Living Limbaugh: $400 Million Contract, Gulfstream, Scented Candles, And The "Business" Of Hating Liberals

The New York Times Magazine has a big cover story on Rush Limbaugh this week, almost 8,000 words about how Rush Limbaugh has built himself into one of the most influential voices in America. With an estimated 14 million listeners (Limbaugh claims it's more like 20 million), he's far and away the top-rated radio talk-show host in America. That's partisan radio talk-show host — and he has no intention of being left out of this election. He already created big waves, first by publicly dissing John McCain and then by encouraging Republicans to mix into the democratic primaries and vote for Hillary Clinton and keep the Democratic nomination battle in play, in what he called "Operation Chaos." Both Karl Rove and John Kerry gave it credit for having had an effect.

Now Limbaugh has extended his contract through 2016 — $38 million per year with a "nine-figure signing bonus." The total package is valued at "north of $400 million."

Author Zev Chafets got more access to Limbaugh than any other journalist, being the first from the "hated mainstream media" to gain access to his studio and home. Here are some excerpts from the story:

Limbaugh on why he will reluctantly support McCain: ''It's like the Super Bowl...you root for the team you hate less. That's McCain.''

Limbaugh on how he plans to take on Obama: ''I'll approach Obama with fearless honesty...He's a liberal. I oppose liberals. That's all that's involved here.''

Limbaugh's tactics for doing so: Chafets reports on Limbaugh's appointment of his associate, Bo Snerdly, as the "Official Obama Criticizer" of his show. "Snerdly introduced himself as an ''African-American-in-good-standing-and-certified-black-enough-to-criticize-Obama guy,'' and declared that he was speaking, ''on behalf of our E.I.B. brothers and sisters in the hood.'' The bit was typical Limbaugh -- confrontational, deliberately insensitive and funny. It was also a declaration of independence. Whatever special courtesies John McCain might plan to extend to Barack Obama, Limbaugh is going to conduct his air war, as he always has, by his own rules of engagement."

On Living Limbaugh: "There are five homes -- all of them his -- on the property. The big house is 24,000 square feet. Limbaugh lives there with a cat. He's been married three times but has no children."

Chafets on Limbaugh's domestic preferences: "His staff lights fragrant candles throughout the house to greet his arrival from work each day."

On the view from his private humidor: "The room opens onto a patio, a putting green and a beach. On the table was a brochure for Limbaugh's newest airplane, a Gulfstream G550. It cost him, he told me, $54 million."

Limbaugh on success: ''Do you know what bought me all this?...Conservatism didn't buy this house. First and foremost I'm a businessman."

Limbaugh on his substance abuse: ''You know, I've had a problem with substance abuse. I don't deal with the future anymore. I take things one day at a time.''

What you see when you walk into Limbaugh's nondescript studio headquarters: "An American flag stands in the corner. Only a small, framed picture of Limbaugh, bearing the caption ''America's Anchorman,'' reveals that this is the headquarters of one of the country's most admired and reviled figures."

The full story will be online here shortly.

Comments

[frappe]

Did they perhaps mean a $400M dollar contract "on" Rush Limbaugh?

[mamacat]

I have always suspected that someone like Rush would have far less public appeal if our education system taught classes in logic. Of course, most of our schools have their hands full just trying to teach the 3 Rs, but its a thought.

It also occurs to me that there is a substantial minority in this country who think that Bush and the GOP are the greatest thing since sliced bread, and that that minority and the subset of people who admire Rush probably have mostly the same members.

[ROBOT8]

JUST LIKE HOWARD STERN! WAIT TILL HE CAN'T MAKE THE GRADE

[aznurse]

I bet when he goes, there'll be no rainbows.

[brooklyncitizen]

You can't gt more American than Rush.....some of us may not want to face that but there it is.

I've had acquaintances (white) that are mostly intelligent admit to listenning to Rush and saying htat "he makes sense". He only makes sense when deep down you are white and hateful (or hate- filled).

[BethStuart]

That's a lot of money for someone who flunked out of college in his freshman year. According to his bio, all three of his wives divorced him. Maybe they know something we don't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh

[Adian00]

Ladies and Gentlemen - if you didn't know our country was broken and presumably beyond repair just read the above story. How is it possible that there are veterans who must now eat cat food because it's all they can afford when this D-bag lunatic is worth 400 million dollars? This world won't last long.

[ann1]

Aint that America...­....Gettin­g paid to spread HATE!

[nellie]

Paying a spoiled, privileged baby millions of dollars to whine for three hours a day that other people are spoiled and privileged. Man. If it weren't true, no one would ever believe it.

[bazokbros]

The bottom line is by Clear Channel making this deal means higher ad prices, more commercials and less content. This is why free radio sucks. By the time you cycle through the radio ads on any channel talk or music, you are at your destination.

[Gumby123]

waaa...get over it and who cares?

[richardgordon]

The irony is that if the Republicans win the Presidency. Rush's 400 million would soon be worth only 400 million Russian Rubles.

[marapem]

Rush Limbaugh is worth 400million dollars a year. The media company he works for could have put the money to better use, such as giving the money to charity where the money could be distributed to the people who really need it.

To the people the Rush constantly complains about who are lazy and don't want to work. With him having so much money, he forgets about the people who are laid off, and are not able to find jobs after they are laid off.

[isisdawnra]

I must correct " Marapem" on his first statement.

rush..his worth or value is not to exceed 0.02 cents.
Any money given this" ilk" for spewing hate and deceit is ludicrous at best.

This man is a racist hate mongering proven liar.

He does actually admit these facts.

Manipulating voters to vote hilly," because she would be the easiest to beat out of the pres. race"
When riped on oxycontin "I condemn drug users" he said. Then later cried about it on air. Ohooo, please forgive me.
Referring to all women, as Uppity. I call that slang........ Detestable and Misogynist!

Sad and pathetic..­..........­...limbaug­h and those who listen to his sophistic drivel.

Why do people listen?

Are we as a culture so limited in brain function as to create our own demise.? I think so......

.......Now That is Sad

[totalliberal]

["Rush Limbaugh is worth 400million dollars a year. "]

Proof that ditto-heads can't read. They must be yelled at. He isn't making 400 million a year, he has signed for 400 million over the next eight years. About 1/5 what Oprah gets.

[mandalaina]

Hm, to call democrats "ditto-heads" while the right-wing goose steps to the tune of Rush..ironic, that. Rather like the pot calling the...oh heck, why bother. Can't talk to someone who doesn't have the sense to think for themselves.

By the way--Oprah is known for the things she's done to help humanity. Can you name one freely committed philanthropic act that Rush has done other than to refrain from kicking a poor child of color? His message is of hate, and for my money, he's got nothing coming.

[neoconsareliars]

There's a lot of suckers being born out there in the USofA.

[WorkingClass]

Rush loves his work. And he loves money and himself. Nobody can shovel it quite like Rush. Its not his fault so many people are so stupid.