John Gretton “Jocko” Willink is a retired U.S. Navy Officer who is now an author, podcaster, and speaker. Willink is the host of the acclaimed Jocko Podcast and co-founder of Echelon Front. Right now, Jocko Willink has a net worth of $6 million.
Early Life
John was born on September 8, 1971 in New England. His early years were ordinary, he played soccer in high school and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of San Diego.
Next, Willink joined the military and began conditioning at the navy training academy. Later, he enlisted in the BUDS program in Colorado and graduated BUDS class 177.
Military Career
Willink was enlisted in SEAL Team 1 and SEAL Team 2 for eight years. He saw his first combat in the Gulf of Oman and was involved in the SEAL squad that stormed Russia’s tanker Volga-Neft-147.
In 2006, he went to Iraq with SEAL Team 3 as the leader of Task Unit Bruiser and worked as a Navy SEAL trainer. For his service, he was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Post-Navy
Jocko Willink co-founded Echelon Front with Leif Babin after leaving the Navy. The company’s objective is to empower leaders and organizations through educating, training, and mentoring them.
In 2015, Leif and Jocko published “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win.” The book covers leadership from a military perspective. Willink went on to publish various non-fiction, fiction, and children’s books.
Furthermore, John runs the Jocko Podcast, a weekly show with Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete Echo Charles. The podcast covers a range of themes, including management, health, and self-help.
Net Worth and Earnings
Jocko Willink’s wealth has grown significantly as a result of his 20-year stint in the military. After retiring, he has used his skills and experience in the military to earn a nice living. Today, his main income source is Echelon Front but makes extra money through books, talks and a podcast.
According to chartwellspeakers.com, he charges $150,000 to $299,000 to speak at live events. The podcast has over 420 episodes and charges users for access to premium content via RedCircle.com. The show is uploaded onto YouTube and makes an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 per month in ad revenue.
Echelon Front is one of the top leadership development companies in the US. They’ve helped thousands of organizations from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies such as Cisco and Marathon. In addition to live events and workshops, they sell online courses. These retail from $349.97 to $999.97. Echelon Front makes an estimated $5.6 million in annual revenue according to growjo.com.
He also teaches jiu-jitsu at Victory MMA & Fitness and has a black belt in the sport. In addition, Jocko is a co-owner of Origin USA, a Farmington, Maine-based corporation that makes lifestyle gear, dietary supplements, and workout equipment. In March 2024, the former Navy SEAL raised $30 million from a private equity firm to fund the growth of Jocko Fuel
Personal Life
Jocko married Hellene Willink in 1997 and she previously worked as a flight attendant before meeting Jocko. The couple lives in San Diego and have four children.
