Career Timeline of Steve Bannon: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Steve Bannon built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Stephen Bannon is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He is known for his role as White House chief strategist in the Trump administration's early months and his prior position as executive chairman of Breitbart News. Bannon also served on the board of Cambridge Analytica. He is a controversial figure associated with right-wing populism and has been involved in various political and media ventures.
1977: Joined the United States Navy
In 1977, Bannon became an officer in the United States Navy, marking the beginning of his military service.
1983: Left the United States Navy
In 1983, Bannon concluded his service in the United States Navy after serving as an officer since 1977.
1987: Relocated to Los Angeles for Goldman Sachs
In 1987, Bannon relocated from New York to Los Angeles to help Goldman Sachs expand its presence in the entertainment industry.
1990: Launched Bannon & Co.
In 1990, Bannon and several colleagues from Goldman Sachs launched their own company, Bannon & Co., a boutique investment bank specializing in media.
1991: Executive Producer in Hollywood
In 1991, Bannon began his career as an executive producer on Hollywood films.
1991: Produced 'The Indian Runner'
In 1991, Bannon produced the film 'The Indian Runner', marking his entry into the entertainment industry.
1993: Acting Director of Biosphere 2
In 1993, Bannon became the acting director of the Biosphere 2 research project, signaling a shift in his career.
1995: Left Biosphere 2 Project
In 1995, Bannon left the Biosphere 2 project.
1998: Société Générale purchased Bannon & Co.
In 1998, Société Générale purchased Bannon & Co., marking a transition in Bannon's investment banking career.
1999: Produced 'Titus'
In 1999, Bannon produced Julie Taymor's film 'Titus', continuing his work in the entertainment industry.
2002: Partner at The Firm, Inc.
In 2002, Bannon became a partner with entertainment industry executive Jeff Kwatinetz at film and television management company The Firm, Inc.
2003: Served at The Firm, Inc.
In 2003, Bannon served at The Firm, Inc., as a partner with entertainment industry executive Jeff Kwatinetz.
2004: Made a Documentary about Ronald Reagan
In 2004, Bannon made a documentary about Ronald Reagan titled 'In the Face of Evil'.
2005: Secured Funding for Internet Gaming Entertainment
In 2005, Bannon secured $60 million in funding for Internet Gaming Entertainment (IGE), a company employing low-wage workers to earn virtual items in World of Warcraft.
2006: Goldman Sachs Invests in Internet Gaming Entertainment
In 2006, Bannon persuaded Goldman Sachs to invest in Internet Gaming Entertainment (IGE), later known as Affinity Media.
2007: Chair and CEO of Affinity Media
From 2007, Bannon served as the chair and CEO of Affinity Media, formerly known as Internet Gaming Entertainment.
2007: Founding Board Member of Breitbart News
In 2007, Bannon became a founding board member of Breitbart News, a far-right news website known for its controversial content.
2007: Co-founded Breitbart News
In 2007, Bannon co-founded Breitbart News, a website that would later become known for its far-right perspectives.
2007: Wrote Documentary Treatment
In 2007, Bannon wrote an eight-page treatment for the documentary 'Destroying the Great Satan: The Rise of Islamic Facism in America'.
2008: Economic crisis of 2008
In 2011, Bannon spoke at the Liberty Restoration Foundation in Orlando, Florida, about the economic crisis of 2008 and its impact in the origins of the Tea Party movement, and his films Generation Zero (2010) and The Undefeated.
2010: Financed and Produced 'Fire from the Heartland'
In 2010, Bannon financed and produced the film 'Fire from the Heartland: The Awakening of the Conservative Woman'.
2010: Spoke at Liberty Restoration Foundation
In 2011, Bannon spoke at the Liberty Restoration Foundation in Orlando, Florida, about the economic crisis of 2008, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, and their impact in the origins of the Tea Party movement, and his films Generation Zero (2010).
2011: Financed and Produced 'The Undefeated'
In 2011, Bannon financed and produced the film 'The Undefeated'.
2011: Spoke at Liberty Restoration Foundation
In 2011, Bannon spoke at the Liberty Restoration Foundation in Orlando, Florida, about the economic crisis of 2008, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, and their impact in the origins of the Tea Party movement, and his films Generation Zero (2010) and The Undefeated.
2011: Chairman and CEO of Affinity Media
Through 2011, Bannon served as the chair and CEO of Affinity Media, formerly known as Internet Gaming Entertainment.
March 2012: Became Executive Chairman of Breitbart News
In March 2012, Bannon became executive chairman of Breitbart News LLC following the death of Andrew Breitbart.
2012: Co-founded Government Accountability Institute
In 2012, Bannon co-founded the Government Accountability Institute, a tax-exempt organization.
2012: Financed and Produced 'Occupy Unmasked'
In 2012, Bannon financed and produced the film 'Occupy Unmasked'.
2012: Release of The Hope & The Change
In 2012, Steve Bannon's documentary film 'The Hope & The Change' was released. The opening of this documentary consciously imitated Leni Riefenstahl's film 'The Triumph of the Will'.
2015: Government Accountability Institute
For the years 2012 through 2015, he received between $81,000 and $100,000 each year from the Government Accountability Institute.
August 14, 2016: Bannon joined Trump Campaign
On August 14, 2016, Bannon joined then-presidential candidate Trump's campaign.
August 2016: Departure from Government Accountability Institute
In August 2016, Bannon departed from the Government Accountability Institute.
August 17, 2016: Bannon Appointed as Trump Campaign CEO
On August 17, 2016, Steve Bannon was appointed as the chief executive of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, leading him to leave Breitbart, the Government Accountability Institute, and Cambridge Analytica.
2016: CEO of Trump's Presidential Campaign
In 2016, Bannon became the CEO of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, marking a significant role in Trump's election victory, and was subsequently appointed chief strategist and senior counselor to the president.
2016: Described Breitbart News as "the platform for the alt-right"
In 2016, Bannon characterized Breitbart News as "the platform for the alt-right", defining its ideological stance.
2016: Cambridge Analytica used illegal tactics
In 2016, Cambridge Analytica, where Bannon served as vice president, allegedly used illegal tactics to target American voters in the 2016 election. Bannon oversaw the collection of Facebook data for this purpose, earning him over $125,000.
January 2017: Bannon Designated as Regular Attendee to NSC Principals Committee
In January 2017, Bannon was designated as a regular attendee to the NSC's Principals Committee, which was criticized by previous administrations, despite White House justifying it with Bannon's seven years experience as a Navy officer.
April 2017: Bannon Sells Cambridge Analytica Stake
In April 2017, Bannon sold his stake, estimated at $1–5 million, in Cambridge Analytica upon joining the Trump administration.
April 2017: Bannon Removed from NSC Role
In early April 2017, Bannon was removed from his NSC role in a reorganization. Bannon reportedly opposed his removal.
August 4, 2017: Bannon's Resignation Notice
On August 4, 2017, Bannon stated he submitted his two-week resignation notice.
August 2017: Bannon Declares Intention to Build Global Populist Movement
In August 2017, after leaving the White House, Steve Bannon announced his intention to establish the infrastructure for a global populist movement.
August 18, 2017: Returned as Executive Chairman of Breitbart News
On August 18, 2017, Bannon returned as executive chairman of Breitbart News following his time at the White House.
October 2017: Bannon Plans Primary Challenges Against Republican Senators
In October 2017, Steve Bannon announced plans to sponsor primary challenges against six of seven incumbent Republican senators who he felt were insufficiently supportive of Trump's agenda. He set two requirements for candidates to earn his support: pledging to vote against Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader and ending the Senate filibuster.
October 2017: Bannon Meets Guo Wengui
In October 2017, Steve Bannon met exiled Chinese billionaire businessman Guo Wengui after leaving the White House, beginning a friendship that involved frequent meetings.
October 2017: Bannon Visits the Freedom Party of Austria
In October 2017, as part of his effort to build a network of right-wing populist parties in Europe, Steve Bannon visited the Freedom Party of Austria.
December 12, 2017: Moore Loses Election
On December 12, 2017, Roy Moore lost the election in what had been considered a safe Republican seat. Subsequently, Steve Bannon's reputation as a political strategist came into question among Republican commentators.
December 2017: Bannon Visits the UK Conservative Party
In December 2017, Steve Bannon visited the UK Conservative Party as part of his effort to build a network of right-wing populist parties in Europe.
2017: Bannon founded the Movement
In 2017, Bannon founded the Movement, a populist organization that promotes right-wing groups in Europe and opposes George Soros's Open Society Foundations.
2017: Bannon Supports Roy Moore Amidst Allegations
In 2017, Steve Bannon received credit for helping Roy Moore defeat incumbent senator Luther Strange in the Republican primary for the Alabama Senate election. After sexual misconduct allegations surfaced against Moore, Bannon continued his support, raising doubts about the accusations. He also responded to Ivanka Trump's criticism of Moore by referencing allegations against her father.
January 9, 2018: Stepped Down as Executive Chairman of Breitbart
On January 9, 2018, Bannon stepped down as executive chairman of Breitbart News, five months after his return.
January 2018: Disavowed by Trump and left Breitbart
In January 2018, after his criticism of Trump's children was reported in Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury, Bannon was disavowed by Trump and subsequently left Breitbart.
March 2018: Populist Pep Talk to National Front
In March 2018, Steve Bannon delivered a "populist pep talk" to members of the French right-wing populist National Front, encouraging them to embrace labels like "racist" and "xenophobe" as badges of honor, asserting that history was on their side. This event in March 2018 drew criticism, with concerns raised about "normalizing racism."
July 2018: Bannon Visits Spain and Finland
In July 2018, Steve Bannon visited Spain's Vox and the Finns Party as part of his effort to build a network of right-wing populist parties in Europe.
August 2018: Guo-Linked Company Consulting Contract With Bannon
Beginning in August 2018, a Guo-linked company entered into a $1 million consulting contract with Steve Bannon.
August 2018: Bannon Advises Bolsonaro Campaign
In August 2018, Steve Bannon met with Eduardo Bolsonaro and served as an informal advisor to Jair Bolsonaro's presidential campaign in Brazil.
August 2018: Bannon Visits Republika Srpska
In August 2018, Steve Bannon visited Republika Srpska's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, as part of his efforts to build a global populist movement.
2018: Bannon Uses Guo's Jet for Campaign Events
During the 2018 election campaign, Steve Bannon flew on Guo Wengui's private jet to support Republican congressional candidates in New Mexico and Arizona.
2018: Bannon Released Pro-Trump Documentary
In 2018, Bannon released a pro-Trump documentary to galvanize Trump supporters ahead of the elections.
2018: Bannon Aides Republican Control of the House of Representatives
In 2018, Bannon used his group Citizens of the American Republic to aide him in his efforts to help keep Republican control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 election. The group is a dark money organization; Bannon declined to "describe his donors or how much money the group has raised".
2018: Bannon Plans Right-Wing Academy in Italy
In 2018, Steve Bannon announced plans to establish a right-wing academy at the Dignitatis Humanae Institute in Italy, with the aim of training conservative Catholic political activists.
2018: Bannon Announces Plans to Unite Populist Parties in Europe
In 2018, Steve Bannon announced plans to launch a new political operation to unite populist parties across Europe before the 2019 European Parliament election. This project was to be based in Brussels, and Bannon planned to spend 50 percent of his time in Europe working on it.
February 2019: Bolsonaro Joins Bannon's Organization
In February 2019, Eduardo Bolsonaro joined Steve Bannon's organization, the Movement, as its representative in South America.
March 2019: Bannon Meets with Bolsonaros in D.C.
In March 2019, Steve Bannon met with both Jair and Eduardo Bolsonaro in Washington, D.C.
October 2019: Bannon Began Co-hosting "War Room: Impeachment"
In October 2019, Bannon began co-hosting War Room: Impeachment, a daily radio show and podcast offering advice to the Trump administration.
2019: Bannon's Foundation to Connect Far-Right Groups in Europe
In 2019, Steve Bannon formed The Movement, a foundation aimed at connecting far-right groups throughout Europe.
2019: Hosted Bannon's War Room
Since 2019, Bannon has hosted Bannon's War Room on various media platforms.
February 2020: Flights Revealed by ProPublica
In February 2020, ProPublica revealed that Steve Bannon had used Guo Wengui's private jet for campaign events in 2018, raising potential campaign finance law violations.
June 3, 2020: Bannon and Guo Declare "New Federal State of China"
On June 3, 2020, Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui participated in declaring a "New Federal State of China," with the stated aim of overthrowing the Chinese government.
2020: Bannon Began Podcast War Room: Pandemic
In 2020, Bannon began a podcast, War Room: Pandemic, which Trump reportedly watched.
