William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) was a highly influential American newspaper publisher and media magnate who built the Hearst Communications empire. Born into wealth, he took over the San Francisco Examiner in 1887 and transformed it into a successful paper through sensational reporting and aggressive news coverage. Hearst later acquired the New York Morning Journal, engaging in a fierce circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, popularizing "yellow journalism".
Hearst expanded his media holdings to include numerous newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and a film company. His political ambitions led him to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1903 to 1907, and he unsuccessfully ran for President, Mayor of New York City, and Governor of New York. In the 1920s, Hearst began constructing Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California, filling it with an extensive collection of art and antiques. Despite facing financial difficulties during the Great Depression, Hearst's media empire continued to exert a significant influence.
