Charles Krauthammer Bio
Charles Krauthammer was a legendary American political columnist, author, and Pulitzer Prize-winning commentator who served as one of the preeminent conservative voices in modern political history. He was best known to television audiences as a nightly panelist on Fox News Channel’s Special Report with Bret Baier. He also authored the massive number-one New York Times bestseller “Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics”.
Krauthammer’s path to political journalism was highly unconventional. He initially graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School and became a board-certified psychiatrist, helping author the definitive diagnostic manuals for mental disorders and publishing seminal research on bipolar disease. During his first year of medical school in 1972, a tragic diving board accident severed his spinal cord, leaving him permanently paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life.
Displaying immense resilience, he spent 14 months recovering in the hospital before returning to finish his medical degree from his wheelchair. He transitioned into politics in 1978, directing psychiatric research planning under the Jimmy Carter administration and later serving as a speechwriter for Vice President Walter Mondale. He eventually turned to print media, writing a syndicated weekly column for The Washington Post that reached more than 400 newspapers worldwide and earned him the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary.
In addition to his journalism, Krauthammer was a passionate intellectual who co-founded Pro Musica Hebraica, a non-profit dedicated to recovering lost classical Jewish music. In June 2018, Krauthammer published a poignant final column announcing that he had terminal cancer. He passed away on June 21, 2018, leaving behind a profound legacy as an independent thinker who deeply shaped the American public square.
Charles Krauthammer’s Age
How old was Charles Krauthammer? Krauthammer was born on March 13, 1950, in Manhattan, New York City. He passed away from cancer on June 21, 2018, at the age of 68 years old.
Charles Krauthammer Family
Charles was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household that divided its time between Montreal, Canada, and New York. His father was Shulim Krauthammer, an immigrant from Ukraine who became a naturalized citizen of France and built a highly successful real estate enterprise. His mother was Thea Horowitz Krauthammer, a native of Antwerp, Belgium, who lived an epic 97-year life devoted to her family, language learning, and the arts. French was the primary language spoken inside their home. Charles grew up alongside his older brother, Marcel Krauthammer, from whom he was completely inseparable during their childhood. Influenced by their uncles who were doctors, both brothers originally chose to pursue medicine. Marcel tragically passed away from cancer in 2006 at the age of 59.
Charles Krauthammer’s Wife
Krauthammer was married to Robyn Krauthammer. The couple met in 1974 at Oxford University, where Charles was studying on a Commonwealth Scholarship and Robyn was studying law. They wed in 1974 and enjoyed a deeply devoted marriage that spanned 44 years until his death. Robyn eventually left her legal career to become a professional artist and sculptor, and she co-founded Pro Musica Hebraica alongside her husband. Together, they had one child, a son named Daniel Krauthammer, who later edited and published his father’s final book.
Charles Krauthammer’s Height
Krauthammer stood at an approximate pre-accident height of 5 feet 11 inches. Following his diving accident at the age of 22, he utilized a wheelchair for the remaining 46 years of his life.
Charles Krauthammer Net Worth
Krauthammer had an estimated net worth of between $8 million and $12 million at the time of his passing. His wealth was accumulated through his four decades as a top-tier syndicated columnist, massive royalties from his million-selling books, and his long-term broadcast contributor contracts with networks like Fox News.
Charles Krauthammer’s Salary
Krauthammer received an estimated annual income ranging from $1 million to $2 million during the peak of his career. This substantial revenue was generated through a combination of premium Fox News contributor fees, worldwide syndicate royalties from The Washington Post, and high-profile public speaking engagements.
