Dana Perino Net Worth

What is Dana Perino's Net Worth and Salary?

Dana Perino is an American political commentator who has a net worth of $12 million.

Dana Perino first rose to national prominence as the 26th White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush, becoming only the second woman in U.S. history to hold the role. Known for her calm demeanor and disciplined messaging style, Perino transitioned seamlessly from government into media, where she built a highly successful second act as a Fox News anchor, political analyst, and author. Over the years, she has become one of the network's most recognizable and steady on-air personalities, balancing political commentary with broader lifestyle and leadership themes. In addition to her television work, she has held roles in publishing, academia, and podcasting, further diversifying her career beyond politics and cable news.

Early Life

Dana Perino was born on May 9, 1972, in Evanston, Wyoming. She was raised in Denver, Colorado, and attended Ponderosa High School in Parker. She later enrolled at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where she earned a degree in Mass Communications. During college, she was actively involved in media production, working for campus television and radio stations, including the Rocky Mountain PBS affiliate KTSC-TV. She was also a member of the school's competitive speech and debate team.

After graduating, Perino continued her education at the University of Illinois at Springfield, where she earned a Master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting. While completing her graduate studies, she worked as a reporter for CBS affiliate WCIA, covering state government and gaining early experience in political journalism.

Early Political Career

After relocating to Washington, D.C., Perino began her career in government as a staff assistant for Congressman Scott McInnis. She later became press secretary for Congressman Dan Schaefer, a role she held for nearly four years. These early roles helped her develop the communications skills and political instincts that would later define her career.

In 1998, she moved to England with her husband, temporarily stepping away from Washington politics. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, she returned to the U.S. and reentered government service, taking a role as a spokesperson for the Department of Justice.

White House Career

Perino's career reached new heights when she joined the administration of George W. Bush. She served as Associate Director of Communications for the White House Council on Environmental Quality before being promoted to Deputy Press Secretary.

In 2007, she stepped in as Acting Press Secretary while Tony Snow underwent cancer treatment. Later that year, she was officially named White House Press Secretary, serving until the end of the Bush administration in January 2009. During her tenure, she became known for her composure under pressure, including during a widely publicized 2008 press conference in Baghdad when a journalist threw shoes at President Bush, resulting in a minor injury to Perino.

Getty

Transition to Media and Fox News

After leaving the White House in 2009, Perino joined Fox News as a political commentator. Her ability to translate complex policy issues into accessible analysis quickly made her a valuable on-air presence.

In July 2011, she became a co-host of the panel talk show "The Five," which grew into one of the highest-rated programs on cable news. The show's mix of political debate and personality-driven commentary helped cement her status as a leading voice on the network.

She later expanded her role by hosting "The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino," which debuted in 2017. In 2021, she transitioned to a co-anchor role on "America's Newsroom" alongside Bill Hemmer, further solidifying her position as a cornerstone of Fox News' daytime programming.

Publishing, Teaching, and Podcasts

Beyond television, Perino has built a parallel career in publishing and education. She served as an editorial director for Crown Forum, a conservative imprint of Crown Publishing Group, where she helped shape political and non-fiction titles.

She has also taught political communications at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, sharing her firsthand experience with students interested in media and government careers.

In 2016, she launched the podcast "Perino & Stirewalt: I'll Tell You What," co-hosted with Chris Stirewalt. The show ran for several years and developed a loyal audience interested in political analysis delivered in a conversational tone. She later expanded her podcast portfolio with "Perino on Politics," further extending her reach beyond television.

Perino is also the author of several books, including "And the Good News Is…Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side" (2015), "Let Me Tell You About Jasper…How My Best Friend Became America's Dog" (2016), and "Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons for Young Women (from a Former Young Woman)" (2021).

Personal Life

Dana met her husband, Peter McMahon, on a flight in August 1997. At the time, she was 25 and working as a press secretary for a Colorado congressman, while McMahon was a 43-year-old international businessman. The two began a long-distance relationship and married less than a year later.

After her boss left office in 1998, Perino moved to England to be with McMahon. The couple later relocated to San Diego and eventually returned to Washington, D.C., where her career in the Bush administration took shape.

McMahon was born in Blackpool, England, in 1954 and built a decades-long career in the medical device and healthcare industries. After earning a marketing degree from the University of Brighton, he began working in the British medical sector in the 1980s, holding senior sales and marketing roles at companies such as Promedics, Therakos, and DePuy Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson. At the time he met Perino, he was serving as a sales and marketing director for Promedics, one of the U.K.'s leading manufacturers of orthopedic support products.

Following their marriage, McMahon relocated to the United States and expanded his career into executive leadership and entrepreneurship. He founded a consulting firm, Icon Medical, which he operated for more than 15 years, advising medical device startups on market strategy, international expansion, and distribution. He later served as president of GreenSleeve Medical and has continued working as an independent healthcare consultant, specializing in global sales strategy and supply chain optimization.

After her boss left office in 1998, Perino moved to England to be with McMahon. The couple later relocated to San Diego and eventually returned to Washington, D.C., where her career in the Bush administration took shape. Throughout her rise in politics and media, McMahon has maintained a relatively low public profile while acting as a steady and supportive presence behind the scenes.

In 2023, Perino was awarded an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from her alma mater, CSU Pueblo.

Real Estate

In May 2017, Dana and Peter paid $1.85 million for a home in Bay Head, New Jersey. They sold this home in January 2021 for $2.45 million. In December 2020, Dana and Peter paid $5.925 million with a $3 million mortgage for an oceanfront home in Bay Head. Her new home has four bedrooms plus an apartment over the garage. Today, this home is worth an estimated $7 million. Dana gave a tour of the home in this YouTube interview:

Who's Richer?

Dana
Perino

Compare!

Greg
Gutfeld