Julian Assange Biography Julian Paul Assange Hawkins, born on July 3, 1971, is an Australian individual who serves as an editor, publisher, and activist. He is the founder of WikiLeaks, established in 2006. Assange gained global recognition in 2010 when WikiLeaks released a series of disclosures provided by Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst in the United States Army. These disclosures included footage of a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, military logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and diplomatic cables from the U.S. Assange has received numerous accolades for his contributions to publishing and journalism. Assange grew up in Australia and later moved to Melbourne. He joined hackers and got in trouble for hacking in 1996. As the editor of WikiLeaks, he released various documents, including those from Bank Julius Baer.
Julian Assange Biography
In November 2010, Sweden wanted Assange for a sexual assault case. He hid in Ecuador’s London Embassy in June 2012 after losing his appeal against the arrest warrant. In August 2012, Ecuador granted him asylum due to political persecution fears and extradition worries. In 2013, he formed the WikiLeaks Party and ran for the Australian Senate but didn’t win. The Swedish investigation ended in 2019. Assange lost asylum in April 2019 after issues with Ecuador. Police arrested him in the embassy for breaking UK’s Bail Act, leading to a 50-week jail term.
The US government accused him of computer intrusion conspiracy with Manning. New charges followed, including violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and working with hackers. Assange was imprisoned in London from April 2019 to June 2024 while fighting extradition to the US. In June 2024, Assange agreed to a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U.S. national defence documents in return for a sentence of time served.Following the hearing, Assange departed for Australia and arrived in Canberra on 26 June, 2024.
Julian Assange Biography Details
Born | Julian Paul Hawkins 3 July 1971 (age 53) Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
Citizenship | - Australia
- Ecuador (2017–2021)
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Occupations | Editorpublisheractivist |
Years active | 1987–2019 |
Known for | Founding WikiLeaks |
Title | Director and editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks (2006–2018); publisher (since 2018) |
Political party | WikiLeaks Party (2013–2015) |
Criminal charges | 1x Conspiracy to Obtain and Disclose National Defence Information (2024) |
Criminal penalty | Time served (62 months) |
Category | Lifestyle |
Spouses | - Teresa Assange
(m. 1989; div. 1999) - Stella Assange (m. 2022)
|
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About Julian Assange Biography
Julian Paul Assange is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He came to international attention in 2010 after WikiLeaks published a series of leaks from Chelsea
Born: 3 July 1971 (age 53 years), Townsville City, Australia
Spouse: Stella Assange (m. 2022), Teresa Assange (m. 1989–1999)
Children: Daniel Assange
Parents: John Shipton, Richard Assange, Christine Ann Hawkins
Height: 1.88 m
Criminal charges: 1x Conspiracy to Obtain and Disclose National Defence Information (2024)
Early life
Julian Paul Hawkins, who later adopted the surname Assange, was born in Townsville, Queensland, on 3 July 1971 to Christine Ann Hawkins, a visual artist, and John Shipton, an anti-war activist and builder. Christine later married Brett Assange, an actor, with whom she ran a small theatre company. After divorcing Brett around 1979, Christine became involved with Leif Meynell, also known as Leif Hamilton, a member of an Australian cult called The Family. Meynell and Christine separated in 1982.
Julian Assange resided in over thirty Australian towns and cities during his childhood, attending various schools such as Goolmangar Primary School and Townsville State High School. He later moved to Melbourne with his mother and half-brother and lived with his girlfriend at the age of 17. Assange studied programming, mathematics, and physics at Central Queensland University and the University of Melbourne without completing a degree. He initiated the Puzzle Hunt tradition at the University of Melbourne and was actively involved in the Melbourne rave scene, where he helped set up an internet kiosk at Ollie Olsen’s club night known as “Psychic Harmony.” His nickname during the raves was “Prof.”
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Who is Julian Assange?
Mr. Assange, originally from Australia, is known for his intense and highly intelligent nature, as well as his exceptional skill in deciphering computer codes, according to colleagues. During his teenage years, he became well-known for his computer programming abilities. In 1995, he was penalized for involvement in hacking activities. He later collaborated on a successful book about the rebellious aspects of the internet before pursuing studies in physics and mathematics.
Net Worth: $300 Thousand
Birthdate: Jul 3, 1971 (53 years old)
Birthplace: Townsville
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Profession: Journalist, Spokesperson, Programmer, Editor, Hacker, Film Producer, Television producer, Television Director, Screenwriter
Nationality: Australia
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Julian Assange Net Worth 2024
Net Worth | $15 Million |
Real Estate Assets | $4.1 Million |
Inheritance | $2 Million |
Books Royalties | $7 Million |
Annual Income | $1.8 Million |
Where is Assange’s money today?
Julian Assange has placed all his finances in accounts belonging to his family to prevent them from being frozen by the US. Apart from savings in banks, he has invested in real estate. In Canberra, he possesses a two-bedroom apartment with a view of the lake. Furthermore, he has acquired a ranch in rural Australia, previously belonging to Bindi Irwin, with total real estate holdings valued at approximately $4.1 million.
Julian Assange’s $15 Million Net Worth and Income
Julian Assange’s net worth amounts to $15 million, primarily attributed to numerous book deals and family inheritance. While anticipating extradition to the United States, Assange occupied himself by investing in Bitcoin using funds received from publishing ventures. One notable deal was with an Australian publisher in November 2020, valued at $3.5 million.
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Julian Assange Height and Career
Net Worth | $300,000 |
Salary | Not available |
Birthdate | July 3, 1971 |
Birthplace | Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
Gender | Male |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Profession | Journalist, Spokesperson, Programmer, Editor, Hacker, Film Producer, Television producer, Television Director, Screenwriter |
Nationality | Australian |
What are the charges against him?
Julian Assange, an Australian journalist and the creator of WikiLeaks, is confronted with multiple charges in the United States primarily concerning his role in releasing classified government materials. At the time of my latest update, the accusations against him consist of:
- Conspiracy to Commit Computer Intrusion: Assange reportedly colluded with Chelsea Manning, previously known as Bradley Manning, a former US Army intelligence analyst, to decrypt a password hash on US Department of Defense computers for the purpose of obtaining classified information.
- Violation of the Espionage Act: He also faces numerous charges under the Espionage Act of 1917 for his involvement in releasing classified military and diplomatic files via WikiLeaks.
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How Did Assange Begin His Career in Hacking?
During the late 1980s, Assange gained considerable recognition for his hacking endeavors. In 1991, he was apprehended for hacking into Nortel’s Melbourne master terminal, a prominent Canadian telecommunications corporation. As a result, his residence was searched by the Australian Federal Police, and he faced numerous charges of hacking and associated offenses. Assange admitted guilt to the majority of the charges and was granted release on a good behavior bond.
How Did WikiLeaks Come Into Existence?
Julian Assange established WikiLeaks in 2006 with the goal of providing a platform for anonymous whistleblowers to share classified and sensitive data. Although initially envisioned as an “open-source, democratic intelligence agency,” WikiLeaks eventually moved away from its open-editing feature while still releasing information from undisclosed contributors. The platform rose to global recognition by uncovering unlawful killings in Kenya, illegal waste disposal in Côte d’Ivoire, and the contents of Sarah Palin’s compromised email account, along with other notable disclosures.
What Were WikiLeaks’ Most Controversial Releases?
In 2010, WikiLeaks made a significant impact by releasing several high-profile documents, such as the “Collateral Murder” video depicting a 2007 airstrike in Baghdad that resulted in civilian casualties. The Afghan War Diary and Iraq War Logs also offered detailed insights into the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The pinnacle of these disclosures was “Cablegate,” where numerous U.S. diplomatic cables were exposed, leading to global discussions on issues like national security, government openness, and the morality of whistleblowing, ultimately putting pressure on international relations.
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