, who died in May.
While 21st Century Fox has aggressively investigated harassment claims and settled a number of them — including $20 million for Carlson — the company continues to be beleaguered by the issue. The treatment of women in the media and entertainment business has also become a hot topic of national conversation due to the recently revealed claims of harassment and sexual assault against film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
For 21st Century Fox, the matter has intensified British regulators’ scrutiny of its proposed $15-billion deal to take full ownership of Sky TV in the United Kingdom.
4:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from O’Reilly’s representative on the New York Times report.
2:10 p.m.: This article was updated with comment from a representative for Bill O’Reilly and background information about 21st Century Fox’s handling of previous sexual harassment allegations. Advertisement
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Bill O’Reilly, the former host of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, was once considered the “king of cable news” However, his high-paying job at Fox ended in 2017 after numerous sexual harassment allegations surfaced against him O’Reilly’s salary and severance package sparked much controversy and debate.
O’Reilly’s Salary at Fox News
Bill O’Reilly was Fox News’s biggest star for a long time. From 2009 to 2017, he hosted the very popular O’Reilly Factor show. During his time at Fox, O’Reilly became the most valuable TV personality on the network.
That same year, it was revealed that O’Reilly made about $18 million a year. This made him the highest-paid person on Fox News. Even though Roger Ailes, the former CEO of Fox News, was fired for sexual harassment claims, his lucrative contract was still extended.
Some people were surprised by O’Reilly’s high salary, since the average pay for a cable news host was about $5 million a year. But Fox said that O’Reilly’s show brought in a lot of money for the network from ads. The O’Reilly Factor had high ad rates and more than 4 million viewers every night.
Controversy Over O’Reilly’s Contract Renewal
In early 2017, O’Reilly and Fox News renewed his contract, despite the mounting sexual harassment allegations against him. This caused controversy both publicly and internally at Fox.
The New York Times revealed that O’Reilly and Fox had settled five sexual harassment lawsuits totaling $13 million. Critics argued that Fox should not have rewarded O’Reilly with a contract renewal given the circumstances.
Activist groups like the National Organization for Women also spoke out against O’Reilly and called for her to be fired right away. Because of the harassment claims, more than 50 companies took their ads off of O’Reilly’s show.
Inside Fox News, morale was low as many employees were unhappy with the network’s decision to re-sign O’Reilly. There was a sense of injustice that he continued to be highly compensated despite the harassment issues.
Advertiser Boycott Leads to O’Reilly’s Dismissal
As the backlash intensified, more than 60 companies pulled their ads from The O’Reilly Factor. The advertising boycott was estimated to have cost Fox News over $13 million in lost revenue.
This financial impact, along with the continuous negative publicity, led Fox to sever ties with O’Reilly. In April 2017, the network announced that O’Reilly would not be returning to the air.
His departure was unceremonious for someone who had been Fox’s top talent for over two decades. However, the network determined the reputational damage from the sexual harassment scandal was too great.
O’Reilly’s Controversial $25 Million Severance
After his dismissal from Fox News, it was revealed that O’Reilly received a severance payout of approximately $25 million. This massive exit package was specified in his contract renewal earlier that year.
O’Reilly’s lavish severance provoked outrage from critics. They argued it sent the wrong message and rewarded the broadcaster even after his misconduct led to his downfall.
There was debate over whether parent company 21st Century Fox should have granted O’Reilly such a large payout given the circumstances around his termination. From a business perspective, Fox likely wanted to avoid a legal battle by honoring the contract.
But activists and Fox employees felt enabling O’Reilly to leave with over $25 million was unethical. The size of his severance highlighted just how profitable of an asset O’Reilly was for Fox News over the years.
Salary History and Net Worth
Over his two-decade career at Fox, Bill O’Reilly built immense wealth through his high salaries. Here is a look at his Fox News salary progression:
- 1996 to 2002: $2 million per year
- 2002 to 2006: $5 million per year
- 2006 to 2009: $10 million per year
- 2009 to 2017: $18 million per year
In total, O’Reilly earned over $85 million in his final 6 years at Fox alone according to financial analysts. When combined with his lucrative severance, his career earnings at the network likely exceeded $120 million.
Today, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Bill O’Reilly’s total net worth to be around $85 million. The bulk of his current net worth comes from his time at Fox News. He continues to earn income from books, podcasts, and other ventures after leaving cable news.
Ongoing Debate over High Salaries
The revelations about O’Reilly’s compensation at Fox fueled debate about high salaries in the media industry. On one side, big media personalities argue they deserve high pay due to the value they create.
However, critics contend media organizations should impose salary caps. They point to how high salaries can enable toxic workplace cultures and misconduct.
There are also ethical concerns about media members being paid multiples above average workers. O’Reilly’s case highlighted these issues surrounding media salaries and corporate responsibility.
Going forward, media companies face pressure to address compensation gap concerns. They must also consider long-term cultural impacts when agreeing to lucrative contracts with top hosts and executives.
Bill O’Reilly’s scandal-ridden exit from Fox News spotlighted the contentious issues around high salaries and severance deals for media personalities. His enormous paydays, even after harassment allegations, sparked criticism and debate.
O’Reilly’s experience demonstrated how lucrative contracts can create misaligned incentives between networks, hosts, and viewers. The case led to calls for media organizations to reconsider their compensation practices.
While the TV industry continues to reward big stars, O’Reilly’s controversial history stands out. His astronomical Fox News salary before and after his dismissal will remain part of his complex and divisive legacy.
Bill O’Reilly Breaks Down the Migrant Problem and His Solution
FAQ
What happened to Bill Oreilly?
The New York Times reported five cases of sexual misconduct against O’Reilly in 2017. He was fired from Fox News because of these reports. Since then, O’Reilly has been the host of the No Spin News podcast, which has grown into a TV show that first aired on Newsmax and then on The First.
What are Bill O’Reilly’s political views?
O’Reilly told Terry Gross on National Public Radio in 2003, “I’m not a political guy in the sense that I believe in an ideology.” To this day I’m an independent thinker, an independent voter, I’m a registered independent.
How much does O’Reilly’s pay per hour?
The average hourly pay for O’Reilly’s is $11.99. For more detailed information, visit Payscale to research O’Reilly’s hourly pay by city, experience, skill, and employer.
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Why did Wiehl get paid so much?
The severity of the allegations likely contributed to the high cost of the payout, said Deborah L. Rhode, a Stanford Law School professor who specializes in gender discrimination. But she added that Wiehl’s legal background, as well as the timing of the settlement, may have also played a part.
