Newsmax executives and talent were on hand at the opening of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday after the company saw a wildly successful initial public offering earlier this week.
Company founder and CEO Chris Ruddy was joined by Newsmax hosts like Greg Kelly, Rob Schmitt, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty, and Greta Van Susteren, as well as former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as it rang the opening bell Thursday morning.
The ringing of the bell comes after Newsmax stock — trading under the NMAX symbol — hit the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The stock opened at $10 per share before rising to as high as $279.99 per share on Wednesday. The performance turned Ruddy into an overnight billionaire, as he controls more than 80% of voting shares in the cable news channel.
Before ringing the bell to open Thursday’s trading, Ruddy addressed the crowd.
“I’ve always said in my life that life is a pilgrimage,” said Ruddy. “We go from the beginning until the end, and then we go to God. But it’s the journey along the way and the people you meet on the pilgrimage that make it so interesting and exciting. And I think the people on our pilgrimage believe that we have a special mission, which is to give the American people, this special country, the information they need to make great decisions that will affect the world, shape the future, and improve our freedoms. Not just for us, but for people all over the world.
“It’s a momentous time for me personally, but also I think for all of you. And I hope for the country,” he concluded.
On Newsmax Thursday morning, the network broadcast the bell-ringing live.
“It’s huge,” host Carl Higbie said while speaking live on the network with correspondent Christian Thompson on Thursday morning. “It’s like a second bite at the apple here on Thursday. The stock was incredibly successful. It’s been something to be a part of this since we first went on air in 2014. I was here on the single show they had. It means a lot to be here and see where it’s come today.”
Talent from the network took to social media to share behind-the-scenes perspectives of the company ringing the opening bell.
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