Edward Snowden rose to fame in 2013 when he exposed thousands of classified US Government documents in one of the most high-profile whistleblower cases ever.
He’s since gone on to make millions, but what is the story behind Snowden and what is his net worth?
Who is Edward Snowden?
Edward Snowden was born in North Carolina in 1983.
Snowden’s early years gave little to suggest he would one day become a cyber expert working for the US security agencies.
After dropping out of high school, he ended up enlisting as an army reserve but was discharged after just four months when he broke both of his legs in a training accident.
He then went to work as a security guard at a University of Maryland research facility.
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But in 2006, he was hired by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and sent to Geneva, Switzerland to work as a network security technician.
After two years he left and started working as a private contractor.
It was during this time Snowden became concerned about secret surveillance programmes being run by the National Security Agency (NSA).
In 2013, he requested medical leave and fled to Hong Kong, where he leaked masses of NSA secrets to expose what he saw as the deterioration of citizens’ privacy.
In a note accompanying the first set of documents, he wrote: “I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions but I will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant.”
After the US Government charged Snowden with espionage, he sought asylum in Russia.
Snowden intended to travel to Ecuador – via Russia — where he would seek asylum.
However, when his plane landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, things didn’t go to plan.
He said: “What I wasn’t expecting was that the United States government itself would cancel my passport.
“I didn’t cooperate with the Russian intelligence services — I haven’t and I won’t.”
Snowden spent 40 days in the airport, trying to negotiate asylum in various countries.
After being denied asylum by a total of 27 nations, he settled in Russia, where he is today.
What is Edward Snowden’s net worth?
At his peak, Edward Snowden had a net worth of more than $10 million, mainly thanks to the success of his book ‘Permanent Record’.
However, Snowden agreed to give up $5 million in 2020 as part of a lawsuit following the autobiography.
The book violated the terms of contracts Snowden signed with the CIA and the National Security Agency while employed there.
Edward Snowden is now believed to have a net worth of approximately £5 million.