Former White House aide Dana Perino has turned her focus to political commentary. She was 26th White House Press Secretary and the second woman to earn the position. Now, Dana appears on Fox News as a political pundit and co-host of the channel’s talk show titled The Five. As of 2022, Dana Perino has a net worth of $6 million.
Early Life
Dana Marie Perino was born on May 9, 1972. She was born in Evanston, Wyoming, but she was raised in Denver, Colorado. Perino grew up in a family of Italian origin.
Ponderosa High School was her alma mater in Parker, Denver. Perino earned a degree in mass communications from Colorado State University-Pueblo. She had minors in Spanish and political science. At the university, she was employed at KTSC-TV, the Rocky Mountain PBS branch.
She proceeded to the University of Illinois Springfield and obtained a master’s degree in public affairs reporting. She also served as a regular reporter for WCIA, a CBS affiliate, documenting the Illinois Capitol throughout her stay at UIS.
Political Aide Career
She worked as a staff assistant for Scott McInnis after moving to Washington, D.C. After this, Dana was hired as the press secretary for Representative Dan Schaefer, a position she held for over four years.
In 1998, she traveled to England following Schaefer’s announcement that he would retire. Perino went back to Washington in 2001 and took a job as a spokesperson for the Justice Department, where she stayed for two years.
Under George Bush, she soon climbed to the post of Deputy Press Secretary. She functioned as Acting White House Press Secretary when Tony Snow was undergoing cancer therapy. Eventually, she became the full-time Press Secretary and Assistant to the President from 2007 to 2009.
Media Career
Perino has worked as a political contributor for Fox News after the Bush administration was replaced. She’s also a recurring co-host on The Five, a panel talk show.
In the new administration, President Barack Obama recommended her to stand on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an organization that oversees government-sponsored foreign broadcasting. The Senate approved this proposal.
Dana Perino, along with Chris Stirewalt, became the host of the podcast Perino & Stirewalt: I’ll Tell You What. The weekly Fox News limited series ran from 2016 to 2020.
Net Worth and Salary
It is safe to say that Dana has built considerable wealth from her long career in the White House. She was also once an executive at the biggest general-interest paperback publisher, Random House.
But now, as a Fox News reporter, experts believe that Perino has a salary that could go up to $12 million. She also has an $8 million investment account consisting of 12 stocks. Furthermore, she owns a total of five real estate properties. That’s why her net worth is valued at $6 million.
Personal Life
Dana got married to Peter McMahon in 1998, roughly one year after they met. Perino’s dog Jasper, who was known as ‘America’s Dog’ sadly died in September 2021. Now, she and Peter live in Nay Head, New Jersey, with their new Vizsla named Percy.
