William Hearst III | $1B+
Get in touch with William Hearst III | William Randolph Hearst III is chairman of Hearst, one of the largest privately held media and information companies in the world, spanning television, publishing, data, and digital businesses. A grandson of founder William Randolph Hearst, he has played a central role in modernizing and stewarding the family-controlled enterprise while maintaining its long-term private ownership structure. Earlier in his career he was active in venture investing and philanthropy, including leadership roles within the Hearst Foundations. Known for low-profile governance and multigenerational stewardship, Hearst represents the modern continuation of one of America’s most enduring business dynasties.
William Randolph Hearst III (born June 18, 1949) is an American businessman, media executive, and philanthropist who serves as the chairman of the board of directors of Hearst Corporation, one of the largest diversified media, information, and services companies in the United States.[1]
As a grandson of the pioneering newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst—the founder of the media empire—Hearst III is a prominent heir to the family's vast fortune, estimated at $22.4 billion as of 2024 and derived from media and entertainment holdings.[1][2]
He was elected chairman in January 2013, succeeding his cousin George R. Hearst Jr., and has overseen the company's expansion into digital media, television, and global investments during his tenure.[3][4]
A graduate of Harvard University, Hearst III previously held executive roles including chief executive officer at At Home Corporation and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner.[5][1]
In addition to his corporate leadership, he serves as president of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, supporting education and health initiatives, and founded Alta Journal (also known as the Journal of Alta California), a quarterly magazine focused on West Coast culture and ideas, where he acts as editor and publisher.[6][7]
Early Life
Family Background
William Randolph Hearst III was born on June 18, 1949. He is the son of William Randolph Hearst Jr. (January 27, 1908–May 14, 1993), who served as a newspaper publisher and editor-in-chief of Hearst Newspapers from 1951 until his death in 1993.[8][9] His father, the second son of the media magnate, managed key aspects of the family's publishing operations during a period of expansion and diversification for the corporation.[10]
As the grandson of William Randolph Hearst (April 29, 1863–August 14, 1951), the founder of the Hearst media empire, Hearst III descends from a lineage that built one of America's largest media conglomerates starting in the late 19th century. His grandfather established the Hearst Corporation through aggressive newspaper acquisitions and innovations in journalism, amassing a fortune that included interests in magazines, radio, and real estate by the time of his death.[10][11]
Hearst III has a younger brother, Austin Hearst, with whom he shares familial ties to the dynasty.[12] Within the broader Hearst family structure, he holds a prominent position as one of five grandchildren designated as family trustees and primary beneficiaries of the William Randolph Hearst Family Trust, established under his grandfather's 1951 will to manage and perpetuate the corporation's assets across generations. This arrangement ensures that stakes in the Hearst Corporation—now a global enterprise with holdings in publishing, television, and digital media—are inherited and overseen by select family members to maintain long-term control and wealth preservation.[13][14]
Education
William Randolph Hearst III attended the Canterbury School, a preparatory boarding school in New Milford, Connecticut, graduating in 1967.[15]
He then enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics in 1972.[16] Hearst has maintained an ongoing engagement with mathematics, serving as an associate in Harvard's Department of Mathematics and participating in organizations such as the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.[16]
Career
Journalism and Publishing
William Randolph Hearst III began his professional career in journalism in 1972, joining the Hearst Corporation as a reporter and assistant city editor at the San Francisco Examiner.[1] In this entry-level role, he gained hands-on experience in daily news operations within the family-owned newspaper, which had been a cornerstone of the Hearst media empire since its acquisition by his great-grandfather in 1880.[17]
Hearst advanced to editorial leadership at the San Francisco Examiner, serving as its editor and publisher from 1985 to 1995.[1] During this decade-long tenure, he oversaw the paper's content direction, editorial standards, and publishing decisions at a time when the newspaper faced intensifying competition in the Bay Area media landscape. His leadership emphasized robust local reporting and investigative journalism, building on the Hearst tradition of influential daily publications.[17]
In 1976, Hearst left the Hearst Corporation to pursue independent opportunities, becoming the managing editor of the newly launched Outside magazine, founded by Jann Wenner.[1] He remained in this role until 1980, contributing to the magazine's early development as a publication focused on outdoor adventure, environmental issues, and lifestyle features.[7] This stint provided Hearst with editorial experience outside the family business, honing his skills in niche publishing and creative content curation.[18]
Hearst rejoined the Hearst Corporation in 1980, initially taking on publishing responsibilities at the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.[1] He later held the position of vice president of Hearst Cable Communications, where his work intersected with media distribution strategies, before returning to newspaper leadership at the San Francisco Examiner.[19] These roles underscored his commitment to traditional publishing amid evolving media technologies.[6]
In 2017, Hearst founded the Alta Journal (Journal of Alta California), serving as its editor and publisher.[20] This quarterly print and digital magazine emphasizes literary nonfiction, essays, and reporting on California and the broader American West, covering topics such as arts, culture, environment, and innovation.[20] Through Alta, Hearst has sought to foster in-depth storytelling and regional perspectives, filling a gap for thoughtful, place-based journalism in the digital age.[7]
Technology Entrepreneurship
In 1995, William Randolph Hearst III transitioned into venture capital by becoming a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where he focused on investments in emerging technology companies. His role at the prominent Silicon Valley firm involved evaluating and funding startups in sectors such as internet infrastructure and software, leveraging his background in media to identify opportunities at the intersection of content and digital innovation.[21]
Building on this expertise, Hearst co-founded @Home Network in 1996 as a groundbreaking broadband internet service provider, partnering with major cable operators including Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI), Comcast, and Cox Communications.[22] As the company's founding CEO from 1996 to 1997, after which Thomas Jermoluk succeeded him, he oversaw its launch, which aimed to deliver high-speed internet access over cable lines, revolutionizing consumer connectivity at a time when dial-up dominated.[23] Hearst led @Home through rapid expansion, securing initial funding from Kleiner Perkins and achieving widespread adoption among early broadband users.[24] He remained involved as vice chairman and board member; the company merged with Excite in January 1999 in a $7 billion stock transaction that created Excite@Home and positioned it as a leader in portal and high-speed access services.[25]
Hearst extended his influence in networking technology by serving on the board of directors of Juniper Networks from late 1995 until February 2008.[26] During this period, he contributed to strategic decisions that supported the company's development of high-performance routers and switches, helping Juniper challenge established players like Cisco in the internet backbone market and fueling the growth of scalable data networks essential for digital media distribution.[27]
These entrepreneurial pursuits in technology provided Hearst with firsthand insights into digital infrastructure and online business models, which informed Hearst Corporation's broader pivot toward digital media expansion in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including investments in online content delivery and broadband-enabled publishing platforms.[28]
Corporate Leadership
In 1993, William Randolph Hearst III was elected as a trustee of the Hearst Family Trust, established under the will of William Randolph Hearst, where he has played a key role in managing the family's substantial assets and overseeing the governance of the Hearst Corporation.[29] As a testamentary trustee, he contributes to decisions affecting the trust's investments and the long-term stewardship of the family's media and diversified holdings.[3]
Hearst III has served as a director of the Hearst Corporation for more than 30 years, providing strategic oversight across its operations, including its subsidiary Hearst Television, one of the largest owners of television stations in the United States.[6] His board tenure has emphasized continuity in the company's evolution from traditional publishing to a broader portfolio encompassing information services and digital platforms.[1]
In January 2013, Hearst III was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hearst Corporation, succeeding his cousin George R. Hearst Jr., and he continues to hold this position as of 2025.[3][6] Under his leadership, the company has advanced its diversification into digital media, including investments in data analytics and online content delivery, while pursuing global expansion through acquisitions and partnerships in international markets.[30] His prior experience in technology entrepreneurship has informed these board-level decisions on digital transformation.[3]
Philanthropy
Hearst Foundations
William Randolph Hearst III assumed the role of president of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation in January 2003, succeeding Millicent Hearst Boudjakdji and taking on leadership of one of the family's primary philanthropic vehicles.[31] Under his guidance, the Hearst Foundations—which include the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the Hearst Foundation, Inc.—have focused on supporting nonprofit organizations in the areas of culture, education, health, and social services, emphasizing initiatives that promote opportunity and well-being for diverse communities across the United States.[32] By 2024, these foundations had awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants to over 6,400 organizations since their establishment in the 1940s, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to philanthropy.[33]
In 2025, Hearst III oversaw a series of targeted grant distributions that underscored the foundations' responsive approach to national needs. The spring grants totaled over $13 million, supporting 76 organizations in 26 states.[34] Later in the summer, an additional $11 million was allocated to 80 organizations across 24 states.[34] Complementing these efforts, the foundations provided $3 million in emergency relief to nine Los Angeles-area nonprofits in January 2025 to aid recovery from devastating wildfires, including support for affected families and community rebuilding.[35]
Hearst III also administers the Hearst Journalism Awards Program through the foundations, a longstanding initiative that fosters excellence in student journalism. The program reached its 65th National Championships in June 2025, held in San Francisco, where top collegiate competitors in writing, photojournalism, audio, television, and multimedia were recognized for their work, continuing a tradition that has shaped generations of journalists since 1960.[36]
Other Board Roles
William R. Hearst III has served on the board of directors of The Scripps Research Institute since 2017, where he contributes to the governance of this leading nonprofit organization dedicated to biomedical research. Appointed amid efforts to bolster the institute's financial stability and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into therapeutic applications, Hearst's involvement leverages his extensive experience in media, venture capital, and philanthropy to support strategic initiatives. As a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he helps guide efforts to address operational challenges, including a reported annual deficit, by fostering connections to funding and commercialization opportunities.[37][38]
Beyond Scripps, Hearst has held board positions in several media and technology-focused nonprofits, including the Center for Investigative Reporting, where he joined in 2016 to advance independent journalism; and the San Francisco Film Society (now SFFILM), supporting film innovation and cultural programming. He previously served as a trustee of the Carnegie Institution for Science, contributing to its mission in basic research across astronomy, biology, and earth sciences. These roles reflect his commitment to organizations at the intersection of media, technology, and scientific inquiry.[6][39][40]
Through these board engagements, Hearst has played a key role in fostering collaborations between the media and science sectors, drawing on his leadership in the Hearst Corporation to bridge communication strategies with research dissemination. His presidency of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation has served as a foundation for these broader philanthropic involvements, enabling cross-sector partnerships that enhance public understanding and innovation in publishing and digital ethics.[5][6]
Personal Life and Recognition
Family
William Randolph Hearst III married Margaret Kerr Crawford on September 23, 1990, at the Ventana Inn in Big Sur, California. The bride, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Bartholomew Crawford of New York and chairwoman of the AIDS Home Care and Hospice Project of the Junior League of San Francisco, had a previous marriage that ended in divorce. Hearst, son of William Randolph Hearst Jr. and Austine McDonnell Hearst of New York and then editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner, also had a previous marriage that ended in divorce. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Angus Dun Jr., an Episcopal priest.[15]
Hearst and his wife have shared a close partnership in family life, supporting each other through personal and communal commitments, including joint involvement in select philanthropic efforts such as co-founding the San Simeon Fund in 2004. Their marriage has been marked by a commitment to privacy, allowing them to nurture their household away from public scrutiny.[41]
The couple are parents to four children: son William Randolph Hearst (known as William Dedalus Hearst) and daughters Adelaide, Caroline, and Eliza, though details about their personal pursuits remain private.[42][43] The Hearsts primarily reside in California, centered in the San Francisco Bay Area; as of 2021, they owned homes in Mill Valley and Calistoga in Napa Valley, though the Mill Valley property was sold in 2024.[44][45][46][47]
Awards
William Randolph Hearst III received the Roy W. Howard Prize for outstanding public service in journalism in 1976, awarded by the Scripps Howard Foundation for a series of investigative stories on "Water, Agriculture and the 160-Acre Limit" published during his tenure as a reporter and assistant city editor at the San Francisco Examiner.[31][48] This early-career recognition highlighted his contributions to editorial excellence in public service reporting at the Hearst-owned newspaper, where he began working in 1972.[31] As of 2025, no additional major personal awards in journalism or other fields have been documented for Hearst III.
Disclaimer: This profile is based on publicly available information. No endorsement or affiliation is implied.
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