What is Jeff Zucker's net worth? CNN chief once called Rudy Giuliani 'useful idiot', reveal bombshell recordings
CNN president Jeff Zucker is being criticized for allegedly calling Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani a "useful idiot", propagating liberal and anti-Trump views during the editorial meetings for "months". James O'Keefe, founder of Project Veritas, a far-right activist group, has now released recording from the private meetings that he infiltrated.
The cable news network is being questioned for its "biased" coverage, which reportedly treated Hunter Biden's Ukraine story as an attempt by Trump's team to "throw stuff at the wall" ahead of the election. According to The Daily Beast, Zucker labeled the Hunter story a "disinformation campaign" pushed by POTUS' lawyer. He's also heard saying CNN "obviously" wouldn't cover it.
The recordings have further revealed Zucker using defamatory terms against Giuliani, according to reports. His statement reads, "There is a term for what Rudy Giuliani is suspected of being which is "useful idiot". From America's mayor to useful idiot."
It remains to be seen how the latest bombshell recordings against CNN are going to impact the news coverage as O'Keefe has questioned the cable news network's authenticity after Zucker's leaning towards one party and its representatives. Also, would the revelations about Zucker's editorial impact his future with the channel? CNN is yet to comment on it.
Zucker has been with CNN since 2013, following the previous president Jim Walton's tenure. Along with CNN, he oversees CNN International, HLN and CNN Digital. Having been the prominent face of several television channels for years, Zucker has established himself as one of the most sorted American media executives with a net worth of $60 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Reportedly he receives an annual pay of $6 million.
Zucker rose to prominence after being named the executive producer of 'Today' in January 1992. At the age of 26, he became the youngest executive producer in the program's history. He served as the President for NBC, NBC Entertainment, News & Cable Group, NBC Universal Television Group and headed about $16 billion global media and entertainment content company, including NBC broadcast network and its entities MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Oxygen and Syfy.
Zucker and Caryn Stephanie Nathanson married in 1996 and share four children together. He met her when she was working on 'Saturday Night Live'. The couple collectively owns an impressive amount of properties. In 2007, they bought an apartment in Manhattan for $12.3 million. They decided to split in 2018 and placed the house for sale for $17.5 million.
"Located on Madison Avenue, the 1908 building is steps from Central Park. With just 10 stories, each of the 26 units is roomy. The pet-friendly building offers door attendants, a gym and storage." reports The New York Post. The couple reportedly also co-owns a 1.5-acre estate in the Hamptons worth $7.3 million.
Zucker and Caryn announced their split through a joint statement in 2018. It said, “Together, we have made the difficult decision to separate, but do so as friends committed to our kids. They remain our sole focus."