Who Is Seymour Hersh? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Seymour Hersh, born on April 8, 1937, is an esteemed American investigative journalist whose fierce reporting has made him a household name. Celebrated for his groundbreaking work exposing government and military misconduct, Hersh gained international recognition for his coverage of the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War. Now, at the age of 87, he continues to be an influential voice in journalism and politics, maintaining a significant presence in media and public discourse. His insights and reporting continue to resonate, proving that his impact on investigative journalism is lasting.
Occupation | Journalist |
---|---|
Date of Birth | April 8, 1937 |
Age | 88 Years |
Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Horoscope | Aries |
Country | U.S |
Popularity
Seymour Hersh's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As a figure of journalistic integrity, Hersh is both a resilient and dynamic presence in the field. While specific measurements regarding his height and weight are not publicly documented, it is acknowledged that his commitment to his work has always outweighed physical considerations, focusing instead on the substance of his reporting.
"In one, Private [Lynndie] England, a cigarette dangling from her mouth, is giving a jaunty thumbs-up sign and pointing at the genitals of a young Iraqi, who is naked except for a sandbag over his head, as he masturbates. Three other hooded and naked Iraqi prisoners are shown, hands reflexively crossed over their genitals....
In another, England stands arm in arm with Specialist [Charles] Graner; both are grinning and giving the thumbs-up behind a cluster of perhaps seven naked Iraqis, knees bent, piled clumsily on top of each other in a pyramid. ... Yet another photograph shows a kneeling, naked, unhooded male prisoner...
posed to make it appear that he is performing oral sex on another male prisoner, who is naked and hooded."
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Seymour Hersh has been married twice; his first marriage was to Judith (Judy) Hersh, with whom he shares three children: a son named Peter and daughters Sarah and Ellen. After their divorce, he married his second wife, the journalist and writer, Jean Hersh. As of 2025, there have been no substantial updates regarding his dating life, indicating that he remains focused on his work rather than his personal relationships.
Hersh next interviewed Paul Meadlo, a soldier who admitted that he had killed dozens of civilians on the orders of Calley. Meadlo's mother told Hersh that she "sent them a good boy and they made him a murderer".
Hersh's third article was syndicated by Dispatch on November 25, and that night an interview with Meadlo by Mike Wallace on the CBS News program 60 Minutes was broadcast on national television. The White House acknowledged the massacre for the first time the next day, and the Army appointed General William R.
Peers to head an official commission investigating it. Hersh proceeded to visit 50 witnesses over the next three months, 35 of whom agreed to talk. His fourth article, syndicated on December 2, revealed random killings of civilians in the days before the massacre; a fifth article was published weeks later.
Ten pages of Haeberle's photos were printed in Life magazine on December 5.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Seymour Hersh's net worth is estimated to be approximately $2 million. His financial success stems from decades of impactful journalism, book deals, and speaking engagements. While exact figures regarding his salary are not publicly disclosed, his consistent contributions to high-profile publications indicate a comfortable income level, notably boosted by his extensive body of work.
On February 8, 2023, in a newsletter article titled "How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline", Hersh alleged that the September 26, 2022, sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which had carried natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, was carried out by the U.S.
in a top-secret CIA operation ordered by President Joe Biden, with collaboration from Norway. The self-published post, which relied on one anonymous source "with direct knowledge of the operational planning", alleged that U.S.
Navy divers operating from a Norwegian ship, using NATO's BALTOPS 22 exercise in June 2022 as cover, had planted C-4 mines which were later remotely detonated by a sonar buoy dropped from a Norwegian plane.
The alleged motive was reducing Russian economic influence in Europe and cutting off a major source of state revenue; Nord Stream 2 was not yet operational, but would have doubled the gas supply of Nord Stream 1.
Hersh cited statements against the pipeline made by Biden and his foreign policy team as support, including Biden's warning in February 2022, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that: "If Russia invades... there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."
Career, Business and Investments
Seymour Hersh's career spans over five decades, characterized by fearless reporting and investigative prowess. Initially gaining prominence with The New York Times, he has written extensively for prestigious outlets such as The New Yorker, where his investigative pieces continue to highlight critical global issues.
Beyond journalism, Hersh has authored several acclaimed books focusing on American military and political history. His business ventures also extend to various lectures and speaking engagements nationwide. As of 2025, he remains active, continuously pursuing investigative stories that challenge the status quo.
Seymour Myron Hersh (born April 8, 1937) is an American investigative journalist and political writer. He gained recognition in 1969 for exposing the My Lai massacre and its cover-up during the Vietnam War, for which he received the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting.
During the 1970s, Hersh covered the Watergate scandal for The New York Times, also reporting on the secret U.S. bombing of Cambodia and the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) program of domestic spying. In 2004, he detailed the U.S. military's torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq for The New Yorker.
Hersh has won five George Polk Awards, and two National Magazine Awards. He is the author of 11 books, including The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House (1983), an account of the career of Henry Kissinger which won the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Social Network
Seymour Hersh maintains a modest yet impactful social media presence. Although not overly active on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, he engages with his audience through Twitter and Facebook. His followers appreciate his candid views on politics, media, and current events, fostering meaningful discussions and showcasing his extensive expertise.
On October 22, 1969, Hersh received a tip from Geoffrey Cowan, a columnist for The Village Voice with a military source, about a soldier being held at Fort Benning in Georgia for a court-martial for allegedly killing 75 civilians in South Vietnam.
After speaking with a Pentagon contact and Fort Benning's public relations office, Hersh found an AP story from September 7 that identified the soldier as Lieutenant William Calley. He next found Calley's lawyer, George W.
Latimer, who met with him in Salt Lake City, Utah, and showed him a document which revealed Calley was charged with killing 109 people.
Education
Hersh earned a degree in communications from the University of Chicago, where he honed his skills in storytelling and journalism. His educational background laid the foundation for his decorated career, eventually leading him to become one of the most significant investigative journalists of his generation.
in the 1920s from Lithuania and Poland, respectively. Isador's original surname was Hershowitz, which he had changed upon becoming a citizen in 1930. As a teenager, Seymour helped run the family's dry cleaning shop on the South Side.
Hersh graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1954, then attended the University of Illinois Chicago and later the University of Chicago, where he graduated with a history degree in 1958. He worked as a Xerox salesman before being admitted to the University of Chicago Law School in 1959, but was expelled during his first year due to poor grades.