Read the Vetting Report on Pete Hegseth.
Pete Hegseth built his career across military service and conservative media before becoming Secretary of Defense. Following his military service he transitioned into conservative media, ultimately becoming a co-host of Fox News's "Fox & Friends Weekend," a role that became his primary source of wealth. His most recent financial disclosure showed he earned $4.6 million from Fox News between January 2022 and November 2024 — roughly $2.4 million a year [Yahoo Finance, 6/1/25].
As of 2025: Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, who worked as a producer at Fox News, had a combined net worth of $3 million. [Forbes, 2/7/25]. Beyond his Fox salary, he earned roughly $900,000 from 41 paid speeches to conservative organizations including Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation, plus book royalties and advances — a $348,000 advance for "The War on Warriors" and a $150,000 advance for "Battle for the American Mind," each also generating between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties. [Forbes, 2/7/25] His disclosure also listed ETF holdings ($380,000 to $850,000), a rental property in Baltimore, and his wife’s stock positions and up to $50,000 in Bitcoin. [Inkl, 3/1/25]
Despite his book deals and speaking engagements, Hegseth’s net worth remains low relative to his cabinet peers. Per his financial disclosure, 2/3rds of his combined net worth with his spouse belongs to her. This dynamic is driven partly by two divorces, which Forbes noted as a significant factor tamping down his fortune despite years of Fox News income. [Forbes, 2/7/25]
| Year | Assets | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 20241 | $1.4 million to $3.4 million | n/a |
| 20252 | $3.2 million to $5.7 million | 132% / 67% |
1Pete Hegseth - OGE Financial Disclosure, 12/23/24
2Pete Hegseth - OGE Financial Disclosure, 5/14/26
Concerned Veterans for America
CEO, 2012-15
Fox News Network LLC
TV host, 2022-24
Vets for Freedom
Executive director, 2007-10
Sources
Pete Hegseth - OGE Financial Disclosure, 12/23/24; HillVets, viewed 10/2/26