What is Wayne LaPierre's net worth and salary?
Wayne LaPierre is an American author and gun rights advocate who has a net worth of $20 million. Wayne LaPierre was born in Schenectady, New York in November 1949. He was the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association from 1991 to 2024. LaPierre announced his resignation from the NRA on January 5, 2024, amid mounting legal battles. LaPierre is a known critic of gun control policies and is also the CEO of the NRA and an author. He has served on the board of directors for the American Association of Political Consultants, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the American Conservative Union.
LaPierre joined the NRA in 1977. He was named executive vice president of the NRA in 1991, a position he still holds today. Through his leadership, he has transformed the NRA from a relatively small organization, to one of the most powerful lobbying groups in America. In 2018, the NRA's annual revenue topped $412 million, while expenses were $423 million.
That annual loss has been common for the NRA in recent years. In 2017 the organization spent $17 million more than it earned. In 2016 it lost a whopping $46 million, largely in an effort to bolster the Presidential campaign of Donald Trump.
Wayne LaPierre has authored the books:
- "Guns, Crime, and Freedom"
- "Shooting Straight: Telling the Truth About Guns in America"
- "Guns, Freedom, and Terrorism"
- "The Global War on Your Guns"
- "The Essential Second Amendment Guide"
- "America Disarmed: Inside the U.N. and Obama's Scheme to Destroy the Second Amendment"
NRA Salary
As the executive vice president of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre earns an annual salary of $985,000 according to the organization's most recent Form 990 filing. He also typically earns a bonus of around $150,000. Between 2014 and 2015 he earned $5,110,985 from the NRA thanks largely to a $3.7 million retirement plan distribution. He also allegedly has a $17 million post-employment contract with the organization.
The NRA's annual revenue is around $400 million. Annual contributions are round $100 million. The NRA pays around $33 million per year in salary and wages to employees and in recent years has lost $15 – 45 million per year on its operations. Around 56 people at the NRA earn more than $100,000 per year.
Surprisingly, Wayne is periodically not the highest paid person. In various years, that honor has gone to executive director of general operations, Kayne B. Robinson who earns a little more than $1 million in base salary.
Outside of his NRA compensation, LaPierre earns more than $500,000 per year in speaking engagement fees and book royalties.
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Alleged Financial Improprieties
On August 6, 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the NRA amid allegations that the organization violated non-profit laws by allegedly diverting tens of millions of dollars to executives, relatives of executives and other close associates. The lawsuit alleged that Wayne LaPierre and three top executives "instituted a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement and negligent oversight", while failing to properly manage the organization's finances.
Notable among the allegations:
- LaPierre reportedly used $3.6 million in NRA money over two years on unneeded travel expenses.
- He allegedly used NRA funds to pay for private jet flights for himself and family members. Some of the flights he was on, some he was not. For example, he reportedly used NRA funds to pay for 8 round trip flights to the Bahamas, costing the organization $500,000.
- LaPierre used NRA funds to ferry his family members around the country on private jets. For example, in 2017 he allegedly used NRA funds to pay for a jet to fly 500 miles off course to pick up his niece's daughter in Nebraska on the way to an event in Dallas.
- He allegedly gave himself a $17 million post-employment contract without getting approval from the NRA's board of directors.
- He reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of the NRA's money on his own wardrobe expenses, including spending $39,000 in ONE DAY alone shopping in Beverly Hills.
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Early Life
Wayne LaPierre grew up in upstate New York and graduated from Siena College in 1971 with a degree in education. He went on to earn a master's degree in government and politics from Boston College in 1974.
During Vietnam, Wayne came within inches of being drafted but ultimately was not sent to war.
After completing his education, LaPierre worked for several conservative organizations, including the American Conservative Union and the National Conservative Political Action Committee. He also served as a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives.
NRA
LaPierre joined the NRA in 1977 as a lobbyist and quickly rose through the ranks to become the organization's executive vice president in 1991. In this role, LaPierre has been a vocal and controversial advocate for gun rights and the firearms industry.
Under LaPierre's leadership, the NRA has fought against almost any form of gun regulation, arguing that such measures infringe on the Second Amendment rights of Americans. LaPierre has also been a staunch defender of the firearms industry, arguing that gun manufacturers and dealers should not be held liable for gun violence.
Controversies
LaPierre's tenure at the NRA has been marked by numerous controversies, including allegations of financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and inappropriate behavior. In 2019, he came under fire after it was revealed that he had used NRA funds to pay for personal expenses, including luxury travel, private jets, and expensive clothing.
LaPierre has also been criticized for his inflammatory statements and actions, including his response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. In the aftermath of the shooting, LaPierre argued that the solution to gun violence was not stricter gun laws, but more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. His remarks were widely criticized and contributed to a heated national debate over gun control.
Personal Life & Real Estate
LaPierre is married and has two children. He is known for his love of hunting and has been an avid hunter for most of his life. He is also a published author and has written several books on the subject of gun rights and the Second Amendment.
Despite his controversial views and actions, LaPierre remains a prominent and influential figure in the gun rights movement. He has been praised by many gun owners and firearms enthusiasts for his unwavering commitment to their cause, while others have criticized him for his divisive rhetoric and opposition to common-sense gun laws.
In 1996, Wayne paid $875,000 for a 7,400 square foot home in Great Falls, Virginia. He sold this home in January 2024 for $2.395 million.
