There seems to be a greater need for people like Sam Harris. Men and women who are fact-driven and science-oriented that don't fall into one political extreme or the other are magnets for those critical of the mainstream media as well as the disinformation pushers in the fringe groups.
Of course, it's harder and harder to be able to differentiate between those who are distorting information to suit their own narrative. Even someone like Katy Perry's ex-husband, Russell Brand, could be accused of such a thing now that he has his own podcast.
But Sam Harris doesn't quite fit into that category. Nor does he appear as controversial as someone like the uber-successful Jordan Peterson.
Instead, Sam appeals to people squarely in the middle. And for that, he too has made a ginormous sum of money. Here's how much he's made and how he spends it...
How Sam Harris Made His $2 Million Net Worth
To be more exact (at least by WealthyPersons.com's account) Sam Harris is worth closer to $3 million than he is $2. That's pretty good for a neuroscientist turned philosopher, author, and podcast host. It's doubtful that Sam knew he was going to be as big as he's become when he was growing up in Los Angeles, California.
Sam is the son of a notable television writer and producer, Susan Harris, who created The Golden Girls. On top of this show business connection, his father, Berkeley, was a working actor. But Sam didn't have show business in his blood. At least not yet.
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Instead of doing anything remotely like what his parents, Sam focused on his interest in philosophical and religious questions. Of course, Sam is now known as one of the "Four Horsemen of the Non-Apocalypse" alongside other Atheist thinkers and scientists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchins, and Daniel Dennett. But he wasn't raised without religion. While he grew up in a secular household, his mother was on Jewish lineage, and therefore that played some factor in his life.
Sam studied at Stanford University earning a B.A. in philosophy and then later a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience at The University of California.
He also traveled to Nepal and India where he learned meditation under Buddhist and Hindu teachers. Immediately after the September 11th attacks, Sam wrote and released his first book, "The End of Faith", released a highly regarded thesis on science and human values, and began to peer review a number of his fellow scientists' work. This set him on the path to becoming one of the most influential academics of his time.
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Sam has gone on to write six more best-selling books, been paid to fly around the world giving lectures on neuroscience, religion, ethics, psychedelics (which he dabbled in), terrorism, politics, and even A.I. Of course, he's also known for his high-profile debates with a number of other renowned thinkers of our time.
He also started to be featured on major shows such as Real Time With Bill Maher, where he got into an extremely publicized and heated (on one side, at least) debate with Ben Affleck over Islam and religion in general.
Because of this interview, among other appearances, heated debates, and accusations by likes of journalist Glenn Greenwald and author Noam Chomsky, Sam has become somewhat of a controversial figure. So much so that he has been deemed part of "The Intellectual Dark Web" a group of men and women who differ drastically in opinion from one another but aren't deemed 'appropriate' by the mainstream media.
More and more, people are trying to find less tribalistic viewpoints on major issues so they gravitate to individuals like Sam. Because of his growing following, Sam also started a podcast "Making Sense" (originally "Waking Up"), and created his very own meditation app... The guy's speaking voice is slow and soothing, so he's pretty much perfect to guide people through meditation.
How Sam Harris Likes To Spend All His Money
Not much is known about Sam Harris' spending habits. Although we do know that he is a fan of a fine restaurant or two. He has often been spotted at various high-end restaurants in New York, L.A. and all over the world. Sometimes he's even dining with his buddies such as the extremely wealthy Bill Maher.
Given that Sam lives a pretty private life with his wife, Annaka Gordon, and their two daughters, we've been left in the dark as to the level of his extravagance.
Given that he's rarely spotted on vacation or doing anything over-the-top, it's safe to say that he doesn't throw around his money like some celebrities. That doesn't mean that he doesn't own a beautiful house in Los Angeles.
According to The Dirt.com, Sam owns a stunning mansion in the Pacific Palisades close to some of the most expensive properties in the area. Sam is also quite philanthropic. He's partnered with Giving What We Can, a group that pledges to give away 10% of their incomes to effective charities.
This is something that he does both as an individual earner and through his incorporated company. As Sam's popularity continues to increase, it's probable that we will learn a bit more about his net worth and spending habits.
