Gary Webb

Date of Birth: August 31, 1955

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: December 10, 2004

Biography

Gary Webb was an American investigative journalist, best known for his work uncovering the CIA’s involvement in cocaine trafficking in the United States. Born in Corona, California, Webb pursued journalism at Northern Kentucky University before embarking on a career that saw him working for several newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News. His groundbreaking series, “Dark Alliance,” published in 1996, alleged that the CIA was complicit in the crack cocaine epidemic that devastated many inner-city communities during the 1980s. Despite significant backlash and professional challenges following the publication, Webb’s work has been recognized for its courage and impact on investigative journalism. Webb’s career was marked by his relentless pursuit of truth, often at great personal and professional cost.

5 Interesting Facts about Gary Webb

1. Gary Webb’s “Dark Alliance” series was one of the most significant pieces of investigative journalism in the 1990s.

2. Webb’s work led to investigations by the U.S. Congress and the CIA, although the results were controversial.

3. Despite his contributions to journalism, Webb faced severe professional ostracism and struggled to find work after the backlash to “Dark Alliance.”

4. In 2004, Webb was found dead from two gunshot wounds to the head; his death was ruled a suicide.

5. Gary Webb’s story was adapted into the 2014 film “Kill the Messenger,” starring Jeremy Renner as Webb.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gary Webb

1. “The government’s right to secrecy is outweighed by the public’s right to know.”

2. “If we had met five years ago, you wouldn’t have found a more staunch defender of the newspaper industry than me.”

3. “You can’t be afraid to offend people. That’s what investigative journalism is all about.”

4. “At some point, the truth has to matter.”

5. “The American public doesn’t get the truth about what’s really going on.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Gary Webb’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, but his net worth was modest given his profession and the controversies that impacted his career.