Charles Ergen

About Charles Ergen

Who is it?: Founder and Chairman, DISH Network
Birth Day: March 01, 1953
Birth Place: Denver, Colorado, United States
Occupation: Chairman of Dish Network
Known for: Co-founder of Satellite provider Dish Network
Spouse(s): Candy Ergen
Children: Five (Christopher)
Parent(s): Viola Siebenthal Ergen William Krasny Ergen

Charles Ergen

Charles Ergen was born on March 01, 1953 in Denver, Colorado, United States, is Founder and Chairman, DISH Network. Charlie Ergen is the cofounder and chairman of satellite TV provider DISH Network, and satellite communications firm EchoStar. In 1980 he began selling satellite dishes outside of Denver, Colorado from the back of a truck. That business grew into DISH Network and EchoStar. DISH went public in 1996; Ergen owns 48%. EchoStar, which operates the hardware side of the business, was spun off from DISH in 2008. Four years after leaving as chairman of DISH, Ergen returned as CEO in 2015.
Charles Ergen is a member of Media

Does Charles Ergen Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Charles Ergen is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).

🎂 Charles Ergen - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

Currently, Charles Ergen is 71 years, 0 months and 28 days old. Charles Ergen will celebrate 72rd birthday on a Saturday 1st of March 2025. Below we countdown to Charles Ergen upcoming birthday.

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Popular As Charles Ergen
Occupation Media
Age 70 years old
Zodiac Sign Aries
Born March 01, 1953 (Denver, Colorado, United States)
Birthday March 01
Town/City Denver, Colorado, United States
Nationality United States

🌙 Zodiac

Charles Ergen’s zodiac sign is Aries. According to astrologers, the presence of Aries always marks the beginning of something energetic and turbulent. They are continuously looking for dynamic, speed and competition, always being the first in everything - from work to social gatherings. Thanks to its ruling planet Mars and the fact it belongs to the element of Fire (just like Leo and Sagittarius), Aries is one of the most active zodiac signs. It is in their nature to take action, sometimes before they think about it well.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Charles Ergen was born in the Year of the Snake. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Snake are seductive, gregarious, introverted, generous, charming, good with money, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, they rely on gut feelings, are hard-working and intelligent. Compatible with Rooster or Ox.

Some Charles Ergen images

Awards and nominations:

In June 1991, Ergen was named ‘Master Entrepreneur of the Year’ for the Rocky Mountain region by INC Magazine. Two years prior, he had been honoured with a Home Satellite TV Association Star Award. Ergen played a key role in fighting for American consumers’ rights to watch local television channels via satellite, which became a reality after the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act was passed in 1999. He has been an advocate of video competition issues and testified before the Congress, in this regard, on numerous occasions. He was recognized with a Rocky Mountain News’ Business Person of the Year Award in 1996, and honoured a second time in 2001.

Ergen also won the Frost & Sullivan 2001 CEO of the Year of the Satellite Industry. In 2000 he was named ‘Space Industry Business Man of the Year.’ Ergen was named one of the ‘World’s Best CEOs’ by Barron’s magazine in 2007. He was also mentioned in Forbes Magazine ‘Top Ten CEOs’ list. Ergen co-founded the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association.

Biography/Timeline

1953

Ergen was born into an Episcopalian family in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on March 1, 1953, the fourth of five children born to Viola (née Siebenthal) and william Krasny Ergen. His mother was one of the first female accountants in the state of Minnesota. His Father was an Austrian immigrant who was working in Sweden as a nuclear Physicist, and left Europe prior to World War II. His Father coined the phrase "China Syndrome". His parents married in Minnesota in 1944 and then moved to Camden, New Jersey, before settling in Oak Ridge where his Father accepted a position at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Ergen received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. He was a professional blackjack and poker player.

1980

In 1980 Ergen, his Future wife Candy, and Jim Defranco started a new Business called EchoSphere Corporation, investing $60,000 to purchase two C-Band antennas, targeting rural Colorado. They drove around the Denver metro area on a small budget, selling satellite dishes from the back of their truck.

1990

In 1990 Ergen pushed EchoStar into the big leagues by raising $335 million in Jun K bonds and purchasing orbital slots for satellites. Two years later, EchoStar got a DBS license from the Federal Communications Commission, giving the company its own geostationary orbital slot. In 1993, EchoStar Communications was incorporated. Under Ergen, EchoStar’s net income doubled to $20.4 million, in 1993.

1991

In June 1991, Ergen was named ‘Master Entrepreneur of the Year’ for the Rocky Mountain region by INC Magazine. Two years prior, he had been honoured with a Home Satellite TV Association Star Award. Ergen played a key role in fighting for American consumers’ rights to watch local television channels via satellite, which became a reality after the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act was passed in 1999. He has been an advocate of video competition issues and testified before the Congress, in this regard, on numerous occasions. He was recognized with a Rocky Mountain News’ Business Person of the Year Award in 1996, and honoured a second time in 2001.

2001

Ergen also won the Frost & Sullivan 2001 CEO of the Year of the Satellite Industry. In 2000 he was named ‘Space Industry Business Man of the Year.’ Ergen was named one of the ‘World’s Best CEOs’ by Barron’s magazine in 2007. He was also mentioned in Forbes Magazine ‘Top Ten CEOs’ list. Ergen co-founded the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association.

2012

Under Ergen, DISH was the first satellite provider to offer two-way high-speed internet access and the first to introduce a Digital video recorder in a set-top box. He was also instrumental in making satellite receivers available for under $200. In 2012, the Big Four Broadcasters, NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox filed a suit against Dish Network after it launched AutoHop, a Technology that records broadcasting programming and plays it back without commercials. DISH filed a suit seeking a declaratory judgment asserting the legality of the judgment. Preliminary injunction by Fox to block the Service was denied. Ergen has stated that DISH’s present focus is on acquiring a significant share of the spectrum for cellular wireless services. Dish is also looking for a partner to build a wireless network, with Google and AT&T speculated to be potential partners.

2013

Ergen is perceived as being difficult and unpredictable in negotiations. AT&T attempted to acquire Dish only to have the deal fall apart at the last minute. In 2013, Ergen angered his counterparts in negotiations to acquire Sprint by making a direct bid for Sprint's Clearwire subsidiary. Dish later walked out of those negotiations. Ergen's supporters call his negotiating style patient and prudent.

2014

With an estimated 2014 net worth of $17B, Ergen is reportedly the wealthiest person in Colorado.

2019

He is married to Cantey ("Candy") McAdam. They have five children. They live in Littleton, Colorado. Ergen is an avid mountain climber who has scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Everest base camp in Nepal. He is a member of the Colorado Mountain Club and has climbed all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Besides mountain climbing, his interests include poker and pickup basketball.

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