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“I’m the voice of honesty.” Amid instant news and a variety of social media outlets where the world tweets, shares, like and updates, radio might seem like a dying medium but one person who has managed to ride the wave of popularity over the last four decades is the “King of All Media” himself—Howard Stern. Working for several radio stations throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, the New York City native landed his own syndicated morning show in 1986 and built a following of over 20 million listeners only to become the first radio host to have a number one morning show in both New York City and Los Angeles at the same time. Impressive, right?

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Refusing to stop there, Stern has found even greater success over the last decade on Sirius XM satellite radio where his popularity has paved the way to an array of opportunities including two stints on the New York Times Best Seller list for Private Parts in 1993 and Miss America in 1995. He also saw Private Parts hit the silver screen as he starred as himself in the biographical film in 1997. Now dabbling in producing, acting and photography, Stern has also cemented his place in radio history when he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012.

Despite spending most of his time behind the radio microphone, Stern has given a lot of thought to his appearance over the years, which has left many to notice a few changes in his nose and chin. In 2006, he finally set the record straight and admitted to going under the knife for a rhinoplasty to remove a bump on the bridge of his nose. While on the operating table, he also had his surgeon liposuction the area around and under his chin to reshape and remove the double chin he claims that he previously had.

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Unlike so many other celebrities who face a whirlwind of rumors about supposed nips, tucks, tightens and tweaks, the news of Stern’s cosmetic surgery never damaged his reputation or his career as a radio host especially since his listeners rarely see his face anyway. However, that isn’t to say the “King of All Media” didn’t face some criticism as the New York Daily News even published an article about his procedure titled If You Got a Nose Job, Howard, You Should Get Your Money Back!

Having always been overly critical of himself and even discussing his obsessive-compulsive disorder in his book Miss America, Stern said that his decision to have a rhinoplasty and liposuction came after he saw himself on the silver screen in Private Parts. Even though doctors advised him against the procedure and he faced his own concerns that it would alter his iconic radio voice, Stern knew it would boost his confidence and perhaps make him even more appealing to his wife at the time, Alison Berns.

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With Stern making very few appearances between his surgery in 1997 and his announcement nearly a decade later, it took the world some time to even notice his altered look. “Besides, I don’t think anyone—besides my sister Ellen—even noticed,” Stern said during his show. Once he finally spoke up, however, people finally saw the difference in his chin and nose but not without close observation. One plastic surgeon even said that the change was extremely subtle since Stern’s iconic long hair typically covers his face in addition to his obvious preference for sunglasses to mask his eyes.

Like Stern predicted, many of his fans took the opportunity to call in and razz him about finally coming clean, which he took like a champ. After dishing it out for so many years and even saying that plastic surgery was “gay,” Stern was open to criticism even if it stung a little. With that said, he certainly hasn’t run back to the operating table even though many argue the New Yorker has also had work done to enhance his famous head of curly hair.

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While the world argues over whether the 62-year-old Stern is now sporting a wig or has opted for hair plugs, he is obviously enjoying the last laugh as his popularity is once again on the rise after his latest stint as a judge on America’s Got Talent. Whatever the case—whether it’s a rhinoplasty and liposuction, hair plugs, Botox or a chin implant—Stern has undeniably come quite a long way from his early days as an unknown name in the industry to a renowned radio personality with a net worth of $500 million and climbing. After all these years, he just might be the King of All Media, after all.