John Warnock Hinckley Jr. (May 29, 1955) is an American man who gained worldwide notoriety for his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Found not guilty by reason of insanity, he spent over 34 years confined to a federal psychiatric hospital before receiving unconditional release in June 2022.
Since then, he has lived in Williamsburg, Virginia, and actively pursued a music career.
Who is John Hinckley Jr?
John Hinckley Jr. is one of the most recognized figures in American criminal history. On March 30, 1981, he fired six shots at President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
He wounded Reagan along with three others: Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy, and police officer Thomas Delahanty. Brady suffered permanent brain damage and died in August 2014, with a medical examiner later ruling his death a homicide.
A jury found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity on June 21, 1982.
His stated motive was a delusional obsession with actress Jodie Foster. After watching the 1976 film Taxi Driver repeatedly, he concluded that shooting a sitting president would win her affection and attention.
Following over three decades of psychiatric confinement, a federal judge lifted all restrictions in June 2022. He published his full autobiography, John Hinckley Jr.: Who I Really Am, with Wild Blue Press in 2025.
Early Life of John Hinckley Jr
John Warnock Hinckley Jr. was born on May 29, 1955, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children.
His father, John W. Hinckley Sr. (1925–2008), was the founder and President of the Vanderbilt Energy Corporation, a multimillion-dollar oil and gas firm based in Texas.
His mother, Jo Ann Moore Hinckley (1925–2021), was a devoted homemaker. She described John as more introverted than his older siblings, sister Diane and brother Scott. The family relocated to Dallas, Texas, when Hinckley was four years old.
John grew up in the affluent University Park neighborhood of Dallas. During his grade school years, he played football and basketball and was elected class president twice.
His siblings went on to excel academically — Diane graduated from Southern Methodist University, and Scott graduated from Vanderbilt University before becoming Vice President of their father’s oil business.
In 1973, the family moved to Evergreen, Colorado, where his father had relocated the company headquarters.
John Hinckley Jr Age
John Hinckley Jr. is 71 years old as of 2026, born on May 29, 1955. His zodiac sign is Gemini. In 2025, he released his full autobiography and continued publishing new original music through his online channels.
John Hinckley Jr Ethnicity and Nationality
Hinckley holds American nationality, born and raised in the United States. His family background is of White American descent, rooted in the business communities of Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado.
His upbringing within a wealthy oil family gave him significant cultural and financial advantages throughout his childhood.
John Hinckley Jr Height and Weight
John Hinckley Jr. stands at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall. His weight is reported to be approximately 160 pounds (72 kg).
Despite decades in institutional care, he has maintained a relatively stable physical condition into his seventies.
He remains physically active, with much of that energy now channeled into playing musical instruments and creative projects.
John Hinckley Jr Education
Hinckley attended Highland Park High School in Dallas County, Texas, graduating in 1973. That same year, as his family moved to Evergreen, Colorado, he enrolled at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
He attended Texas Tech on and off from 1974 to 1980 but never completed his degree.
During those years, his mental health struggles deepened, and he became increasingly isolated from peers and family. He left Texas Tech permanently in July 1980.
John Hinckley Jr Career
The Assassination Attempt
On March 30, 1981, Hinckley stood among a crowd outside the Washington Hilton Hotel and fired six shots at President Ronald Reagan.
The attack wounded Reagan, Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy, and police officer Thomas Delahanty.
Brady suffered devastating brain injuries and remained permanently disabled from that day forward. He died on August 4, 2014, and a Virginia medical examiner classified his death as a homicide tied to the 1981 shooting.
President Reagan recovered and returned to the White House after 12 days in the hospital. Officers arrested Hinckley immediately at the scene.
His deep obsession with actress Jodie Foster drove the attack. After watching Taxi Driver (1976) dozens of times, he began stalking Foster and followed her to Yale University in 1980, calling and writing to her repeatedly.
He believed that assassinating the president would force her to take notice. Before targeting Reagan, Hinckley had also tracked President Jimmy Carter during the 1980 election campaign.
Trial and Institutionalization
Hinckley’s federal trial began on May 4, 1982, in Washington, D.C., and lasted seven weeks. He faced 13 criminal charges, including the attempted assassination of the President.
His defense team argued he suffered from schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. They presented expert testimony that his fixation on Taxi Driver represented a complete break from reality.
On June 21, 1982, the jury returned a not guilty verdict on all counts by reason of insanity. The outcome outraged the public and reshaped American law.
An ABC News poll the following day found that 83% of Americans felt justice had not been served.
In direct response, Congress passed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act in 1984. This law significantly raised the federal standard for the insanity defense in criminal cases.
A federal court committed Hinckley to St. Elizabeths Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Washington, D.C., where he remained for over three decades. Beginning in 2003, the court granted him supervised day trips outside the hospital.
In 2016, a federal judge approved his move to Williamsburg, Virginia, under a set of conditions. A federal judge unconditionally lifted all remaining restrictions in June 2022.
Music Career and Recent Work
During his years of institutionalization, Hinckley devoted significant time to songwriting and painting. In October 2020, a court authorized him to publicly sell and promote his music, writings, and artwork under his own name.
He launched his YouTube channel on November 2, 2020, and created his Twitter account in October 2021. His single “Never Ending Quest” followed in 2021, and he released the album Redemption in 2023.
By 2026, his Spotify profile listed several new singles, including “Does My Prison Time Mean the End” and “Don’t Wanna Leave You Now.”
He announced a solo acoustic concert at Market Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, though subsequent planned shows faced cancellations. In January 2026, he spoke publicly about his memoir and expressed hope of one day performing live for an audience.
His autobiography, John Hinckley Jr.: Who I Really Am, published by Wild Blue Press in 2025, covers his upbringing, the 1981 shooting, his trial, his institutionalization, and his path to release.
John Hinckley Jr Personal Life
As of 2026, Hinckley has not publicly confirmed a current romantic partner or spouse.
During his years at St. Elizabeths Hospital, he maintained a long-term relationship with fellow patient Leslie DeVeau, though that relationship ended before his release.
He has expressed deep public regret for his actions. In 2021, he issued a formal apology to Jodie Foster and the families of the shooting victims.
In July 2024, Hinckley publicly condemned the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
John Hinckley Jr Net Worth
John Hinckley Jr.’s estimated net worth is $200,000 as of 2026. His earnings come primarily from music releases, original artwork sales, and YouTube content. Legal restrictions prevent him from profiting directly from crime-related media, keeping his total earnings modest.
He continues to release independent music and sell original paintings to fund his creative life in Virginia. His finances are also partially supported by a family trust fund connected to his late father’s Vanderbilt Energy estate.
Financial analysts consistently place his net worth in the low six-figure range.
John Hinckley Jr Social Media
Hinckley maintains an active presence across multiple online platforms. On Instagram, he shares music updates and personal commentary at @officialjohnhinckley.
His YouTube channel, launched in November 2020, features original music and has attracted tens of thousands of views per video.
He is also active on X (formerly Twitter) as @JohnHinckley20, posting on social issues and new music.
His platform has been used notably to speak out against political violence, including his July 2024 post condemning the attempt on former President Trump’s life.
His online following includes both supporters of his rehabilitation and those critical of his unconditional release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is John Hinckley Jr’s net worth?
John Hinckley Jr.’s estimated net worth is $200,000 as of 2026. His earnings come from music releases, art sales, and YouTube content.
How old is John Hinckley Jr?
John Hinckley Jr. is 71 years old as of June 20, 2026, born on May 29, 1955.
Who is John Hinckley Jr dating or married to?
Hinckley has not publicly confirmed a current romantic partner as of 2026. He lives a private life in Williamsburg, Virginia.
What is John Hinckley Jr’s height?
John Hinckley Jr. stands at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall.
What projects has John Hinckley Jr been involved in?
He released the album Redemption (2023) and his autobiography John Hinckley Jr.: Who I Really Am (2025). He continues releasing music on Spotify and YouTube, with multiple 2026 singles already published.
Where was John Hinckley Jr born?
John Hinckley Jr. was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on May 29, 1955. His family relocated to Dallas, Texas, when he was four years old.
The Bottom Line
John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981, firing six shots outside the Washington Hilton Hotel.
His acquittal on June 21, 1982, directly prompted Congress to reform the federal insanity defense standard through the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984.
After gaining unconditional release in June 2022, he settled in Williamsburg, Virginia, and released his memoir John Hinckley Jr.: Who I Really Am in 2025.
His Spotify catalog has grown steadily, with new singles released through 2026. He continues to write and record music independently from his home in Virginia.
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