Christopher Arthur Ruddy (born January 28, 1965, in Rockland County, New York) is an American conservative journalist, media executive, businessperson, and the CEO and majority owner of Newsmax Media. Raised in a middle-class family in the suburbs of New York City, Ruddy developed an early interest in politics and journalism. He earned a bachelor's degree in government from the London School of Economics in 1987 and a bachelor's degree in history from Columbia University in 1987, followed by studies at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. His career began as a reporter for the Valley News Dispatch and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, covering local politics and crime, before becoming an investigative reporter at the New York Post, where he gained prominence for his coverage of the Whitewater scandal and the death of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster during the Clinton administration, which fueled conspiracy theories and aligned with conservative critiques. In 1995, he was recruited by conservative philanthropist Richard Mellon Scaife to work at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he continued investigative reporting on political figures. Disillusioned with mainstream media bias, he founded Newsmax Media in 1998 with financial backing from Scaife, establishing it as a right-wing media outlet that evolved into a major conservative voice, including Newsmax TV launched in 2014. Under his leadership as CEO and majority owner, Newsmax expanded into television, print, and digital media, becoming a prominent competitor to Fox News, particularly during the Trump era. The outlet has been criticized for promoting conservative and pro-Trump viewpoints, conspiracy theories, and election denialism after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, leading to legal battles with Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic over defamation claims. A 2021 lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, while the Smartmatic lawsuit remains ongoing as of 2023. Ruddy has cultivated relationships within Republican circles, including financial ties to figures like former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sebastian Gorka, whom he has compensated for contributions to Newsmax, and close ties to Donald Trump, whom he endorsed and advised informally. Ruddy has been involved in political advocacy, serving on advisory boards and donating to conservative causes. His influence extends through his media empire, which boasts millions of subscribers and viewers, positioning him as a key player in shaping conservative narratives and networks of influence in American politics. Despite controversies, including allegations of bias and legal challenges, Ruddy remains a significant voice in right-wing media, advocating for Trump-aligned policies and narratives. He is married to Joy Ruddy and resides primarily in Florida, where Newsmax is headquartered.