Top Forbes editor axed over secret $6M payment: report

By Shant Shahrigian

Published Aug. 12, 2026, 5:24 p.m. PT

"Forbes fired its top editor after finding out he secretly raked in a cool $6 million from the founder of a company that does business with the publication, according to a report.

Chief Content Officer Randall Lane was booted after getting paid by one RJ Shook of Shook Research, which collaborates with Forbes to create rankings of wealth advisors, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

It’s not known why Shook, who sold his company to a private equity firm, paid Lane, according to the report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with Lane’s work and departure.

The axed exec was the portrait of contrition over the payment, which he described as a “gift” without going into detail.

“I made a mistake, and I take responsibility for it,” Lane told the Times

…..The roughly $6 million payment was a big no-no in Forbes land, which reportedly requires employees to ask for permission before doing outside business. It also bars them from personal gain from the mag’s business affairs, according to the Times, which cited an employee handbook.

A Forbes flack confirmed Lane’s departure to the Gray Lady but was mum on the payment. Shook Research declined to comment to the newspaper. …"

https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/media/top-forbes-editor-axed-over-secret-6m-payment-report/

>>24930403

>So no one ever talks about taking the ill-gotten booty bucks. They lose their job but get to keep all the money?

Yep. Looks like it here. He said he considered the $6 million a "gift" from a "chum," so didn’t disclose it but kept collaborating wirh him on Forbes content!

>>24930603

This is incredibly disrespectful to all working women and mothers, to display a young highly accomplished professional woman in such an objectified fashion - and possibly illegal.

Decency, respect, common sense versus misogyny, devaluing, trying to shif public perspective and erase dignity and hard-earned professional integrity in an instant - but not through a clever meme but rather old fashioned, tired, and lazy objectification.

….and screams "immature," if that even matters to this OP.