John Bolton Net Worth - Pulptastic
What is John Bolton’s Net Worth and Salary?
John Bolton is a former US National Security Advisor in the Trump administration and an American attorney, political commentator, government official, and former diplomat. He has a net worth of $6 million.
During his career, Bolton has held various positions such as US Assistant Attorney General under Reagan, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs under Bush Sr., and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs under George W. Bush.
Bolton is known for his hawkish views and advocacy of military intervention in countries around the world.
John Bolton’s Salary at Fox News
According to a 2019 lawsuit disclosure, John Bolton earned $569,423 from Fox News before joining the Trump administration, making him one of the highest-paid contributors to the network. The average salary for non full-time staff/personalities at Fox News is around $141,000 per year, placing Bolton’s pay on the high end of the spectrum. The next highest-paid contributor, Heather Nauert, earned $485,000.
Early Life and Education
John Bolton was born on November 20, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland to fireman Edward and housewife Virginia. He graduated from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills in 1966 and went on to obtain his BA from Yale University in 1970. He then earned his JD from Yale Law School in 1974.
Military Service
During the Vietnam War, Bolton was a supporter but avoided combat through a student deferment. He later enlisted in the Maryland Air National Guard and served for four years before joining the US Army Reserve for two years.
Legal Career of John Bolton
Following his graduation from law school in 1974, Bolton became an associate at Covington & Burling’s Washington, DC office. He worked at the firm through 1981, and then returned in 1983 before leaving again in 1985.
Later, from 1993 to 1999, Bolton was a partner of the firm Lerner, Reed, Bolton & McManus.
Among his other legal appointments, he served as a counsel in Kirkland & Ellis’ Washington office from 2008 to 2018.
John Bolton’s Political Career
John Bolton started his political career in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, serving in various roles within the Justice Department, State Department, and the US Agency for International Development. He held positions such as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, and Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs.
John Bolton’s Role in Spreading Pro-War Propaganda
John Bolton served as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security in 2001. During this time, he played a significant role in promoting George W. Bush’s pro-war agenda. Bolton reinforced the false threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which led to the US-led invasion of the country. He also labeled Syria, Libya, and Cuba as terrorist states, further perpetuating the idea of a global war on terror.
Bush’s Controversial Nomination of Bolton for US Ambassador to the UN
In 2005, President George W. Bush nominated John Bolton for the position of US Ambassador to the United Nations. However, his nomination was met with criticism from both Democrats and Republicans during heated Senate confirmation hearings due to his hawkishness and poor foreign policy record. Despite this, Bush made a recess appointment of Bolton, making him the US Representative to the UN.
Bolton’s abrasive manner caused controversy during his time in this role, and in early 2006, Bush announced his intention to re-nominate Bolton for US Ambassador. However, after submitting the nomination later in the year, Bolton chose to terminate his role as US Representative to the UN and not seek confirmation as US Ambassador.
John Bolton’s Controversial Tenure as National Security Adviser
John Bolton served as the National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump from the spring of 2018 until September 2019, when he claimed to have resigned. During his time in office, Bolton made several controversial decisions, including successfully pushing for the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal and dissolving the Global Health Security team that was responsible for responding to infectious disease outbreaks.
In addition, Bolton aggressively targeted international organizations and pushed for policies that favored the United States over other nations. He was known for his hawkish foreign policy views and his support for military intervention in several countries, including Iran and North Korea.
Despite his controversial tenure, Bolton remained a close ally of President Trump until his departure. His resignation was met with mixed reactions, with some praising his efforts to advance American interests on the global stage and others criticizing his aggressive tactics and lack of diplomacy.
John Bolton’s Career Highlights
John Bolton has held a variety of political, business, and media positions throughout his career. He served as executive director of the Republican National Committee’s Committee on Resolutions in the early 1980s and was an assistant to UN Secretary-General envoy James Baker in the late 1990s. Bolton has been a paid contributor to Fox News since 2006 and has contributed to the conservative magazine the Weekly Standard.
Bolton was senior vice president of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, from 1997 to 2001, and its director of foreign and defense policy studies from 2010 until 2018. During this time, he also served as chairman of the Gatestone Institute, a far-right think tank known for propagating anti-Muslim hate speech. In addition to these roles, Bolton set up his own Super PAC in 2013.
Bolton’s Memoir Released Despite Attempted Block by Trump Administration
In 2020, former National Security Advisor John Bolton released his memoir, titled “The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir.” The book’s contents were considered incriminating by the Trump administration, which attempted to block its publication through the Justice Department.
Despite these efforts, the book was ultimately published and became a bestseller. The controversy surrounding its release added to the ongoing political tensions between Bolton and the Trump administration.
Marriage and Family
John Bolton married Christina in 1972, but they divorced in 1983. In 1986, he married Gretchen Smith, a financial planner with whom he has a daughter named Jennifer. Bolton and his family currently reside in Bethesda, Maryland.
