The Hearst family is a wealthy American family based in California. After earning a sizable fortune in the mining industry during the late 19th Century, the family applied their wealth towards acquiring ownership over numerous publications throughout the country. This network of news outlets ultimately grew to become one of the largest mass media empires in the 20th century. To this day, the Hearst family continues to be involved in the media industry through their ownership and control of the multinational conglomerate, Hearst Communications (alternatively known as the "Hearst Corporation").
History
The Hearst family's fortune was originally earned in the mining industry during the late 19th century through the entreprenuership of George Hearst. Subsequently, George's son, William Randolph Hearst used his father's wealth to buy numerous news outlets including the New York Evening Journal, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country and Harper's Bazaar. By the 1930s, William Randolph's network of publications had grown to become the largest media empire in the United States.
Today, via their ownership of the Hearst Corporation, the Hearsts' holdings encompass 76 newspapers, 250 magazines, and 35 TV stations. As of 2025, the family's combined net worth is set at $22.4 billion.
Members
George Hearst William Randolph Hearst George Randolph Hearst George Randolph Hearst Jr. George Randolph Hearst III Emma Hearst Phoebe Hearst Cooke William Randolph Hearst Jr. William Randolph Hearst III John Augustine Hearst John Randolph Hearst John Randolph “Bunky” Hearst Jr. Lisa Hearst Hagerman William Randolph Hearst II Randolph Apperson Hearst Catherine (Hearst) Hill Virginia Hearst Randt Patty Hearst Gillian Hearst-Shaw Lydia Hearst-Shaw Anne Hearst King Randolph Harris Amanda Hearst Victoria Hearst David Whitmire Hearst David Whitmire Hearst Jr. Millicent Hearst Bouadjakji Anissa Bouadjakji Balson
Network Associates The following is a list of figures who have been closely aligned with or subordinate to the Hearst family.
Richard E. Berlin Ambrose Bierce Paul Block Arthur Brisbane Stephen Crane Marcus Daly Homer Davenport Richard Harding Davis Nelson E. Edwards Lee Guittar Julian Hawthorne George Herriman Walter Howey Ellen Levine Alfred Henry Lewis Henry McLemore Rachel Newman Richard F. Outcault Louella Parsons Frederic Remington Elsie Robinson Ashton Stevens Robert E. Thompson Ariel Varges
Businesses The following is a non-exhaustive list of publications and other businesses in which the Hearst family have held a controlling or otherwise significant interest.
A&E Networks The Atlanta Georgian Awesomeness The Beaumont Enterprise Bicycling Boston American Car and Driver Chicago American Connecticut Magazine Connecticut Post Cosmopolitan Country Living The Courier Detroit Times Digital Spy Elle ESPN Inc. Esquire Examiner Newspaper Group Fitch Ratings Food Network Magazine Gente Good Housekeeping Greenwich Time Harper's Bazaar Hearst, Haggins, Tevis & Company Hearst Metrotone News Hearst Shkulev Media Hearst Television House Beautiful Houston Chronicle Huron Daily Tribune International News Service Jacksonville Journal-Courier Journal Inquirer Laredo Morning Times Los Angeles Examiner Men's Health The Middletown Press Midland Daily News Midland Reporter-Telegram New Haven Register New York Daily Mirror New York Journal-American The News-Times O, The Oprah Magazine Plainview Herald Popular Mechanics Quest Record Journal Register and Tribune Syndicate San Antonio Express-News San Francisco Chronicle Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seventeen SFGate Stamford Advocate The Telegraph (Alton, Illinois) Times Union (Albany) Town & Country The Washington Herald Washington Times-Herald Women's Health
References