Hi, everyone! I’m Carrie S. Johnson. For seven years, I’ve written about how people make money, lose it, or fight for it. I love making these stories simple and fun. No big words, just clear ideas that stick. Today, we’re talking about Nick Sandmann. A kid whose life changed because of one video. A smile that caused a huge fight. Lawsuits that brought millions. Now, in 2025, he’s 23 and building a new path. Want to know his net worth? Let’s walk through his story together, step by step, in easy English.
Who Is Nick Sandmann? His Early Life
Nick Sandmann was born on July 15, 2002, in Park Hills, Kentucky, a small town near Cincinnati, Ohio. His family follows the Catholic faith, and they taught him to be kind and work hard. His dad, Ted, sells houses for a living. His mom, Julie, helps plan community events. Nick grew up with brothers and sisters in a warm, happy home.
Nick went to Covington Catholic High School, a boys-only school known for good classes and a strong football team. He wasn’t the most popular kid. He played soccer, swam, and got solid grades. At 16, he was a typical teen—about 5 feet 10, with brown hair and blue eyes. He loved sports and dreamed of college, maybe studying law or politics someday.
Everything changed on January 18, 2019. Nick and his classmates went to Washington, D.C., for a school trip to the March for Life, a big event against abortion. Nick wore a red “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat he got at a Trump rally with his family. To him, it showed he liked conservative ideas. To others, it was a sign of trouble.
That day, a short video of Nick went everywhere online. It showed him standing in front of Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old Native American man who was drumming and singing. Nick smiled and didn’t move. The video made it look like he was being mean. News stories called him a bully. Some said he was racist. People sent him angry messages, even threats to hurt him, his family, and his school. The school closed for a few days. His family hired guards and moved to stay safe.
Later, longer videos told a different story. A group called Black Hebrew Israelites started the trouble by yelling mean things at Nick’s group, like “school shooters” and bad names. The students sang school songs to stay calm. Nathan Phillips walked into the crowd to pray for peace. Nick stood still to avoid a fight. “I smiled to show I wasn’t mad,” he said later. His faith taught him to be respectful.
People had big arguments. Some thought Nick was wrong because of his hat and the all-white school group. Others said the news lied and Nick was a victim. Nathan said he felt scared. Nick said he did nothing bad.
Nick sued big news companies like CNN and The Washington Post. He said they lied about him and hurt his life. A special team checked the story and said the students didn’t start the fight. The school’s church leader said sorry for judging too fast.
Now, in 2025, Nick is 23. He finished college and works in politics, helping Republican leaders share their messages. He stays quiet online, only posting about faith or free speech. His story shows how fast news can change a life—and how fighting back can bring money.
The Incident Timeline: What Happened Step by Step?
January 18, 2019, was a wild day. Lots of people, lots of yelling. One short video made it worse. Let’s go through it slowly, using videos, court papers, and what people said.
- Morning: The Trip Starts (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Nick and over 100 boys from Covington Catholic arrive in D.C. by bus at 9 a.m. They’re there for the March for Life, a huge event against abortion. Teachers and parents are with them. They visit places like the Washington Monument. It’s fun and exciting. A woman jogs by and yells, “I hope you never get a girl pregnant!” It’s weird, but they laugh it off. The march starts at 1 p.m. They carry signs, sing, and pray. Nick wears his MAGA hat, happy to be there.
- Afternoon: Waiting by the Lincoln Memorial (4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) The march ends, and the boys walk 2.5 miles to the Lincoln Memorial to wait for their buses. It’s cold—about 35 degrees, windy. Nearby, another event is ending: the Indigenous Peoples March, where Native Americans celebrate their culture. Nathan Phillips, a Native man from the Omaha Nation, is there with his drum. He’s a Vietnam veteran who prays for peace. Also nearby are four men from a group called Black Hebrew Israelites. They’re known for shouting strong opinions on the street, sometimes saying mean things.
- Trouble Starts: Yelling and Chants (4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.) The Black Hebrew Israelites see the boys, who are mostly white and wearing school uniforms. They start yelling: “You’re gonna shoot up a school!” and worse, like racial slurs—“crackers” and “incest kids.” One of them films it all on YouTube. The boys feel stuck because their buses are late. Teachers try to keep them calm. Some boys ask, “Why are you so mad?” Nick prays quietly. The group also yells at Native people nearby, calling them “fake Indians.”
- Nathan Phillips Steps In (5:05 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.) The Indigenous March ends around 5 p.m. Nathan hears the yelling and walks over with three friends, drumming a Native prayer song to bring peace. He said, “I wanted to calm things down.” Videos show him walking toward the students, into their group. The boys move aside. Some chant school cheers: “Hey, hey, ho, ho!” They do “tomahawk chops,” like at sports games, not aimed at Nathan. Nick ends up in front, inches from Nathan’s drum. He doesn’t move and smiles a little. “I wanted to show I wasn’t fighting,” Nick said. They don’t talk. It lasts about 90 seconds. One boy yells, “Build that wall!” but it’s not Nick.
- Video Goes Viral (5:30 p.m. onward) Someone records the moment—10 seconds, no background story. It’s posted on Twitter at 5:40 p.m. by a user called @2020fight: “MAGA kids harassing Native man.” It spreads fast. By 7 p.m., CNN shows it: “Teens in MAGA hats surround elder.” They don’t mention the Black Hebrew Israelites. Famous people like Kathy Griffin say, “Name these kids!” Alyssa Milano says, “Teach your kids better.” Elizabeth Warren calls it “dangerous.” Over 1 million tweets fly by midnight. People send threats: “Burn the school!” Nick’s family gets hate messages.
- Backlash Grows, Then Shifts (January 19-21, 2019) On January 19, the school closes for safety. The church leader says, “We’re sorry. This hurts us all.” Nick’s parents hire lawyers. On January 20, Nick shares his side: “I stood still to avoid a fight.” Longer videos come out, showing the Black Hebrew Israelites yelling first. People start to change their minds. Nathan says, “The kids blocked me,” but videos show he walked toward them. On January 21, the church leader takes back his apology: “We judged too fast.”
- Aftermath: Investigation and Lawsuits (February 2019) The school’s church hires people to check what happened. They say, “The students didn’t start it.” On February 1, Nick sues The Washington Post for $250 million. More lawsuits follow against CNN and others. The news made a mistake by sharing only part of the story.
This timeline shows how fast things got crazy. A short video made people angry. The full story took longer to come out. Nick suffered because of it.
College Life: From Fame to Focus
After 2019, Nick wanted to be a regular kid again. College was his chance to start over, but his fame followed him. He chose Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, 90 minutes from home. It’s a small school with 1,000 students, known for good classes and welcoming all ideas. It costs $40,000 a year, but Nick paid with scholarships and money from lawsuits. He started in fall 2019, studying politics, philosophy, and economics. The 2019 incident made him want to learn about truth, money, and free speech.
Before Nick got to school, some people were upset. A leader from the ACLU in Kentucky tweeted, “Nick’s a bad influence.” A teacher named Avery Tompkins said, “His ideas are wrong.” There were small protests, but the school said, “We welcome everyone.” Nick stayed quiet and worked hard. He got straight A’s (4.0 GPA) and worked two jobs—one at the school café, one tutoring kids. “I just wanted to study,” he told Fox News. His classes made him think. Philosophy asked, “What’s truth?” Economics looked at how news makes money from clicks. Politics talked about free speech. He joined a debate club and wrote for the school newspaper about “media lying.”
In spring 2020, COVID sent classes online. Nick studied from home and thought about his life. “That video changed everything. Friends were scared for me, but I prayed a lot,” he wrote in Newsweek in 2024. His Catholic faith helped him stay strong. He kept his 4.0 GPA and worked harder. He got jobs helping Republican leaders like Mitch McConnell and Andy Barr in Kentucky. He knocked on doors for their campaigns and helped write speeches. At school, he debated about “cancel culture”—when people attack others online. Some students stared at him, and one teacher asked, “Why wear that hat?” Nick answered, “It’s about my beliefs, not hate.” He joined a Catholic club and even prayed for Nathan Phillips. “Forgiving makes you free,” he said.
By his last year, 2023-2024, Nick was a leader. He wrote a big project about how “cancel culture hurts businesses.” Older politicians mentored him, saying, “You could work in Washington, D.C.” He worked full-time jobs during school, like helping McConnell’s team on election night. He graduated in May 2024 with top honors. No big party—just a quiet day with his family. A teacher said, “Nick went from a viral kid to a strong thinker.”
College wasn’t easy. People knew Nick from the news, and some didn’t like him. But he studied hard, worked, and grew. Now, he works in D.C. as a press helper for Republican leaders, earning about $50,000 a year. It’s a start, and he’s happy to be out of the spotlight.
Settlement Facts: How Nick Got Paid
Nick didn’t sue for fun—he sued to fix his life. The news called him names, and it hurt his family, his future, and his feelings. He asked for billions but got millions. The exact amounts are secret, but we can guess from court papers and experts. After paying lawyers and taxes, he kept enough to change his life. Here’s what happened.
- The Washington Post: First Win (February 2019 – July 2020) Nick sued for $250 million. The Post wrote seven stories and three tweets saying Nick was a bully who “blocked” Nathan. A judge threw out most claims, saying they were opinions. But he kept one part: The Post said Nick blocked Nathan, but videos showed Nathan walked toward him. The Post said, “We reported fairly.” But they worried about court papers showing they rushed the story. They settled on July 24, 2020—Nick’s 18th birthday. The amount is secret, but lawyers said it was “millions.” Experts guess $1-5 million before fees. Nick used it for guards, moving, and therapy.
- CNN: Fast Deal (March 2019 – January 2020) Nick sued for $275 million. CNN called him “smirking” and ignored the Black Hebrew Israelites’ yelling. CNN said, “Our story was okay.” But Nick was under 18, so a guardian handled the money. COVID slowed the court. They settled on January 7, 2020, before a trial. The amount is secret, but experts think all his big wins together gave him $5-10 million before fees. Nick tweeted, “Justice!” The money paid for college ($200,000 total) and lawyers.
- NBC Universal: Long Fight (January 2020 – December 2021) Nick sued for $275 million. NBC said he “confronted” Nathan, which wasn’t true. They tried to stop the case, but the judge let it go on because Nick felt real pain. They settled in December 2021, keeping the amount private. Nick tweeted, “It’s done, and I’m moving forward.” Experts think it added to the $5-20 million total before fees.
- Other Cases: No Wins (2020-2024) In 2020, Nick sued five more companies, like USA Today’s owner and ABC, asking for $1.25 billion. He said they repeated lies. A judge stopped these cases in 2022, saying, “Those were opinions, not facts.” Nick tried to appeal, but the Supreme Court said no in October 2023. He got no money from these.
Nick probably got $5-20 million total before fees. Lawyers took 30-40% ($1.5-8 million). Taxes took up to 37% ($1-5 million). He spent money on security ($100,000+), moving, and college. What’s left—$2-8 million—might be in safe investments like stocks or houses. Nick doesn’t show off. He drives a used SUV and lives simply in D.C.
The lawsuits showed news companies have to be careful. Nick’s wins were a warning: Don’t rush stories, or you’ll pay.
The Lawyers: Who Helped Nick Win?
Nick needed strong lawyers to fight big news companies. He got two: L. Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry. They worked fast and smart, turning Nick’s pain into wins.
L. Lin Wood was a famous lawyer from Atlanta, in his 60s. He helped people like Richard Jewell, who was blamed wrongly for a bombing, and the family of JonBenét Ramsey. He liked Trump and saw Nick’s case as a battle. “The news attacked a kid,” he said. In February 2019, he sent letters to over 50 news companies: “Save your emails, or else.” He filed the Post lawsuit, calling it “modern bullying.” But in 2020, Wood posted strange things online about elections. Nick fired him in January 2021, saying, “His words weren’t true.” Wood later helped Kyle Rittenhouse. Some lawyers sued Wood, saying he kept too much of Nick’s money. Wood called it “silly.”
Todd McMurtry was from Kentucky, in his 50s, working at a law firm called Hemmer DeFrank. He knew the area and handled court papers. “Lin brings fire; I know the land,” he said. He helped plan the lawsuits and stayed after Nick fired Wood. He won the NBC case and said, “More wins are coming.” Todd used Nick’s young age to push news companies to settle fast.
The lawyers cost a lot—probably $1-6 million. But the settlements paid them. Nick said, “They gave me my life back.” They turned a scared teen into a winner.
Online Reactions: From Anger to Understanding
Social media made Nick’s story huge. In 2019, millions saw the video and got mad. By 2025, people still talk about it on X, linking it to bigger fights about news and fairness.
In 2019, the short video hit Twitter at 5:40 p.m. on January 18. Hashtag #BoycottCovCath got millions of views. Famous people like Kathy Griffin said, “These kids are awful!” Alyssa Milano said, “Parents, teach kindness.” Elizabeth Warren called it “scary.” People sent threats: “Kill the kids!” Nick’s family got hate mail. Nathan said, “I felt trapped.”
Then longer videos showed the Black Hebrew Israelites yelling first. Hashtag #StandWithNick started. Trump tweeted, “Nick was tricked by the news.” Some people said, “The media lied!” Others still thought Nick was rude. Famous people deleted tweets, but the fight grew: “He’s a bully!” vs. “He’s innocent!”
When Nick settled with CNN in 2020, people cheered: “He won!” But some said, “Why sue for smiling?” When he settled with the Post, he spoke at a Republican event: “I won’t be canceled.” Social media split: Some hated him; others loved him.
By 2023-2025, when Nick’s last lawsuits failed, people said, “News can say opinions.” On X, people like Charlie Kirk tied Nick’s story to others: “Don’t give up!” Some posts said, “Nick taught me to stay calm.” Nathan’s side said, “It still hurts.” Nick wrote, “I forgive and move on.”
Social media shows how fast people judge. It also shows we need to check facts first.
Nick Sandmann’s Net Worth in 2025: How Much?
So, how much money does Nick have in 2025? He doesn’t share, and there’s no official list. But with my seven years of studying wealth, I can guess: $2-5 million. Some say $1-1.5 million. Others think $5-10 million if he invested well.
Nick’s money mostly comes from lawsuits. He got $5-20 million from CNN, The Washington Post, and NBC before fees. After paying lawyers (30-40%, or $1.5-8 million) and taxes (37%, or $1-5 million), he kept $2-8 million. He might have put it in stocks or houses, growing 7-10% a year. He also works in D.C., making $50,000-70,000 a year since 2024. He earned $20,000-30,000 from internships. He spoke at 10-20 events a year, earning $5,000-10,000 each time ($50,000-200,000 total). He wrote articles for Fox and Newsweek, maybe $5,000-10,000 total. There’s no book yet, but people talk about one.
He spent money on college ($200,000 for four years), moving, and safety. He rents a small D.C. apartment ($2,000 a month) and drives a used car. Nick’s net worth is $2-5 million. It’s not super rich, but it’s safe. He built it from a tough time, not from showing off. That’s smart money.
Lessons from Nick: Money, News, and Moving On
Nick’s story is like a mirror. It shows how news can hurt people fast. It cost him peace but gave him millions. He learned to stay strong: “Faith first,” he says. He sued smart and now builds quietly.
What can we learn? Wait before you share online. Check the full story. For money? Fight fair, save smart. Nick’s heading to bigger things in politics. Keep an eye on him.
What do you think? Tell me below!
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not legal advice, financial advice, or medical advice. All facts are based on public news, reports, and estimates. Net worth numbers are guesses, not official. We do not guarantee they are exact. This article is not promotional and has no affiliate links. We do not promote or attack any person, group, or company. Readers should do their own research before making any decisions.
