The art of peddling news is still very much alive, and TV reporters are the top of the crop—always clever, always sharp, glamorous, hobnobbing with the elite, and attending all the big events. Surely this is a dream job? However, reporting is a difficult task. Their hours are long and frequently unsociable. They devote countless hours of investigation to each minute of a successful scoop. Take a look at their paychecks!
30+ Famous TV Anchors And Their Salaries
Tomi Lahren – $500k
Tomi first appeared on TheBlaze as a political analyst. She has her own show, Tomi. Her opinions were conservative, and she frequently made nasty remarks against liberal politics. We knew her from the show’s Final Thoughts portion, which lasted three minutes. She would give a summary of her thoughts on numerous contemporary issues. Many of these films became popular on social media, and she rose to prominence, receiving attention from all angles. Her stay on TheBlaze ended in March 2007. They suspended her following a guest appearance on The View. Why? She expressed her conviction that women should have access to abortions. However, Tomi’s story did not finish there. She went on to work at Great American Alliance and regularly contributed to Fox News.
Tomi Lahren $500k
Anderson Cooper – $15m
Yes, you read it correctly. Anderson receives eleven million dollars for his contributions to journalism. He is CNN’s principal anchor and one of the most well-known faces in American television. He has hosted his own daytime television discussion program. Now the paycheck makes sense. Anderson had no prior experience as a journalist. He studied political science at Yale and had an internship with the CIA. It felt fated from an early age that he would achieve great things, but not in the way he had anticipated. He began his career as a fact-checker for a tiny journalistic organization. His big break did not occur until he left for Myanmar. He interviewed students fighting the Burmese government, created his own program from the material, and sold it to Channel One. And the rest is history.
Anderson Cooper $15m
Katy Tur – $1m
Katy’s resume is extensive and respected. She previously worked at KTLA, News 12 Brooklyn, HD News/Cablevision, Fox 5 New York, The Weather Channel, and NBC. Katy, a weather girl turned multi-award-winning journalist, is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to storms and politics. In 2009, she received the Associated Press Best Spot News Award after a crane collapsed on the Upper East Side. Katy was there to cover the story as soon as possible. In 2017, she received a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. She joined NBC’s New York local station, but it wasn’t long before her talents were noticed by the proper people. She worked at the network’s national headquarters, reporting on several MBC News platforms. Today, Early Today, Meet the Press, and NBC Nightly News have all benefited from her knowledge.
Katy Tur $1m
Giada de Laurentiis – Minimum $3m
Giada aspired to be a pastry chef and trained at the elite Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She began her career as a cook in numerous restaurants before transitioning to food styling at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. She was working for Food & Wine magazine when her big break occurred. In 2002, the Food Network approached her with an idea for a show. Giada is now known as the “Empress of Food.” She’s been honored into the Culinary Hall of Fame. She has received several honors, including the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host. She appears as a guest host on NBC’s Today. But the Food Network is her home, with several shows including Everyday Italian, Giada On The Beach, Giada’s Weekend Getaways, Giada In Paradise, Giada In Italy, Giada Entertains, and Winner Cake All. Giada recently relaxed with Giada At Home. And she should. Giada has a lot on her plate, running an empire that encompasses multiple cookbooks and even restaurants!
Giada De Laurentiis Minimum $3m
Erin Burnett – $6m
Erin did not discover journalism. Journalism discovered her. She was working in the finance field, far from the spotlight, when she received an offer she couldn’t turn down. She was working as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs when the call came. CNN asked her to work as a writer and booker for their economic news program, Moneyline. Erin’s career quickly took off as she began working as an anchor for a variety of shows. She switched networks and joined CNBC’s Squawk on the Street and Street Signs. She even joined the cast of The Celebrity Apprentice. Then it was back to CNN, where her career really took off. Erin Burnett OutFront provided her with the opportunity to travel the world filming documentaries. She has hosted live concerts in Afghanistan, Mali, Rwanda, Israel, and the UAE. It’s a long way from an analyst’s desk in the back office!
Erin Burnett $6m
Ainsley Earhardt – $2m
It began at a young age for Ainsley. She was still pursuing her degree at USC when she got her first job in journalism. The local CBS station in Columbia, South Carolina, hired her as a correspondent. She worked at WLTX-News 19 from 2000 to 2004, anchoring the morning and lunchtime newscasts. It wasn’t until 2007 that she took the decision that brought her national attention. She moved to New York and started working for Fox News Channel. She has co-hosted shows such America’s News Headquarters, Fox and Friends Weekend, and Fox’s All-American New Year’s Eve. Ainsley is an extremely talented storyteller. She has appeared on The Live Desk, had her own show, Ainsley Across America, on Hannity, and even written books!
Ainsley Earhardt $2m
Erin Andrews – $2m
Erin is an intriguing combination of tomboy and girl power. Her father was a WFLA-TV reporter and six-time Emmy winner. They would watch the game together, and during her school breaks, she would chat sports with the boys. It’s no surprise she grew up to be a sports presenter. Erin, on the other hand, has spent a significant portion of her youth dancing. She participated on the Florida Gators Dazzlers dance team in college. She now hosts the show after finishing third on Dancing With the Stars the previous year. After graduating, Erin worked as a freelance reporter for Fox Sports Florida. She later worked for the Sunshine Network and Turner South, where she added hosting to her portfolio. ESPN was her next stop, where she covered a range of sports. Erin joined Fox Sports in 2012 and now serves as a field reporter for the majority of major events. She makes the most of her celebrity by promoting women’s sports through endorsements and charitable activities.
Erin Andrews $2m
Wendy Williams – $10m
Wendy Williams may be wealthy, but she has earned it through hard labor. She is not happy with just journalism; she is also a strong businesswoman. She specializes in fashion and jewelry, with brands that include wigs. To back it up, she has published seven books. Her fierce personality provides her an advantage in business, readability, and on-air. Wendy began out in radio and was honored into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. Her vocal disagreements with celebrities first grabbed our notice. It landed her a TV reality show called The Wendy Williams Experience. It was just a matter of time before she had her own talk program, The Wendy Williams program.
Wendy Williams $10m
Rachel Maddow – $20m
Rachel is a trailblazer in Primetime news, being the first openly lesbian anchor in the United States. And now that we’ve cleared that up (which is basically irrelevant to her ability to report the news), let’s look at why she’s earned every cent of her seven million. First, she prepared for it. Rachel holds two university degrees: one from Stanford and the other from Oxford. Rachel fought hard to get to where she is now: one of the most trusted faces on television news. Her first work was as a radio host for WRNX. Her political beliefs, as well as her appearances on television panels, are liberal. After working as a political commentator on MSNBC’s Tucker and a political analyst on Race For The White House, she won her first hosting gig as a substitute on Countdown With Keith Olbermann. This became her own show, The Rachel Maddow Show. In addition, she serves as a co-anchor for the network’s special events. Not bad!
Rachel Maddow $20m
Brian Williams -$6m
Look up ‘anchor’ in the dictionary to locate Brian’s name. Throughout his lengthy career, he has been the face of numerous news programs. And he’s not just reporting the news. He has served as both managing editor and anchor of his own show. Even accusations of deception (for coverage of the Iraq War) cannot keep Brian off our television screens. Williams has been a broadcaster since 1981. His voyage began in Kansas and continued through Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and New York City. He became the chief White House correspondent for NBC’s national Weekend Nightly News program. Then came The News with Brian Williams, followed by The Nightly News. While he was there, the program received the Peabody Award, the George Polk Award, and the DuPont-Columbia University Award. He currently appears on NSNBC’s The 11th Hour With Brian Williams.
Brian Williams $6m
Robin Meade – Was $3m
Until her latest nomination from HLN, the multi-talented Robin Meade was not hesitant to try new things. She desired to be in the public glare, which laid the groundwork for her success in college. She majored in radio/television production, programming, and performing at Malone and Ashland universities. She initially focussed on performing. Robin was crowned Miss Ohio and advanced to the Miss America competition semifinals. This provided her with the opportunity to pursue a career in broadcasting, and she worked for a number of stations before settling on HLN. Robin has mediated for Ask Oprah’s All-Stars. She has earned a regional Emmy. Currently, she is the lead anchor for Morning Express With Robin Meade. And she hasn’t stopped with journalism. She is a country music performer who has released two albums. Want a taste of whatever is driving Robin’s incredible success? She is sharing! Purchase her book, Morning Sunshine!: How to Radiate Confidence and Feel It Too.
Robin Meade Was $3m
Ellen DeGeneres – $50M
Despite concerns of a poisonous atmosphere growing, The Ellen DeGeneres Show remained one of the most popular talk shows on television until its cancellation in 2022. While it ran, she reportedly earned a stunning $50 million each year, plus 60% of the show’s income from product placement, advertising, and carrying fees. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ellen’s net worth is approximately $500 million. Some income will undoubtedly come from her clever real estate investments with her wife, Portia De Rossi.
Ellen DeGeneres $50M
Jimmy Fallon – Minimum $5m
Everyone knows Jimmy! For years, he has graced our tiny and large televisions. Although he began college studying computer science, it had been his childhood desire to appear on Saturday Night Live. He switched studies to communications, but his passion drove him to leave before graduation to pursue a career as a comedian. Jimmy enjoyed a successful comedic career, including film appearances, but he never lost sight of his objective. After two auditions, he was ultimately cast. Jimmy appeared on Saturday Night Live’s 24th season, doing impressions and singing for the nation. Jimmy has written books and records, in addition to his film career, but we prefer him on television. He has been hosting The Tonight Show since 2014, following a run on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Long may he remain there!
Jimmy Fallon Minimum $5m
Kate Bolduan – $45-110k
If you have what it takes, it’s a simple path to the top, and Kate has trodden it effortlessly. First, I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from George Washington University. Then a general assignment reporter for WTVD-TV in North Carolina. Follow up with a production assistant for NBC News and MSNBC. Include roles on Dateline NBC, NBC Nightly News, and House & Garden Magazine. Kate’s next step led her to CNN, where she became a national correspondent for CNN Newsource in 2007. Kate has covered anything hard-hitting and historically significant. The 2008 presidential election, OJ’s armed robbery case, and the retirement of NASA’s space shuttles are just a few examples. She went on to work for Wolf Blitzer’s The Situation Room and New Day. She is currently anchoring At This Hour with Kate Bolduan, having previously anchored State of America with Kate Bolduan.
Kate Bolduan $45 110k
Lindsay Czarniak – $1.5m
Lindsay is a sports specialist. Her first sporting job was co-hosting the George Michael Sports Machine on WRC-TV. However, she had previous reporting experience. Before working for CNN as a production assistant, she interned at WUSA in Washington, DC. Her first reporting job was with WAWS in Florida, where she worked both behind the scenes and on camera. Lindsay’s life quickly became more athletic. In 2006, NBC Sports signed her to cover the Winter Olympics, giving her the biggest athletic break of her career. Following that, she was an obvious choice to co-host NBC4’s sports segment. Lindsay joined ESPN in 2011 to cover preseason football. She quickly rose to the position of SportsCenter’s 6 p.m. co-host. Then came the automobiles. Lindsay became the first woman to host ESPN’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500. She currently serves as a studio host for Fox Sports’ NASCAR coverage. Who said heels and wheels didn’t mix?
Lindsay Czarniak $1.5m
Ryan Seacrest – $75M
According to Forbes, Ryan Seacrest earned $10 million per year as co-host of Live With Kelly and Ryan from 2017 until 2023. But don’t forget about his other engagements, which he quit Live to focus on and bring him millions of dollars per year. Seacrest’s annual salary for American Idol is allegedly between $12 million and $15 million. Seacrest reportedly earns $1 million for hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve every December, for just one night of work. Overall, Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $450 million, with $75 million flowing in annually from his hosting duties and other producing endeavors. In 2015, when asked about his career, Seacrest replied, “My job is to get out of the way. My responsibility is to get things started, get out of the way, and say goodnight. When I host a show, it’s not about me; it’s about the people that are there, helping them shine, and making the most of the opportunities.”
Ryan Seacrest $75M
Andrea Mitchell – $1m
Andrea has been in business for more than 40 years, which is astounding. Furthermore, she has spent the majority of her career with the same network, NBC. That is some staying power. Andrea began as she intended to continue on. She was appointed news director of WXPN, the student radio station at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied. After graduation, she easily transitioned into the working world, joining KYW radio. She quickly became their City Hall correspondent. Andrea began working for WTOP (now WUSA) in 1976, but it wasn’t long before she moved to NBC in 1978. She worked for NBC News as a general journalist, then an energy correspondent, and finally as Chief Congressional correspondent. In addition to her regular appearances on Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Rachel Maddow Show, she now anchors her own show, Andrea Mitchell Reports.
Andrea Mitchell $1m
Molly Qerim – $500k
If you want a girl to watch the game with, Molly Qerim is the best option. She is currently the face of First Take, ESPN’s sports talk show. She took over as permanent host after demonstrating her ability to perform as temporary host in July 2015. Molly has worked for ESPN since 2008 and has received an Emmy for her efforts to the network. Football was her first love and first profession. She covered college football for CBS Sports Network, including events like National Signing Day, the NCAA Tournament, and the US Open. To cap things off, Molly was anchoring five different shows. She is no stranger to the red carpet, having covered a variety of events, including the Super Bowl. And… She’s equally at ease on your mobile devices, doing celebrity interviews for ESPN.com and ESPN mobile.
Molly Qerim $500k
Chris Cuomo – $1m
Chris knows his stuff. He’s grown up in a political family, with his father and brother serving as New York governors. He received his Juris Doctorate from Fordham Law School after graduating from Yale and is still a licensed attorney today. As an investigative journalist, Chris has found numerous issues lurking beneath the surface of American society. His work has resulted in product recalls and regulation changes, as well as an industry cleanup. He’s appeared on all of the major networks. CNBC. MSNBC. CNN. Fox News. ABC. He has worked as a correspondent on Fox Files, a political policy expert on Fox News, and a co-anchor on 20/20. Chris joined Good Morning America in 2006, where he served as the principal anchor and reporter on breaking news topics. After co-anchoring CNN’s New Day, Chris transitioned to primetime with his own show, Cuomo Primetime. He has hosted spiritual events, documentaries, and a radio program. Want to speak with the man himself? He answers inquiries on his website, Cuomo on the Case.
Chris Cuomo $1m
Don Lemon – $4 Million
CNN’s acclaimed journalist Don Lemon is not afraid to touch on sensitive subjects and issues. Many argue that he deserves every penny he receives. Don is an excellent example of people, not just journalists, who stick to their ideals and ethics regardless of the repercussions. Since 2002, he has received numerous honors for his work. He was also recognized as one of Advocat’s 50 Most Influential LGBTQ People.
Don Lemon – $4 Million
Shepard Smith – $10m
He’s been in the profession for more than 30 years, beginning with television reporting in Florida. He relocated to Los Angeles as a journalist for A Current Affair, but soon began his own affair with Fox. This was to last 23 years, as he covered some of the world’s most distinguished stories. He announced his retirement in October 2019. Shepard has hosted several Fox News shows, including The Fox Report with Shepard Smith, Studio B, and Shepard Smith Reporting. He has worked tirelessly over the years to provide, in his own words, “truth to power without fear or favor, in context and with perspective.” This attitude has helped him tie for second place in the 2003 TV Guide survey as the most trusted news anchor on cable and network television. His colleagues hope that Shepard will return to news reporting shortly.
Shepard Smith $10m
Hoda Kotb – $5m
Hoda grew up in Virginia and attended university to pursue a degree in Broadcast Journalism. But she returned to her Egyptian origins for her first paid employment. In 1986, she worked as a news assistant for CBS News in Cairo, Egypt. Since then, she has written four books, judged a reality program, survived cancer, and received a Daytime Emmy Award. After gaining anchoring experience at WQAD-TV and ABC Moline, Hoda was an easy pick for NBC News. She began as the national correspondent and has also worked as a contributing anchor and correspondent for Dateline NBC. She is now part of the first all-female partnership to co-host a Today Show segment.
Hoda Kotb $5m
Nancy Grace – $8m
When Nancy graduated from high school, she planned to become an English professor, but her plans were dashed when her fiancé was murdered. She went into prosecution and worked for nearly a decade in Atlanta, Georgia. She has always been contentious and has received reprimands for prosecutorial misconduct. It was this fire that first drew TV executives to her. Court TV made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Her career in television began with a legal commentary show with Johnnie Cochran. Grace went on to host Trial Heat, followed by Closing Arguments. In 2005, she debuted her own show, Nancy Grace, on HLN, while also hosting a courtroom reality show, Swift Justice With Nancy Grace. She has returned to her origins of advocating against injustice with a true-crime series on Oxygen TV called Injustice with Nancy Grace.
Nancy Grace $8m
Billy Bush – $3m
Billy Bush may have had an advantage in the race to celebrity. He has gained prominence as the nephew of one US President and first cousin of another. However, he deserved the roles he landed on television. In 2005, Esquire named him one of their Ten Men, calling him “a furious, inventive interviewer, unafraid of playing the fool in exchange for a true reaction.” After an essential start in radio, Billy moved on to television, joining the Access Hollywood crew as East Coast correspondent. It wasn’t long until he was promoted to co-anchor. He has also co-hosted NBC’s Today. He’s worked in Hollywood, returned to radio, and presented the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. After the vulgar talk from years ago emerged, NBC removed Billy from Today, but he is back this year anchoring Extra’s daily shows.
Billy Bush $3m
Savannah Guthrie – $8m
Savannah is well-known for her interviews with high-profile figures. She has been on television since 1993, when she graduated with a degree in journalism. When she joined WRC-TV, she transitioned from local television in Arizona to national news, covering important issues such as the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Savannah went back to school since she wasn’t satisfied with her one degree. She now holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the DC and Arizona bars and received first place on the Arizona Bar Exam. Her legal career quickly led her back to television as a national trial journalist for Court TV. In 2007, she began corresponding for NBC News. She has since anchored the show alongside NBC Nightly News. Savannah also co-hosts Today’s 9 a.m. hour with Hoda Kotb, marking their first all-female combination.
Savannah Guthrie $8m
Martha MacCallum – $700k
Martha, an award-winning journalist, studied political science at St. Lawrence University. However, before embarking on that career route, she attended the Circle in the Square Theater School. She started the Miranda Theater Company in New York and then worked as an associate in corporate relations. It was not until 1991 that she discovered journalism. She began as a business correspondent and anchor for The Wall Street Journal Report, World Market Outlook, and Business USA. Then she took on the same role at WPXN-TV. Next, NBC/CNBC as a contributor to several of their most popular news shows, before gaining a co-anchor position at Morning Call alongside Martha MacCallum and Ted David. Martha began working for Fox News in 2004 and covered four presidential races. She previously hosted The Live Desk and America’s Newsroom. She currently hosts The Story with Martha MacCallum.
Martha MacCallum $700k
Jon Stewart – $24m
Where is the money made? This is where comedy comes in. Jon is our top earner thus far. There’s no way we can fit more than a movie trailer’s worth of information on Jon’s outstanding career onto this list. Here are a few highlights. Jon took a few jobs after graduating with a psychology degree. He tried everything, from puppeteer to contingency planner. He suffered from stage fear, therefore it took him a long time to take the first step in his career: joining the comedy club circuit. From there, he was unstoppable. He began writing for television in 1989, followed by presenting. He had his own show on MTV before joining with Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants. Then came The Daily Show, 20 Primetime Emmys, a Grammy, and two Peabody Awards. He is a movie star, writer, producer, Academy Awards host, and currently a film director. There is no limit to his abilities!
Jon Stewart $24m
Sage Steele – $400k
Sage is well-versed in any game that allows you to score points. Today she co-hosts ESPN’s SportsCenter. She travels across the country to cover major sporting events for SportsCenter On the Road. Sage has it all covered: football, golf, and baseball. And it’s hardly surprising given who she is linked to. Gary Steele was the first African-American to play varsity football for West Point. Sage is his daughter. Her brother Chad serves as the Baltimore Ravens’ vice president of media relations. Sage was bound to follow in his family’s footsteps. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Sports Communication in 1995, she immediately began working in television sports reporting. Sage joined ESPN in 2007 after doing many local assignments.
Sage Steele $400k
David Muir – $5m
Simply put, Americans adore David. He has been one of the most visible journalists in the country. World News Tonight with David Muir has become the most popular newscast in the country. TV Week has named him one of the 12 people to watch in TV news. Don’t forget that People Magazine ranked him one of the Sexiest Men Alive. With a few Emmys and an Edward R. Murrow award or two, what’s not to like? As he became more sexy and professional, speculations about his personal life began to circulate. He was linked with Gio Benitez. They were seen at various private occasions, although both denied the reports. Gio began dating Tommy DiDario in 2016, which put an end to suspicions regarding Muir. For those of you out there, Muir is still a happy single man.
David Muir $5m
Sam Champion – $1.5m
We don’t mind if the weather is horrible as long as Sam tells us about it. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast news and has put his newfound knowledge to good use. Aside from his television profession, Sam has spent years raising awareness for philanthropic issues. He has served as Grand Marshall, Chairman, and Master of Ceremonies at a variety of fundraising events. He even shared his cancer journey with us to increase awareness. Sam began his broadcasting career as a meteorologist at WPDS-TV in Kentucky and later WJKS in Florida. In 1988, he began a 25-year tenure at ABC. He started on Eyewitness News before joining Good Morning America in 2004. He has written extensively about environmental topics such as climate change and global warming. In 2013, he took on a new role as host and managing director at The Weather Channel. That affair is ended, and Sam is back where he belongs, anchoring for ABC once more.
Sam Champion $1.5m
Ginger Zee – $500k
What drew Ginger to meteorology? “When I was eight, I saw a waterspout on Lake Michigan. I was mesmerized. I honestly thought that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen.” Well, we have to agree that waterspouts are quite awesome. We don’t blame Ginger for studying meteorology with the singular goal of being on The Today Show before she turns 30. We’re not shocked she did so, given that she’s had a passion for it since she was eight. It couldn’t have been easy, especially considering she’d been diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 21. Ginger was asked to appear on The Today Show in 2010, right before her 30th birthday. Her ABC career took off after that, with appearances on Good Morning America Weekend, ABC World News Tonight, and Nightline. When Sam Champion left ABC News, Ginger took over as Chief Meteorologist and Weather Editor. What about the cherry on top? She finished third on Dancing With The Stars in 2016.
Ginger Zee $500k
Cari Champion – $1m
Cari’s two loves in life are tennis and fighting for the disadvantaged. The first drew her into journalism. “I wanted to give people a voice when they did not have one… That’s why I enjoy journalism. Cari’s broadcasting career began in little steps after graduating from UCLA in 1998. It took ten years of station-hopping before she discovered her second interest and new home. Cari was covering tennis at the peak of the Williams sisters’ popularity. She had always enjoyed the sport, and Venus and Serena’s inspired achievements “…opened the door to tennis for so many different people.” Cari quickly auditioned for the Tennis Channel’s news department and joined the network in 2009 as a courtside reporter and anchor. Cari’s name quickly became synonymous with sports reporting, and ESPN hired her in 2012. She rose through the ranks by hosting, moderating, writing, and interviewing, eventually becoming a SportsCenter anchor in 2015.
Cari Champion $1m
Charissa Thompson – $700k
Charissa, who has a BA in Law and Society, decided to engage in broadcasting right after graduation. It was all she had ever wanted to do. It didn’t take her long to land a national assignment covering Major League Baseball. She joined Fox and began reporting from the sidelines of the NFL. She has covered college football and basketball and presented several sports shows. Aside from Fox, Charissa has worked extensively for Yahoo! Sports. There, she has covered everything from the Winter Olympics to the FIFA World Cup. Charissa has seen it all, having been an NHL ice reporter, a reality sports TV personality, and an Extra co-host. She took a few years off from Fox to work at ESPN, where she hosted SportsNation and ESPN First Take. But it wasn’t long before she was back in Fox’s lair, where she currently reports for Fox Sports.
Charissa Thompson $700k
Tom Brokaw – $10m
Tom Brokaw—a lifetime legend. He is famous for anchoring and editing NBC Nightly News for 22 years. He alone has hosted all three major NBC News shows. He was a US ‘Big Three’ news anchor for 30 years. He is a network special correspondent at nearly 80. That made him famous. Tom is great off-screen as well as in the studio. He defeated cancer. His books number ten. He has nearly 30 honors, including Peabody, Emmy, and lifetime achievement. He’s been honored for promoting free speech, overcoming difficulties, and recognizing religion, race, and ethnicity. He received a French Legion of Honor for helping WWII veterans. I swear he has 30 honorary degrees. He climbed mountains as a kid. Despite sexual misconduct charges, 68 colleagues wrote a letter calling Tom “a man of tremendous decency and integrity”.
Tom Brokaw $10m
Lesley Stahl – $8m
The number of jobs Lesley hasn’t held is remarkable. Lesley, unlike most of our intrepid reporters, found a home early in her career and still does. One of CBS’s first female correspondents, she joined in 1972. CBS has never regretted hiring her, even while political correctness was growing. She quickly informed the network about Watergate. Since then, Lesley has been CBS White House correspondent. She presented Face The Nation for 8 years and 48 Hours Investigates for 2. She’s a 60 Minutes contributor and author of two books. Not like her first Channel 5 gig in Boston!
Lesley Stahl $8m
Brooke Baldwin – $4m
Atlanta is Brooke’s hometown. Her path to national recognition included college in North Carolina, undergraduate research in Mexico City, Virginia reporting and anchoring, and Washington, DC reporting. Brooke has been nominated for an Emmy and Peabody since joining CNN in 2008. Silver World Medal for her documentary To Catch A Serial Killer. After Rick left The Rick List in 2008, Brooke took over. She reported on two presidential inaugurations, a space shuttle launch, the Eric Garner death demonstrations, 2015 Baltimore unrest, and the Orlando nightclub shooting. Today, she hosts CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin.
Brooke Baldwin $4m
Megyn Kelly – $23m
Legal eagle Megyn was a business defense lawyer. Her career path changed when she became a general assignment reporter early on. She broadcast US Supreme Court justice confirmation hearings live. After that, Fox News granted her Kelly’s Court on Weekend Live. She also appears weekly on the network’s top show, the O’Reilly Factor. Time named her one of the 100 most influential individuals, and it’s obvious why. 2010 saw her host America Live. Her four-year run hosting The Kelly File began in 2013. This aired every night and sometimes beat the O’Reilly Factor for number one. In 2017, Megyn moved from Fox to NBC. A night owl turned early bird, she hosted Megyn Kelly Today on Today.
Megyn Kelly $23m
Lester Holt – $9m
The first African-American solo anchor for a network nightly newscast, Lester Holt, made history. He did this after Brian Williams was demoted from NBC Nightly News in 2015. Lester had hosted the weekend show for eight years. Also anchors Dateline NBC. Lester began his radio career as a Country and Western DJ. He reported for WCBS-TV in 1981. From New York to Los Angeles to Chicago, Lester gained experience nationwide. His worldwide period followed. He covered crises in Iraq, Northern Ireland, Somalia, El Salvador, and Haiti for 14 years.
Lester Holt $9m
Jim Rome – $15m
The first radio star on this list is Jim Rome. Our stars usually start on radio before moving to TV. Jim is a radioman at heart. Even after great TV roles, he never abandoned his first love. Today, Talkers Magazine calls him one of the most important talk radio hosts. An internship at KTMS, Santa Barbara, launched Jim’s career. It began with traffic updates and part-time sports reporting. It took off at XTRA Sports, where he had the Jim Rome Show on over 200 US and Canadian stations. Jim hosted The FX Sports Show, ESPN2’s Talk2, and Fox Sports Net’s The Last Word. He hosted ESPN’s Rome Is Burning and CBS’ Rome.
Jim Rome $15m