Forbes dismisses top editor after undisclosed $7.7 million payment
Forbes terminated its senior editor in July after learning he had received an undisclosed payment of about US$6 million from RJ Shook, whose firm partners with the magazine.
The publisher fired its top editor in July when it discovered a secret payment of roughly US$6 million (S$7.7 million) from RJ Shook. Shook founded Shook Research, a company that has worked with Forbes since 2016 to produce wealth-adviser rankings. The money went to Randall Lane, Forbes’ chief content officer. The revelation led to Lane’s dismissal and sparked scrutiny of the outlet’s partnership practices.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about conflicts of interest and transparency in media-business relationships.
In this story
top editorsecret paymentRJ ShookShook Researchundisclosed compensationmedia ethicswealth adviser rankingsconflict of interest