The Double Birth Order of Glenn Beck

                                             Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck is an author, editor, inspirational speaker, and talk show host

on the Fox network. He has been described as right-wing conservative

and a major supporter of the Tea-Party movement.  This man seems to

have it all so it was time to find his birth order so we can see the

characteristics that made for his success. The research for the

information on his siblings was not an easy one. I knew he had an

older sister but who knew he had another much older sister?

Early Years

Glenn was born February 10, 1964 in Everett, Washington, his sister

Michelle is two years older.  At age 13 his parents divorced and Glenn

and Michelle moved from Mt. Vernon to Summer, Washington. Two

years later in 1979 his mother died in a mysterious drowning incident

in Puget Sound.  No one is sure if it was an accident or a suicide.  After

the death of his mother, both he and his sister Michelle moved back with

his father, stepmother and step siblings, as his father had remarried. Glenn

was 15 at the time.  One of his step siblings committed suicide and another

died of a heart attack. I do not know if they were older or younger than 

Glenn and Michelle. The siblings in this new step family would have little affect

on Glenn since he was already 15years old. My quest for all of his siblings

may have ended here but for a story Glenn told about his childhood. Glenn

tells the story about the day his older sister played hooky.  He said, “My

other sister and I were a little surprised when my dad picked us up and we

went looking for our older sister…” Now we know there were two girls and

a boy in the original Beck family.

Search for his oldest Sister

I knew from watching his show that he demonstrated multiple characteristics

not clearly any one birth order so the search for the oldest sister was the

answer. I reasoned that after the divorce she did not go to Summer, Washington

with Glenn and Michelle. That year, 1977, may have been her last year in

high school or she may have already graduated.  My first search was at the

Tacoma Public Library for a copy of his mother’s obituary.  There it listed her

children, Michelle, Glenn, and Coletta of Mt. Vernon, Washington.  My suspicion

that she had stayed in Mt. Vernon was right.  Following a number of calls to

Mt. Vernon High and the local library I found her picture in the 1976 yearbook.

This makes her date of birth to be 1958 making her 4 years older than Michelle

and 6 years older than Glenn.

Birth Order Designations

The Beck family demonstrates what is known as a “family within a family”.

Four school years separate the oldest sibling from the next group of two giving

everyone a Double Birth Order.

Coletta      One/Only          Double Birth Order (The 4yrs gave her more time

                                            alone with her parents like an Only child.)

       4yr Gap

Michelle  Two/One           Double Birth Order  (The oldest in the second family)

Glenn      Three/Two         Double Birth Order  (Third born but second in the

                                                                         second family and the only boy)

Birth Order Characteristics of the Second Born

The second child likes to control his own space and does not want to be told

what to do.They usually have a more outgoing personality than their older

sibling.  If the older sibling is doing well in school then they will concentrate

on athletics or anything different from their older brother or sister. They can

be very competitive and don’t give up easily. Making a lot of money allows

them not to be told what to do. In 2009 Beck made 21 million dollars true to

his second born characteristic. Some twos may be called rebels if you think

personal responsibity, low debt and limited government are rebel ideas, then

he fits.

Birth Order Characteristics of the Third Born.

The third born sees life very differently than the second born.  He is not very

competitive but sees life in more humanitarian terms.  He loves helping others

and sees the bigger picture. They are artistic, spiritual, creative and very 

sensitive.They love working with groups of people as they understand everyone

easily. Sensitivity to those around them gives them lots of friends and an air 

of being very happy. The truth is they are laughing on the outside but crying 

on the inside.They do not like to expose their inner feelings. They are open to 

the world around them and that includes drugs, alcohol and religion. Religion is

now central in Glenn’s life.  He converted to Mormonism which he accounts for 

his cure and is now a recovering alcoholic, drug addict and substance abuser.

As the first born boy with two older sisters Glenn is in a unique position to act 

at times like a Firstborn. Acting like a Firstborn may make him look stronger 

than he really is and since it is an act, he may overdo it. .

Work

Glenn is a blending of these two birth orders and we can see that in his work

history. His first job was at age 13 when he won a contest to be on his hometown

radio station KRBC. In high school Glenn began working regularly on a part-time

basis for a radio station in Seattle. He would do the midnight show on Friday night

and would have to take the bus to Seattle.. He often would sleep at the station

during the weekend shows. As a second born the money would be important as

a way toward independence. The radio gave him a stage from which to perform, 

a third born characteristic. He had numerous radio jobs over the years and the 

only pattern was one of going from job to job after being let go. Maybe he didn’t

like management telling him what to do?  A second born trait.

Political Views

Beck considers himself a libertarian; he says every day he is fighting for individual

rights, a trait consistent with a second born. Second borns don’t want anyone

telling them what to do.  As the third born he has an almost religious zeal for

getting everyone educated in the matter of fiscal responsibility.  He wants

everyone to be able to control their own life by living within their means, another

number two trait.

Blended Birth Orders

This blending of birth orders makes for a very interesting person.  Time

Magazine thought so in 2009 and named him The Most Interesting Personality.  

Understanding this blending of the second and third born traits will give you a 

better picture of the “Real” Glenn Beck. His third born characteristics gave him

a different and open view of the world. It cost him his first marriage and almost

cost him his life with alcohol and drug additions. His second born trait of wanting 

to control his own world gave him the strength to kick his habits. His third born

side helped as he sought out religion as a solution. This combination of the

 two/three double birth order, shows a strong independent person who is 

dedicated and cares deeply about others.

For more information about Double Birth Order you can get my book
Life's Fingerprint: How Birth Order Affects Your Path Throughout Life
by Dr. Robert V.V. Hurst or visit my website www.mybirthorder.com