With an enviable annual salary of $90 million from his Sirius Satellite Radio career and his countless endorsements and investments, we are not shocked that Howard Stern has a net worth of $600 million. His wealth is undoubtedly a product of his hard work and passion for his craft.
Despite being the subject of controversies many times, he still managed to sell himself in the entertainment industry. As a radio host, judge, and author, among his many roles, Stern proved to his critics that he’s on the right track. Except of course in those countless moments when he put his foot in his mouth.
A Martial Artist
The celebrity DJ is a proud brown belt holder in Shotokan karate, a martial arts style that engaged Stern for a couple of years. Shotokan originates from Japan and is considered a dynamic martial art due to its powerful techniques that improve one’s speed and agility. Those who have progressed to brown and black belt levels are said to have developed a smoother style that integrates grappling and throwing.
Seems anyone who wants to mess with Stern should not follow through unless you want a broken bone. Could this be Stern’s strategic move against his critics and bashers? If so, he’s doing himself a great favor.
On and Off the Air
Did you know that Stern has a different personality when he goes off the air? His colleagues who have witnessed his work revealed that they witnessed Stern’s totally different ‘zone’ when he’s not on air. One colleague explained: “People who’ve seen him work without his signature dark glasses have claimed his eyes go back and forth like a mile a minute.”
Stern himself said, “It’s almost like my eyes roll into the back of my head, and four hours later, the show’s over.” Kinda weird but this odd ‘zone’ is not surprising given what we know of Stern’s antics.
David Bowie Refused to Talk to Him
The legendary singer/songwriter David Bowie did something that disappointed Howard Stern. During Stern’s early years as a radio host, he was lucky enough to have Bowie as his special guest. The English singer impressed him with a few of his hit songs but refused to have an interview, which greatly disappointed him. At the time, Howard would have been thrilled to talk to David about his music.
The good thing is that Bowie made it up to Stern as he rendered an impressive performance during Stern’s birthday in 1998. We just realized that Stern didn’t have that convincing power over people all the time.
Health Struggles
In an interview with David Letterman, Howard opened up about his struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He said that for a long period he was not aware and ignored his anxiety issues. As an example, he highlighted a specific routine when he would spend at least an hour in a bathroom just touching things. "I've come to understand that this behavior is trying to control a world that's out of control," Stern told Letterman.
What has helped Howard to manage his OCD is his practice of transcendental meditation. This is the same meditation that helped his mother survive depression. To this day, he’s not free from the symptoms of his anxiety but he’s able to handle it well.