The Richest Today Show Stars Might Surprise You

NBC's "The Today Show," which first aired in 1952, is a titan of American pop culture. In the show's inaugural episode, original host Dave Garroway smiled into the camera and said, "Well here we are. And good morning to you. The very first good morning of what I hope and suspect will be a great many good mornings between you and I." This greeting marked the beginning of a new era in communication, and a complete transformation of the way Americans consume news. It was the birth of the morning TV format.

Since those early days, "The Today Show" has seen tremendous change. In 2007, the news and entertainment juggernaut added an extra hour of programming, extending the show's broadcast to a total of four hours. Countless celebrities and distinguished guests have passed through "The Today Show's" doors, and the show's news correspondents have delivered real-time coverage of every major news story that has shaped the modern world.

After so many years in existence, "The Today Show" has managed to remain timeless. "Today" owes a massive part of its success to the program's beloved news anchors — and their earnings are as huge as their personalities.

In the "Today Show" universe, Jenna Bush Hager is best known for co-hosting "Today With Hoda and Jenna." But the daughter of former U.S. president George Bush has spent a lifetime navigating the limelight. Given her elite upbringing, Hager was already primed for a life of opportunity and success. However, the news anchor definitely experienced a few bumps on her career path until settling in at "The Today Show."

Before joining "Today," Hager found work as an English teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. Gripped by burn-out and unease about the future, the star recalls how she rejected "The Today Show's" first attempt at recruiting her. Hager's uncertainty prompted her to seek advice from George H.W. Bush, whom she affectionately called "Gampy." In an excerpt from her book, "Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss," Hager recounts how her grandfather responded with gentle persuasion, asking her: "Do you ever watch the 'Today' show? Why don't we turn it on?" (via Glamour). 

Jenna Bush Hager goes on to credit George H.W. Bush for encouraging her to accept the job. Gampy definitely helped steer Jenna Bush Hager in the right direction, as the television star has amassed a net worth of around $14 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. In addition to co-hosting "Today," Hager maintains her cash flow as an author and as editor-at-large for Southern Living Magazine, according to her Twitter bio.

Ann Curry has been shattering barriers since the start of her career when she was the first woman hired at a small newsroom in Medford, Oregon. From that moment, the tenacious newswoman continued to climb the ladder of success. Viewers will recognize Curry from her history-making coverage of humanitarian crises in Darfur, Iraq, Haiti, and beyond. The Emmy-winner has also zeroed in on environmental issues, documenting the effects of climate change from such locations as the Antarctic and Mount Kilimanjaro, per Washington State University.

By the time Curry joined "Today" in 2011, she had already made a name for herself in broadcasting. It seemed as though the veteran newswoman would fit in seamlessly as a co-host on the popular show. However, Curry was let go from the position after just one year, allegedly due to a lack of chemistry with her co-host, Matt Lauer. In a 2020 interview with Elle, Ann Curry opened up about the slight, saying, "I have no regrets about how I've behaved. And I'm very proud, in spite of everything, of all the work I was able to achieve. I don't really think about it very often; I really don't. But when I do, it does hurt still, because it takes time to heal. But what I've learned is that you rise stronger."

Despite the unfortunate ending of her run as a "Today" co-host, Ann Curry remains one of the most influential journalists of our time. Over the course of her monumental career, Curry's net worth has swelled to $20 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

Since her intro to the NBC network in 1998, Hoda Kotb has covered some of the most important news stories of modern times. Kotb's rise to the top was well-deserved, as the anchorwoman endured numerous rejections before landing her first on-air gig, according to People. The newscaster reached her peak in 2017 when she became a main co-anchor on "Today," marking the first time in history that the show was completely headed by women (per The Washington Post).

In 2017, NBC announced that Matt Lauer was being fired from "The Today Show" over allegations of sexual misconduct. The ensuing media storm helped fuel speculation that Kotb and her colleague, Savannah Guthrie, were earning a lot less than the male former co-host. In January 2018, Kotb confirmed to People that she wasn't making the same amount of money as Lauer had, but remarked, "I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm going to say this, but I really have done jobs I liked for the job I liked because I never wanted to be happy every other Friday on pay day. Like, I didn't want that to be the happy day. I wanted to feel good throughout. So no, I'm not making Matt Lauer money. Not even close."

Despite the fact that she's not making "Matt Lauer money" (for now), Hoda Kotb is reportedly worth an impressive $30 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

Carson Daly was a darling of the '90s and early aughts, earning much of his notoriety as the original host of MTV's "Total Request Live." Over the years, the broadcasting dynamo has proven his ability to dominate all forms of media. Daly's resume boasts a variety of gigs, including actor and deejay. Over the years, he has hosted "NBC's New Year's Eve," "Last Call with Carson Daly," and "The Voice," which he also produces.

Carson Daly landed on "The Today Show" in 2013. At the time, the entertainer celebrated his new career move in an interview published on "Today's" website, saying, "Everything I've done in my career up until this point has trained me for 'Today' — the interviews, the live TV, the live radio — it all gets paid off. I was playing in the minor leagues and now I've just been called up to the big leagues."

Thanks to his outstanding work, Carson Daly has created quite the life for himself. According to Yahoo, the on-air personality is worth around $40 million dollars. On his Instagram account, Daly occasionally shares snapshots of his family enjoying life in their luxurious $6.5 million home on Long Island, New York.

Of all "Today Show" figures past and present, Matt Lauer may be the most unpopular–and for good reason. When he joined "The Today Show" in 1994, viewers were enchanted by Lauer's lively persona and megawatt smile. Fifteen years later, it all came crashing down when Lauer was axed from the show over multiple allegations of sexual harassment and predatory behavior (per Variety). In November 2017, co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb addressed the scandal during a live segment on "Today." Guthrie said, "All we can say is we are heartbroken. I'm heartbroken ... How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation that they have behaved badly?" (via The Washington Post).

As the world learned of his shocking behind-the-scenes behavior, Lauer's lawyers began gearing up for a legal battle. The disgraced newsman hoped to secure a payout for the remainder of his canceled NBC contract, which would have totaled around $30 million, according to Page Six. While Lauer ultimately failed to recover the cash, the fallen star is still thought to be worth around $80 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

When it comes to women in media, the legacy of Barbara Walters is unmatched. Having spent more than a half-century in the field, the renowned journalist covered some of the most significant moments in modern history. Walters was best known for her hard-hitting interviews with public and political figures, including the likes of Muhammed Ali, Fidel Castro, Ringo Starr, Boris Yeltsin, and others.

In 1961, the trailblazing reporter received her first big break when she won a bid to travel abroad with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, per Biography. The anchor woman's place in history was cemented in 1963 when she became the first female co-host of "The Today Show" (per ABC News). With this achievement, Barbara Walters paved the way for women to make their mark in the male-dominated broadcasting industry. In 1976, Walters took a massive swing at the glass ceiling when she moved to ABC's "Evening News" — and to an unprecedented annual salary of $1 million, per The New York Times.

When Walters retired from co-hosting ABC's "The View," the icon received surprise send-offs from Hilary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Douglas. "How proud when I see all the young women who are making and reporting the news. If I did anything to help make that happen, that is my legacy," Walters said at the end of the broadcast (via CNN).

By the time of her death in late December 2022, the celebrated journalist's fortune was estimated at $170 million.