What is Anthony Cumia's Net Worth and Salary?
Anthony Cumia is an American radio personality and broadcaster with a net worth of $4 million. He gained fame as one of the co-hosts of the controversial radio show Opie and Anthony, which aired from 1995 to 2014. The show ceased after SiriusXM fired Cumia due to a series of racially charged tweets. Following his dismissal, Anthony launched his own audio and video podcast titled The Anthony Cumia Show, which continues to broadcast.
Early Life
Born on April 26, 1961, in Queens, New York, Anthony Cumia spent his formative years in an Italian-American family along with his older brother and younger sister. His parents divorced during his early teens, leading him to live with his father in Southern California for a time before returning to New York. Before his radio career, Anthony installed HVAC systems. He was heavily influenced by famed radio personalities Don Imus and Howard Stern.
Career
Anthony's radio career began in 1994 when he submitted an O.J. Simpson parody song to host Gregg "Opie" Hughes in a contest. This led to the creation of the Opie and Anthony show, which debuted in 1995 on WAFF in Boston. However, their run on WAFF ended in 1998 after an April Fool's prank went wrong, misleading the public into believing the mayor had died. The show transitioned across several radio stations until landing on XM Satellite Radio in 2004.
In 2014, Anthony was terminated by SiriusXM for a series of racially offensive tweets directed at a woman who allegedly attacked him. This marked the end of Opie and Anthony, as the duo parted ways. At the peak of their careers, both hosts were making $5 million annually. After his firing, Cumia launched The Anthony Cumia Show, which continues to air. In 2018, he published his memoir, Permanently Suspended: The Rise and Fall… and Rise Again of Radio's Most Notorious Shock Jock.
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Relationships
In 1989, Anthony married Jennifer Cumia, who had previously dated his brother Joe. The marriage ended in 2002. Reflecting on this, Anthony has often described it as the biggest mistake of his life. Post-divorce, Anthony's relationships have been short-lived, one of which resulted in him pleading guilty to third-degree assault. Notably, he attended his high school reunion with an 18-year-old date.
Controversy
Anthony Cumia has been involved in several controversies over the years. In 1998, he and co-host Gregg Hughes were fired from WAFF Boston after falsely claiming that the mayor had died while trafficking a prostitute. In 2002, their show on WNEW in New York was canceled for encouraging public sexual acts, leading to a couple's arrest at St. James Cathedral.
In 2007, Opie and Anthony was suspended by XM Radio after allowing a homeless man to express violent and sexually offensive desires involving political figures Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush. In 2014, Cumia was fired by SiriusXM for his racially charged tweets. In 2015, following a domestic altercation with his girlfriend, he was arrested on charges including strangulation, assault, and unlawful imprisonment. He later pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and criminal obstruction of breathing.
Real Estate
In 2006, Anthony purchased a 4,589-square-foot home in Roslyn Heights, New York, for $2.9 million. The house featured five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half-bathrooms. It was listed for sale at $3.1 million in October 2020, eventually selling for $2.492 million in September 2021. In August 2022, Cumia acquired a 5-acre property in Taylors, South Carolina, for $945,000. This estate includes a 3,200-square-foot home with four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
