An American reporter, author, lawyer, and talk show host with the name of Gerald Michael Rivera. From 1987 to 1998, he hosted the television program “Geraldo,” as well as the newsmagazine show “Geraldo at Large.” He frequently appears on Fox News’ “Five” program. Born from a working-class household, Rivera spent his formative years in Brooklyn and West Babylon, New York. He received his education at State University of New York Maritime College before earning a B.S. in business administration from the University of Arizona. After that, he worked in a number of jobs, including that of a short-order cook and a garment salesperson, before beginning his legal studies. He started practicing law and spent some time volunteering with Community Action for Legal Services in Manhattan. He also collaborated extensively with the Young Lords, a group of Puerto Rican activists. He finally found rich chances in journalism thanks to his legal career. He once thought about running in the 2013 New Jersey special election for the United States Senate as a Republican and friend of President Donald Trump. In addition to being a prolific novelist, Rivera is the author of several publications, including “HisPanic: Why America Fear Hispanics in the U.S.”
Early Childhood & Life
Gerald Michael Rivera, the son of Cruz, a cab driver, and Lillian, a restaurant employee, was born Geraldo Rivera on July 4, 1943, in New York City, New York. His mother was Jewish and his father was from a Catholic family. Craig Rivera, his older brother, became a successful television producer and journalist.
He was raised in Brooklyn and West Babylon, attending West Babylon High School there. Rivera studied at the State University of New York Maritime College from 1961 to 1963. After that, he continued his education at the University of Arizona, where he eventually earned a B.S. in business administration.
Before enrolling in the Brooklyn Law School in 1966, he then worked a variety of odd jobs. While he was there, Rivera worked as an intern for both the Harlem Assertion of Rights and the renowned lawman and then-District Attorney of New York County, Frank Hogan. In 1969, he earned his law degree.
Then he went to the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship program. He eventually went on to work as an attorney for the Puerto Rican activist group Young Lords.
Career of Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera started working for WABC-TV as an Eyewitness News reporter in 1970. In 1972, he then began making appearances on ABC’s “Nightline” and “20/20.” Around this time, he started serving as an executive producer and hosting ABC’s late-night newsmagazine program, “Good Night America.”
On April 21, 1986, he was the host of ‘The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults’. There were millions of individuals that watched this 2-hour special broadcast.
Rivera began presenting the discussion show “Geraldo” in 1987, and it ran for eleven years. Two United States senators and Newsweek both called the program “Trash TV” because it featured contentious characters. It turned out to be a popular show in spite of the criticism it received.
The American talk show host interviewed the killer Charles Manson on a segment about Satanism in 1988. In the same year, he conducted interviews with antiracist skinheads, white nationalists, and Jewish activists for a different show.
Geraldo Rivera served as the host of CNBC’s nightly news and interview program “Rivera Live” from 1994 to 2001. He left CNBC in November 2001 and thereafter worked as a war correspondent for Fox News. He covered both the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan at this period.
He wrote ‘HisPanic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S.’ in 2008. The Great Progression: How Hispanics Will Lead America to a New Era of Prosperity was published by Rivera the following year.
He started doing a radio program on New York’s WABC 77 on January 3, 2012. In the same month, he also began anchoring a weekday show on Los Angeles’ Talk Radio 790 KABC.
The journalist participated in the TV show “The Celebrity Apprentice’s” 14th season in 2015. He succeeded in raising more money than television star Leeza Gibbons, despite coming in second place.
In 2016, Rivera and professional dancer Edyta Liwiska competed on the reality TV program “Dancing with the Stars.” Sadly, they were the first couple to leave the competition.
He published ‘The Geraldo Show, A Memoir’ in 2018. At the moment, Rivera hosts the newsmagazine show “Geraldo at Large” and frequently appears on Fox News Channel. Additionally, he is the presenter of the Geraldo Show on WABC 770.
Disputes and scandals
Geraldo Rivera first gained notoriety in Iraq in early 2003 while serving as a reporter for the 101st Airborne Division. When he abruptly started discussing an upcoming operation during a Fox News show, he sparked outrage. Rivera received harsh criticism for his deeds and was ultimately kicked out of Iraq.
The journalist got into a fight with “The New York Times” in 2005 over their claims that he shoved a rescue squad member aside so that he could be photographed “helping” a woman in a wheelchair in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Later, Rivera demanded the publication issue a retraction and warned legal action if they did not.
Geraldo Rivera and Michelle Malkin, a fellow Fox employee, got into a fight in 2007. When Rivera insulted Malkin in an interview with the Boston Globe, tensions between the two began to grow. She was the most vicious commenter he had ever encountered, he had said. Rivera had added that if he saw her, he would spit on her. He eventually expressed regret for his offensive remarks, though.
After African American adolescent Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in 2012, Rivera made a few remarks about Martin’s hoodie and how it was related to his death. Later, he expressed regret for the same.
Awards of Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera received a Peabody Award in 1972 for his investigation into the mistreatment and neglect of inmates at the New York City-based Willowbrook State School for the Mentally Ill.
Individual Life of Geraldo Rivera
From 1965 to 1969, Geraldo Rivera was married to Linda Coblentz. Rivera divorced her and then wed painter Edith Vonnegut in 1971. In 1975, he and Vonnegut separated.
On December 31, 1976, he wed Sherryl Raymond. Gabriel Miguel was the only child the couple had before divorcing in 1984. Rivera wed Cynthia Cruickshank “C.C.” Dyer in his fourth marriage. Two kids were born to the couple.
Rivera has been wed to Erica Michelle Levy since 2003. Their only child is a girl named Sol Liliana.
In the 1980s, the flamboyant journalist also had an affair with Marian Javits, the spouse of Senator Jacob K. Javits.
Estimated Net Worth of Geraldo Rivera
The estimated net worth of Geraldo Rivera is around $1 million.