Roger Eugene Ailes was born on May 15, 1940, in Warren, Ohio, USA, to Donna Marie and Robert Eugene Ailes. His father worked as a foreman in a local factory. His parents divorced in 1960. Roger Ailes became a prominent American television executive and media consultant. He was best known as the founding CEO of Fox News and later served as Chairman of Fox Television Stations Group.
Ailes attended public schools in Warren, Ohio, and was later inducted into Warren High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. He went on to attend Ohio University in Athens, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962.
Roger Ailes began his career in television as a property assistant on the nationally syndicated daytime talk program The Mike Douglas Show. Working in both Cleveland and Philadelphia, he quickly gained recognition for his performance. In 1965, he was promoted to producer, and by 1967, he had become the show’s executive producer, a position he held until 1968.
His work on the show earned critical acclaim, and in 1968, Ailes received an Emmy nomination, a major feat so early in his media career.
Ailes transitioned into political consulting in the late 1960s. He played a key role in Richard Nixon’s 1968 presidential campaign, helping to shape Nixon’s television image and improve his appeal to voters. This work is often credited as a significant turning point in political media strategy.
He later served as a media consultant for several other prominent Republican figures, including Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Ailes also advised Rudy Giuliani during his first mayoral campaign in New York City.
Between 1987 and 1988, Ailes helped guide George H. W. Bush’s campaign through the Republican primaries and into the general election. He produced many of the campaign’s television ads, contributing to Bush’s eventual victory. Some of these ads were later featured in the award-winning documentary Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.
After Richard Thornburgh's unsuccessful 1991 Senate campaign in Pennsylvania, Ailes stepped away from political consulting. However, he continued to coach politicians and contributed to speechwriting efforts.
In 1988, Ailes co-authored the book You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master Communicators with his longtime associate Jon Kraushar. The book delves into techniques for effective communication and public presentation, drawing on Ailes’ extensive experience in television and politics.
Roger Ailes was appointed Chairman of Fox Television Stations Group on August 15, 2005. He served as the CEO and Chairman of Fox News Channel, overseeing its rise to prominence as a leading news network. His leadership helped shape Fox News into a major force in American media, known for its distinctive programming and editorial voice.
Under his leadership, Ailes also oversaw other media properties including Twentieth Television, Fox Business Network, and MyNetworkTV. His contract with Fox News was renewed in October 2012 for an additional four years. By 2016, he had led Fox News for two decades.
Roger Ailes married Elizabeth Tilson in 1998. The couple had one child. At the height of his career, Ailes's net worth was estimated at $21 million.
Ailes was widely regarded as a trailblazer in both political consulting and television broadcasting. His strategic vision and media expertise left a lasting impact on the American media landscape.
| Birth Date: | 15 May, 1940 |
| Age: | 79 yrs |
| Occupations: | Politician Businessperson |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Warren |
| Education: | Ohio University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American television executive and political consultant |
| Net Worth 2021: | 200 million |
