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Americans Who Found Their Fortune in Podcasting

Updated: Jul 17, 2023By Kate PrinceBusiness
This article originally appeared on Investing.com. It has been republished here with permission.
Joe Rogan ©Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images | Glenn Beck @Kris Connor/WireImage for SiriusXM/Getty Joe Rogan ©Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images | Glenn Beck @Kris Connor/WireImage for SiriusXM/Getty

Radio has been around for decades, but podcasts are still relatively new in the grand scheme of things. Over the past ten years, these downloadable episodes have become part of normal life for many of us. While there are many podcasts out there, the competition is fierce. 

If it’s a success, the hosts can take home a very nice slice of the pie thanks to advertising revenue. The more downloads they get, the bigger their bank balance becomes, and the platform wars intensify. Major streaming services, like Apple and Spotify battle it out to host the best and brightest stars on their platforms. Read on to learn more about some of the highest-rated shows out there. 

1. Dave Ramsey

Podcast: The Dave Ramsey Show
On Air Since: 1992
Net Worth:
$159 million*

There aren’t many people as successful at self-help as Dave Ramsey. What he doesn’t know about bettering yourself isn’t worth knowing. Ramsay first started The Dave Ramsey Show back in 1992, but he’s moved with the times to have one of the most successful podcasts in America.

Dave Ramsay @The Dave Ramsey Show / Youtube.com Dave Ramsay @The Dave Ramsey Show / Youtube.com

Now, the lifestyle guru runs the Ramsey Podcast Network, available on Apple or Google podcast services, with a plethora of shows, focused on entrepreneurship, financial management, and more. It’s hardly surprising that he’s worth an astonishing $159 million and counting. After all, he knows all the tips and tricks to keep the cash flowing in, even in hard times.

2. Stone Cold Steve Austin

Podcast: The Steve Austin Show
On Air Since: 2013
Net Worth:
$45 million*

Stone Cold Steve Austin is more than just a WWE wrestling superstar. He’s a savvy media businessman that knows exactly how to make the most of his businesses. Steve has worked on multiple podcasts and shows over the years, but in 2013 he launched his own podcast. It’s been popular ever since. 

Stone Cold Steve Austin @StoneColdSteveAustin / Facebook.com Stone Cold Steve Austin @StoneColdSteveAustin / Facebook.com

Back in 2019, Steve took a five-month break from creating new episodes of the show. “Since January, we’ve been running Steve’s classic podcasts from the last five years,” explained the network. “There is no substitute for original content from the global icon and national treasure, Steve Austin. He hits the ground running and is reaching his biggest audience ever.”

3. Michael Knowles

Podcast: The Michael Knowles Show
On Air Since: 2017
Net Worth:
$2 million*

Yale University graduate Michael Knowles may only be 30, but he’s achieved more in his three decades than most of us can ever hope to. Knowles was invited to join The Daily Wire in 2016, starting out his journalism career as a cultural correspondent for Andrew Klavan. 

Michael Knowles Show @pellthepundants / Twitter.com Michael Knowles Show @pellthepundants / Twitter.com

Knowles famously released a book of empty pages called “Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide” in 2017, which became an Amazon bestseller. Later that same year, he launched his very own show but has come under fire for some of his views, including publicly insulting environmentalist Greta Thunberg. 

4. Marc Maron

Podcast: WTF with Marc Maron
On Air Since: 2009
Net Worth:
$2 million*

Podcasts hosted by stand-up comics are a great way to kickstart the day. WTF with Marc Maron started out in a rather controversial way. When his original podcast was canceled on Air America, he kept his key to the studio and snuck in to record several episodes of WTF. 

Marc Maron @NYTimes / Twitter.com Marc Maron @NYTimes / Twitter.com

The shoe regularly enjoys over 220,000 downloads per episode and has had plenty of positive reception from critics. Since its inception in 2009, Maron has interviewed names like Kevin Smith, President Barack Obama, and Sean Penn. Maron is said to earn over $14,000 per episode. You can also catch him in the hit Netflix show, GLOW.

5. Andrew Klavan

Podcast: The Andrew Klavan Show
On Air Since: 2015
Net Worth:
$5 million*

Unlike some other political commentators, Andrew Klavan has made a living as a writer of crime and suspense novels. He’s so highly lauded in that genre that the king of horror himself, Stephen King, has called him the “most original American novelist since Cornell Woolrich.” When he’s not writing a bestseller, Klavan is working on his radio program, The Andrew Klavan Show. 

The Andrew Klavan Show @ The Daily Wire / Youtube.com The Andrew Klavan Show @ The Daily Wire / Youtube.com

The conservative podcast can be found on The Daily Wire streaming on Apple Podcasts and other select services. Klaven’s podcast is both informative and hilarious, with cultural commentary and a self-confessed “relentless mockery” of some ideals, it remains incredibly popular.

6. Rush Limbaugh

Podcast: Rush Limbaugh Morning Update
On Air Since: 1988
Net Worth:
$600 million*

Rush Limbaugh has worked hard over the years to secure a fortune of $600 million. The Rush Limbaugh Show and its podcast are hosted by Premiere Networks. While the podcast may be a relatively new invention over the past few years, the show itself has been nationally syndicated since 1988. 

Morning Update @Rush Limbaugh TV / Youtube.com Morning Update @Rush Limbaugh TV / Youtube.com

Limbaugh talks extensively about current affairs, while also keeping things light by inserting face ads. He also takes calls from listeners, and occasionally he has a guest in to make things a little more interesting. Limbaugh is a New York Times best-selling author and often hailed as a very important conservative political commentator, having been in the business for so long. 

7. Sarah Koenig

Podcast: Serial
On Air Since: 2014
Net Worth:
$5 million*

Some podcasts are easy-breezy, while others dive deep into hard-hitting issues. This is where Sarah Koenig comes in. The journalist started Serial in 2014 alongside Julie Snyder. From the very first episode, Serial ventured into the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee and established a unique long-form storytelling format. 

Sarah Koenig @RollingStone / Twitter.com Sarah Koenig @RollingStone / Twitter.com

Each season concentrates on one particular subject, including Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and the Justice Center Complex in Cleveland. In 2015, it was the recipient of a Peabody Award. Season one and two enjoyed over 340 million downloads, beating podcast world records. Before it even debuted, Serial was already no.1 on iTunes. 

8. Glenn Beck

Podcast: The Glenn Beck Radio Program
On Air Since: 2002
Net Worth:
$197 million*

Glenn Beck has made a name for himself as a bright force in the podcasting world. Not only does he host his own show, The Glenn Beck Program, but he is also the CEO, founder, and owner of Mercury Radio Arts, the company that owns the radio network his own show is broadcast on. 

Glen Back The Glenn Beck Program @BlazeTV / Youtube.com Glen Back The Glenn Beck Program @BlazeTV / Youtube.com

Over 500 radio stations play Beck’s show. Not long after it first debuted in 2002, The Glenn Beck Radio Program became an almost instant hit. As a result, Beck landed a TV show on CNN and Fox News. Is it any wonder he’s worth almost $200 million?

9. Ben Shapiro

Podcast: The Ben Shapiro Show
On Air Since: 2018
Net Worth:
$6 million*

Ben Shapiro is one of the youngest political radio hosts at the tender age of 36. Shapiro has been making waves in the industry since he was just 17 when he landed a nationally syndicated column. When he isn’t writing for Newsweek or The Daily Wire, he’s working on his daily political program, The Ben Shapiro Show. 

Ben Shapiro - The Ben Shapiro Show @benshapiro / Twitter.com Ben Shapiro - The Ben Shapiro Show @benshapiro / Twitter.com

The podcast has been hailed as one of Westwood One’s finest, with over 200 stations playing it. Back in 2019, it won the “Best News Podcast” award at the iHeartRadio podcast awards, cementing its status as a true contender in the radio world.

10. Bill Simmons

Podcast: The Bill Simmons Podcast
On Air Since: 2016
Net Worth:
$80 million*

Bill Simmons is a prolific sports journalist with a strong background as the former ESPN and Grantland chief. Back in 2016, he took a gamble and created his own website called The Ringer. He upped sticks and created a new podcast to take with him, covering all aspects of basketball. 

Bill Simmons @billsimmons / Facebook.com Bill Simmons @billsimmons / Facebook.com

Fans adore it and The Ringer became a popular online destination for sports fans as well as launching the Ringer Podcast Network. After steadily growing over the last few years, there are over 30 shows on the network, with The Bill Simmons Podcast at the top of the list. 

11. Mark Levin

Podcast: Mark Levin Podcast
On Air Since: 2002
Net Worth:
$5 million*

62-year-old Mark Levin has not just one, but two podcasts to his name. As well as hosting Life, Liberty & Levin on Fox News, Levin hosts The Mark Levin Show. The program is nationally syndicated by Westwood One, regularly achieving in excess of seven million weekly listeners. 

Mark Levin Mark Levin Podcast @Mark Levin / Facebook.com Mark Levin Mark Levin Podcast @Mark Levin / Facebook.com

The conservative show focuses on a variety of topics, including rulings made by the Supreme Court of the United States and whether Levin and his guests agree with the judgments. Callers regularly phone in to discuss trending topics but he isn’t always nice to those with a different point of view.

12. Drew Pinsky

Podcast: The Dr. Drew Podcast
On Air Since: 2013
Net Worth:
$15 million*

Dr. Drew Pinsky is famous for his work as a TV therapist, especially on the MTV Teen Mom franchise. In 1999, he started a website intended to give teenagers a community to talk about their issues. When he ran out of financial backing, he sold it, but reacquired it in 2013. 

Drew Pinsky @drdrew / Facebook.com Drew Pinsky @drdrew / Facebook.com

He revamped the website and gave it an entirely new feel, while also launching his podcast. The show focuses on what Dr. Drew does best, giving listeners advice on addiction, relationships, and more. It’s not exactly lighthearted entertainment, but Pinksy uses his platform to help others which is highly commendable.

13. Conan O’Brien

Podcast: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
On Air Since: 2018
Net Worth:
$190 million*

Conan O’Brien might be best known for being a talk show host, but he’s funny outside of that, too. He launched Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend back in 2018, with weekly episodes dropping like clockwork. Each program features the star talking to actors and other stars, including Jeff Goldblum, Adam Sandler, and Lisa Kudrow. 

Conan O'Brien @variety / Twitter.com Conan O'Brien @variety / Twitter.com

Each season consists of 36 episodes, lasting between 32 and 91 minutes. Fans and critics have been quick to praise O’Brien, with Rolling Stone saying, “Listeners are treated to a much more vulnerable, behind the scenes vibe from O’Brien.”

14. Alec Baldwin

Podcast: Here’s The Thing
On Air Since: 2011
Net Worth:
$47 million*

As an actor with decades of experience in the industry, Alec Baldwin is well-liked and recognizable. As a result of his own personal rep, he manages to get some top-notch guests to appear on his podcast, Here’s The Thing. 

Alec Baldwin @Society & Culture Podcast / Youtube.com Alec Baldwin @Society & Culture Podcast / Youtube.com

Since launching in 2011, Baldwin has chatted to Dick Cavett, Lorne Michaels, Billy Joel, Judd Apatow, Edward Norton, and more. Despite rumors that it was to end after two seasons in 2013, the podcast is still going strong. It just goes to show that Baldwin is a multi-talented entertainer that can do more than stand in front of a camera.