Jim Hightower Biography
Jim Hightower is a famous American Syndicated Columnist, Author, and Progressive Political Activist born and brought up in Denison, Texas, United States. From 1983 to 1991, he acted as the elected commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Hightower also publishes a monthly newsletter that is famous for its in-depth investigative reporting, The Hightower Lowdown.
He worked in Washington, D.C., in the late 1960s as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough. In 1970, Hightower co-founded and worked at the Agribusiness Accountability Project in Washington, D.C., which resulted in two of his early books.
10 Quick Facts About Jim Hightower
Here is a list of 10 facts about Hightower
- Name: Jim Hightower
- Age: 82 Years Old
- Birthday: January 11
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches (1.80m)
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Columnist, Political Activist, and Author
- Marital Status: Widower
- Salary: $145,000
- Net worth: $1 million – $2 million
Jim Hightower Age
Hightower is 82 years old, he was born on January 11, 1943, in Denison, Texas, United States. He celebrates his birthday on January 11 every year, and his birth sign is Capricorn.
Jim Hightower Height
Jim Hightower stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches (1.80m).
Jim Hightower Weight
Hightower has a moderate weight. His weight is publicly not available. We will update this section once the information is available.
Early Life and Education
Born on January 11, 1943, in Denison, Texas, United States, Hightower comes from a working-class background. He worked his way through college as assistant general manager of the Denton Chamber of Commerce and thereafter landed a spot as a management trainee for the U.S. State Department.
He also attended and graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton with a Bachelor of Arts in government, where he performed as student body president. Later, he did graduate work at Columbia University in New York City in international affairs.
Rise to Fame and Breakthrough Moment
- Hightower gained fame in 1970 when he co-founded and worked at the Agribusiness Accountability Project in Washington, D.C., which resulted in two of his early books. After managing the presidential campaign in 1976 of former Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma, he returned to Texas to become the editor of the magazine The Texas Observer.
Major Achievements and Contributions
- He served as agriculture commissioner until he was unseated in 1990 by the Democrat-turned-Republican Rick Perry, later the governor of Texas. His term was noted for promoting alternative crops, direct marketing by small farmers, organic production, and strong gross materials regulations.
- Also, the official Jim Hightower Archive is at the Wittliff Collections of Southwestern Writers, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
- He writes for The Progressive Populist, and a nationally syndicated column carried by seventy-five independent weekly newspapers and other publications through Creators Syndicate.
Personal Life
Jim Hightower Family, Parents
Hightower was in Denison, Texas, United States. Hightower comes from a working-class background. However, our efforts to find out more about his family came to no avail as no such information is publicly available. Thus, the identity of Hightower’s parents is still unclear.
Jim Hightower Siblings
It is also not known if Hightower has any siblings. We will update this section once this information is available.
Jim Hightower Wife
Hightower is currently a widower, he was married to his late wife, Susan DeMarco, who passed away in 2017. The couple lived together for many years and were known as a powerful couple advocating for social justice and progressive causes.
Jim Hightower Children
Any information about Hightower’s children is publicly not available. It is publicly not known whether he has children or not. We will update this section once the information is available
Jim Hightower Salary
Hightower receives an average annual salary of $145,000. This is Per our average wage estimates for a columnist in the United States. However, these figures may vary substantially according to the level of seniority of the employee.
Jim Hightower Net Worth
Jim Hightower has an estimated net worth of $1 million – $2 million. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a Columnist, Political Activist, and Author. Through his various sources of income, Hightower has been able to accumulate good fortune, but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Facts: Everything You Need to Know About Jim Hightower
Here are some interesting facts you should know about Hightower.

Jim Hightower Bio.
- Full Names: James Allen Hightower
- Popular As: Jim Hightower
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Columnist, Political Activist, and Author
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Not Available
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Birthday
- Age: 82 Years Old
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Date of Birth: January 11, 1943
- Place of Birth: Denison, Texas, United States
- Birthday: January 11
Body Measurements
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 11 inches (1.80m)
- Weight: Moderate
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Dark Brown
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Chest Size: Not Available
- Waist Size: Not Available
Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Not Available
- Mother: Not Available
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Available
- Marital Status: Widower
- Spouse/ Wife: was married to the late Susan DeMarco
- Dating/Girlfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Not Available
Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $1 million – $2 million
- Salary: $145,000
- Source of Income: Columnist, Political Activist, and Author
Lowdown
Currently, Hightower writes a monthly newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown, which has more than 135,000 subscribers. The newsletter is famous for its in-depth investigative reporting and criticism of George W. Bush’s administration, which Hightower claimed was accountable to corporations and extremist conservatives. It has also acquired both the Independent Press Association Award and the Alternative Press Award for best national newsletter.
He noted his support for the Rights of Nature movement in January 2022, and after reviewing some history of the movement, he stated that the initiative to put a state constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot for voters to consider has made Florida “the epicenter” of today’s Rights of Nature movement in the United States.
Books
- Plutocracy, Globaloney, Populism and Democracy 2002
- Throw the Rascals Out 2003
- Eat Your Heart Out 1975
- Hard Tomatoes, Hard Times: The Original Hightower Report, Unexpurgated, of the Agribusiness Accountability Project on the Failure of America’s Land Grant College Complex and Selected Additional Views of the Problems and Prospects of American Agriculture in the Late Seventies, 1972
- After They Join: 10 Ways to Assimilate New Members,1994
- There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos, 1997
- If the Gods had meant us to vote, they would have given us candidates in 2000
- Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go With the Flow 2008
- Thieves in High Places 2003
- Hard Tomatoes, Hard Times: The Original Hightower Report and Other Recent Reports 1978
Contacts
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