Key Takeaways
- Out of his multiple income avenues, his main earnings came from broadcasting.
- Lucas started his broadcasting career at 16.
- He spent 33 years at 9NEWS in Denver.
Ward Lucas, a renowned investigative reporter, author, and speaker, had an estimated net worth ranging between $5 million and $10 million at the time of his passing.
The majority of his wealth came from his work in the broadcasting industry.
From the age of 16, when he first hosted radio talk shows in Seattle, Washington, he spent more than four decades in broadcasting.
Lucas was the first reporter to cover the DB Cooper hijacking and the notorious Ted Bundy m*rders.
Additionally, he interviewed a wide range of individuals, from Presidents to nursing home residents and Secretaries of State to people on the streets.
In 1974, Lucas made his television debut at KIRO-TV in Seattle, eventually transferring to KUSA-TV in Denver, Colorado.
Television broadcasting earnings were much lower back then, and it’s estimated that he earned around $15,000 to $25,000 annually.
He was also a former professional speaker on the national circuit from 1990 to 2004, specializing in topics like magic and parapsychology.
His public speaking engagements further showcased his versatility, adding another income stream to his overall net worth.
Later in his career, he worked as an investigative reporter and weekend anchor at 9NEWS, spending 33 years there until his retirement in 2009.
The average salary in broadcasting typically ranges from $50,000 to $86,000 annually. Considering his long and accomplished career in broadcasting, Ward Lucas may have earned an estimated salary of $70,000 to $100,000 per year.
Throughout his career, he won more than 70 awards, including Emmys, the George Polk Award, and CSICOP’s Responsibility in Journalism Award, a testament to his tireless efforts.
After retiring from 9News, he authored three books: “Neighbors at War! The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowner’s Association,” “Sometimes Ya Gotta Ride the Elephant,” and “The Wacky World of a Recovering Army Brat Family,” which provided him with a decent source of income, contributing to his overall net worth.
His book Neighbors at War!” is available on Amazon. The Kindle edition is $9.99, the paperback is $60.00, and the mass-market paperback edition is $148.98.
Lucas left a lasting impression on his audience through his exceptional journalism, speaking engagements, and writing.
He lived life with passion and left behind a lasting professional footprint.
Ward Lucas passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at the age of 75. The cause of his d*ath remains unknown.
His legacy, however, lives on through his work, inspiring future generations of journalists and truth-seekers.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ward Lucas was born in 1949 in the city of Kyoto, Japan.
- He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Seattle Pacific University.
- His father sustained severe head injuries from a Nazi bazooka during World War II and later lived with Alzheimer’s disease for over a decade before passing.
