Charles Timothy Hagel was born on 4 October 1946, in North Platte, Nebraska USA, to Elizabeth Dunn and Charles Dean Hagel, of German, Irish and Polish descent. He is a politician and businessman, best known as a co-founder of Vanguard Cellular Systems and as a former Republican senator from Nebraska, and US Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama.
So just how wealthy is Charles Hagel? Sources state that Hagel has amassed a net worth of over $5 million, as of mid-2017. His fortune has been accumulated through his cell phone company and his other business ventures, as well as during his political career, beginning in the early ‘70s.
Chuck Hagel Net Worth $5 million
Hagel grew up moving around Nebraska, along with his three brothers. He attended Scotus Central Catholic High School in Columbus, Nebraska, and then enrolled at the Brown Institute for Radio and Television in Minneapolis, Minnesota, graduating in 1966. He also attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, obtaining a BA degree in history in 1971; meantime from 1967 to 1968 he was in the US Army, serving in the Vietnam War, which earned him several accolades.
After his discharge and after completing his education, Hagel began his career in broadcasting, working as a newscaster, DJ and talk-show host at two Omaha radio stations, KBON and KLNG. However, this didn’t last for long – in 1971, he entered the world of politics, being hired to work under Nebraskan Republican Representative John McCohillister, eventually becoming his chief of staff. He then worked as a lobbyist for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, managing government affairs. His net worth began to increase.
In 1980 Hagel served as an organizer for the Ronald Reagan presidential campaign, who appointed him deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration the following year after his inauguration as President. He also worked as deputy commissioner general during the World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1982. All added to his wealth.
Hagel broke away from his involvement in government in 1982, to pursue a career in the ‘phone service. He co-founded Vanguard Cellular Systems, a cell phone service firm that soon developed into one of the country’s leading cell phone companies, earning Hagel an impressive net worth.
In 1992 he became president of the investment banking company, McCarthy Group, LLC, and then Chairman and CEO of its subsidiary, Election Systems & Software, which manufactures and sells voting machine equipment. His wealth grew larger.
In 1995 Hagel started his campaign for the US Senate in Nebraska. He won the elections as the first Republican in 24 years to win a Senate seat in the state. In 2002, he won re-election, having collected over 83% of the vote, which was the largest margin of victory in any statewide race in the history of Nebraska. This position reinforced his status in the world of politics, making his net worth significantly larger.
After retiring from Senate in 2009, he took a teaching position, becoming a Distinguished Professor in National Governance at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. He also became a member of a number of boards of directors, such as President Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board, Defense Department’s Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee, Public Broadcasting Service’s board of directors, Chevron Corporation’s board of directors and Deutsche Bank’s Americas Advisory Board. He also served as a director of the Zurich Holding Company of America, and a senior advisor to McCarthy Capital Corporation. His involvement in all these projects further increased his fortune. In 2013, Hagel was appointed secretary of defense by President Barack Obama, holding that position for one year. This position contributed to his net worth as well.
Speaking about his private life, Hagel was married to Patricia Lloyd from 1979 to 1982. As of 1985 he has been married to Lilibet Ziller, with whom he has two children. The family resides in McLean, Virginia.
Hagel is involved in philanthropy, having been a leading member of various organizations, such as the United Service Organizations, American Red Cross, Bread for the World and the Ripon Society.
