Rush Limbaugh fans will continue to be able to hear the late talk show host’s broadcasts. Premiere Networks, the company that syndicated Limbaugh’s afternoon program to some 600 radio stations across the country, said it would continue airing a series of guest hosts who play archival audio.
The news has been welcomed by vans as those close to him reveal the tens of millions he donated over the years to charity.
Limbaugh, who built the program into the most widely listened to show on American radio, passed away from cancer on February 17. The popular show has had guests hosts in the past. Since he passed away and during his absences from the program because of health complications, the show has been hosted by guests such as Todd Herman, Ken Matthews and Brett Winterble, who guide listeners through clips of Limbaugh talking on various issues.
“No one can replace Rush Limbaugh, and Premiere Networks will continue to provide millions of loyal listeners with the voice of Rush for the long term,” said Rachel Nelson, spokeswoman for the company.
The Limbaugh program was the top-rated for years, beating taxpayer-funded NPR programming, the BBC and even the music show Delilah. Numerous liberal talk shows attempted to find success over the years with most failing within a few months or years.
READ: Limbaugh talked about Jesus and cancer
Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and police officer turned conservative political commentator and author, will take over Limbaugh’s radio time slot. ”The Dan Bongino Show” will air on radio stations across the country Monday through Friday beginning on May 24.
“I’m excited to embrace the immense power of radio to connect with my listeners live for three hours every day,” Bongino said. “This is an incredible privilege, and I pledge to honor the trailblazing work of those who came before me.”
Radio host Erick Erickson penned a tribute to Rush Limbaugh syndicated by The Daily Wire following the talk show host’s death.
“Rush Limbaugh pioneered a model of radio, and a lot of us would not be doing what we are doing but for Rush,” he said. “There’s a public caricature of Rush Limbaugh that was formed by those jealous of his success and contemptuous of his views. Then there is the real Rush Limbaugh — a friend, a mentor and now the man who gets to personally deliver his talent back to the God of all creation from whom Rush got it and who Rush knew, loved and served.”
His salary for the show grew incrementally since he debuted on New York’s WABC-AM in 1988.
In 2001 he signed a $285 million contract, essentially $31.25 million annually for eight years, Celebrity Net Worth reports. ClearChannel radio network extended the contract in 2008, for $400 million across the next eight years, or $50 million annually. His earnings skyrocketed to $85 million annually with a four-year extension of the contract in 2016.
Limbaugh was private about his wealth and never sought media attention for donations. Since his death, those close to him have been revealing the hundreds of millions he raised or gave away to charity.
Forbes ranked him as the fourth most-generous celebrity in 2020 with donations totaling over $4 million. Donations included “to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, a charity that helps support the children of Marines or federal law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty” Forbes reported.
In July 2018, it was reported that Rush and his wife donated a half million dollars to the Dana Farber Cancer Clinic in Boston.
In April 2016 Limbaugh and his legion of fans had collectively raised more than $47 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
In December 2019, it was reported over $5 million was raised thanks to Limbaugh and his audience (Rush personally donated $2 million) for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a group to supports the loved ones of first responders killed in the line of duty.
Not seeing anyone post this, but Rush raised $47 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society over the course of his radio show in annual telethons with matching donations
— J*ck Posob*ec (@JackPosobiec) February 17, 2021
In October 2007 Democrats, upset with his statements about soldiers who opposed the Iraq War, sent Limbaugh an angry letter. The broadcaster auctioned off the letter and matched the winning bid. The profits went to The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. Rush said at the time, “it’s now official, is going to get in excess of $4.2 million because I am matching Betty Casey’s bid on eBay — $4.2 million.”
At the time of his death, Limbaugh’s net worth was $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
–Alan Goforth and Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
