Pete Hegseth, nominee for Secretary of Defense, recently disclosed his financial details as part of the confirmation process. His two-year stint as host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” yielded a remarkable $4,602,340 in salary from Fox News.
Beyond his television income, Hegseth’s financial report reveals substantial earnings from book deals. HarperCollins, a News Corp subsidiary, paid him a $348,000 advance for “The War on Warriors” and $250,000 for “Battle for the American Mind.” He also reported “rent/royalty” income between $100,000 and $1 million from “Battle for the American Mind.”
The disclosures also include honorariums totaling tens of thousands of dollars from organizations such as the National Rifle Association ($25,000) and the Heritage Foundation ($25,000). Hegseth also reported income from rental properties and investments, including Bitcoin holdings valued between $15,001 and $50,000.
The report further indicates Hegseth possesses multiple bank accounts with significant balances, along with millions of dollars in stocks and investment accounts. A mortgage on his personal residence is valued between $1,000,001 and $5 million.
While Hegseth’s financial profile is consistent with that of a successful television personality, the scale of his income and investments raise questions. His lack of extensive experience in military management, policy, or budget could create potential conflicts of interest.
Hegseth was nominated by Donald Trump in November 2024. He has faced accusations of sexual harassment, which he denies; his attorney stated that the matter was investigated by law enforcement without resulting charges.