News anchors are some of the most recognizable faces on television. Consequently, they have some of the best salaries in the industry. Furthermore, because the job requires credibility, most presenters have established a career and fortune before joining the media. These are the richest anchors right now.
Top 10 Wealthiest News Anchors:
1. Sean Hannity – $250 Million
The richest news personality today is the conservative political commentator Sean Hannity. He is the host of Hannity on Fox News and the renowned radio program The Sean Hannity Show.
In 1989, he served as a general contractor and a show host at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Then, he was employed at multiple radio stations across different states.
The right-wing pundit makes the majority of his money from radio and television, but he has also written a few books. Because of this, his net worth is estimated to be $250 million.
2. Anderson Cooper – $200 Million
Anderson Cooper is part of the affluent Vanderbilt family, and he hosts CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. He formerly headed numerous programs, including CNN Newsroom and New Day.
He once interned for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He spent a year in Vietnam, working as a fact-checker. His news debut was in 1995, working for ABC.
Later on, Cooper joined CNN and became a bestselling author. He is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, so he must have inherited a considerable amount when she passed away. This is why his net worth is $200 million.
3. Bill O’Reilly – $85 Million
One of the most well-known conservative political commentators in America is William James “Bill” O’Reilly Jr. He was famous for hosting The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News.
He has been a journalist since the late 70s, first appearing on local news stations. He was later hired by CBC News and also joined ABC News before transitioning to Fox.
Despite his long-running career, Bill’s wealth was impacted when he was charged with several sexual harassment lawsuits. It forced him to retire, but his fortune today is still at $85 million.
4. Diane Sawyer – $80 Million
Diane Sawyer is popular for presenting various notable programs on ABC and CBS. She has hosted 20/20, ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 60 Minutes.
Her first job was weather forecasting in Louisville, Kentucky’s WLKY-TV. She then worked in the White House under former United States President Richard Nixon.
She helped Nixon prepare for interviews and write his post-presidency memoirs. After this, Diane Sawyer went on to have a net worth of $80 million, becoming the richest female news anchor.
5. Brian Williams – $50 Million
Though he is retired, Brian Williams is a household name on MSNBC. He built his reputation on NBC Nightly News, starting as a reporter and being promoted to managing editor and anchor.
Williams began his career in broadcasting at KOAM-TV in Pittsburg, Kansas. In 1993, he decided to join NBC News as the Weekend Nightly News anchor and chief White House reporter.
He was temporarily dismissed in 2015 for giving misleading news. A year later, he became the host of The 11th Hour. He retired in 2021, but he still has a net worth of $50 million currently.
6. Maria Bartiromo – $50 Million
Maria Bartiromo is one of the most recognized financial news anchors on the Fox Business Network. She is the face of Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street and Mornings with Maria.
Bartiromo spent five years as a producer at CNN before reaching out to CNBC in 1993. There, she became the host of On the Money with Maria Bartiromo and Closing Bell.
She was the first television correspondent to broadcast live from the New York Stock Exchange floor. Her efforts have given her multiple awards and a fortune worth roughly $50 million.
7. Robin Roberts – $45 Million
Next on the list is Robin Roberts, a co-anchor of Good Morning America on ABC. Before this, the accomplished woman made a name for herself as a sportscaster.
After graduating from college, Roberts worked as a sports anchor for radio shows and the local news. Robin got her break when she was hired by ESPN in 1990.
After 15 years, she left the sports channel to boost her ratings at Good Morning America. Roberts’ contributions to sports and journalism were awarded by several institutions. This also gave her $45 million in wealth.
8. Megyn Kelly – $45 Million
Megyn Marie Kelly became known for her stint at Fox News with America’s Newsroom, America Live, and The Kelly File. Nowadays, she is more active as a podcast host and social media personality.
Kelly was hired as a news correspondent by ABC affiliate WJLA-TV in 2003. A year later, she was hired by Fox News. She got her own segment on Weekend Live and The O’Reilly Factor.
She gained fame for serving as a moderator for previous presidential debates. Now, she is the host of The Megyn Kelly Show, a podcast and talk show on SiriusXM. Her net worth is about $45 million.
9. George Stephanopoulos – $40 Million
George Stephanopoulos formerly worked as an advisor for the Democratic Party. Now, he is a co-anchor of Good Morning America and This Week on ABC.
He rose to fame from media exposure as the communications director for Bill Clinton’s presidential election campaign in 1992. When Clinton won, Stephanopoulos became the Communications Director in the White House.
Before leaving in December 1996, he was promoted to the position of Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy. From the money he gained in politics and broadcasting, his fortune is estimated to be $40 million.
10. Tucker Carlson – $30 Million
The conservative political pundit Tucker Carlson is last on this list. He is the host of the Fox News nightly political program titled Tucker Carlson Tonight.
He began his professional career in the 1990s, contributing to magazines like The Weekly Standard. Later on, Carlson became a commentator on CNN and worked on the debate show Crossfire. He went to MSNBC and hosted his first show, Tucker.
Since 2009, he has worked with Fox News, acting as a speaker or guest host on a variety of shows before launching his current show. He currently has a fortune of $30 million.
