Fox Business host and former Trump administration economic adviser Larry Kudlow has publicly detailed his decades-long battle with cocaine and alcohol addiction that nearly destroyed his career and marriage in the 1990s. The 78-year-old television personality opened up about his substance abuse struggles during an appearance on Miranda Devine’s “Pod Force One” podcast.
Kudlow described becoming caught up in the culture of 1980s and 1990s Wall Street while serving as chief economist at Bear Stearns. He acknowledged that while many colleagues faced similar high-pressure situations without developing addictions, he personally became dependent on multiple substances to cope with his demanding work environment.
The Fox Business host revealed that his daily routine involved using prescription painkillers and cocaine during work hours, followed by additional cocaine use in the evenings. Despite his escalating substance abuse, Kudlow managed to maintain his professional responsibilities for years, describing himself as a functioning addict during this period.
The crisis reached its peak in 1995 when Kudlow’s wife, Judith “Judy” Pond Kudlow, intervened by enrolling him in a five-month residential treatment program. This intervention came approximately one year after he was forced to resign from his position at Bear Stearns due to his addiction-related issues.
Court documents revealed the severity of Kudlow’s condition at the time. Judith had filed for divorce and sought to prevent her husband from accessing his retirement funds. In legal filings obtained by The Daily Beast, she stated that the then-47-year-old Kudlow “has been on a steady cocaine binge and is desperate for money.”
However, Judith never followed through with the divorce proceedings. The couple, who first met in the early 1980s when she was working for the Reagan administration, remain married today. Kudlow credited his wife’s decisive action with saving both his life and their relationship.
The residential treatment program marked a turning point in Kudlow’s recovery journey. He described the experience as providing him with a second chance in life, acknowledging that his previous lifestyle had led to what he characterized as a devastating personal crash. The recovery process also influenced his spiritual life, leading him to convert from Judaism to Catholicism in 1997.
Kudlow emphasized his commitment to ongoing recovery, revealing that he continues to attend four or five 12-step program meetings regularly. He expressed gratitude for the structured support system that has helped maintain his sobriety for nearly three decades since entering treatment.
During the podcast interview, Kudlow also discussed his brief conversations about addiction with former President Donald Trump. He noted that substance abuse issues hold particular significance for Trump, whose older brother Fred Trump Jr. died from alcoholism-related complications in 1981 at age 42. Kudlow observed that the topic “is very personal to him, and it’s very personal to me.”
The Fox Business personality acknowledged taking full personal responsibility for his addiction, noting that many colleagues in similar high-stress financial sector positions did not develop substance abuse problems. He emphasized that his recovery experience reinforced his belief in personal accountability and individual responsibility.
Kudlow’s public disclosure comes at a time when addiction issues continue to affect professionals across various high-pressure industries. His willingness to discuss his past struggles openly represents a departure from the typical privacy maintained around such personal matters by public figures in media and politics.
The longtime economic commentator served as director of the National Economic Council during Trump’s first presidential term. When asked about potentially returning to government service, Kudlow indicated he had discussed the possibility with Trump but ultimately decided against it, citing his busy schedule with Fox Business programming.
Throughout the interview, Kudlow reflected on how his faith has played a central role in his continued recovery. He expressed belief that religious practice promotes better behavior and reinforces the personal responsibility that he considers essential to maintaining sobriety.