Oliver North Net Worth

Net Worth Overview

Net Worth: $5 Million
Salary: $2 Million
Category: Richest Politicians › Republicans
Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Profession: Politician, Military Officer, Author, Consultant, TV Presenter
Nationality: United States

What is Oliver North’s Net Worth?

Oliver North, a former United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, political commentator, author, and television host, has an estimated net worth of $5 million. He gained national notoriety for his central role in the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration.

Table of Contents

Following his military and political career, North became a conservative media figure, hosting radio and television programs, including “War Stories with Oliver North” on Fox News. He also served as President of the National Rifle Association (NRA) from May 2018 to April 2019.

Military Service and Vietnam War Experience

Oliver North was born on October 7, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas. After spending two years at State University of New York – Brockport, he transferred to the United States Naval Academy before joining the Marine Corps.

Vietnam War (1968 – 1969)

North served as an infantry officer in Vietnam, where he:

Earned the Silver Star for valor.
Was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

After the war, he transitioned into counterintelligence, rising to a staff role at the National Security Council (NSC) under President Ronald Reagan.

The Iran-Contra Affair

North became deeply involved in the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal that involved:

Selling arms to Iran, despite a U.S. arms embargo.
Using the proceeds to fund Contra rebel groups in Nicaragua, which Congress had prohibited.

North helped coordinate these secret transactions and was later implicated in destroying documents to conceal evidence.

Legal Fallout

In 1987, North was indicted on 16 charges, including:

Conspiracy
Obstruction of justice
Lying to Congress

He was convicted of three counts, but his convictions were overturned in 1991 due to immunized congressional testimony that may have influenced trial witnesses.

Although legally exonerated, the scandal tarnished his reputation, leading to his forced retirement from the Marine Corps in 1988.

Political Career and Senate Run

In 1994, North ran for U.S. Senate in Virginia as a Republican.
He raised $20.3 million, the most ever at that time through direct-mail fundraising.
Despite strong financial backing, he lost the race to Democratic incumbent Chuck Robb.

Media and Broadcasting Career

After his political defeat, North transitioned to a career in conservative media.

1995 – 2005: Hosted a radio talk show on Radio America.
2001 – 2016: Hosted “War Stories with Oliver North” on Fox News.
2012: Served as a military consultant for “Call of Duty: Black Ops II”.

Books and Public Speaking

North has authored multiple bestsellers, including:

“Under Fire: An American Story” (1991) – His autobiography.
“Mission Compromised” (2002) – A military-political thriller.
“The Jericho Sanction” (2003) – Another novel with military themes.

His public speaking engagements have also been a major income source, often drawing large conservative audiences.

Role in the National Rifle Association (NRA)

In May 2018, North was elected President of the NRA.

His presidency was controversial due to internal disputes over financial mismanagement.
Despite the role being volunteer-based, he was allegedly paid $2 million annually through a deal with NRA ad agency Ackerman McQueen.
His tenure ended in April 2019 after clashing with NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre over alleged financial misconduct within the organization.