The Shocking Truth: Hoda Kotb's Salary, $20 Million Contract Rumors, And Her Major 2024 NBC Career Shift

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The financial details of top-tier broadcast journalists are often shrouded in secrecy, but recent reports have cast a spotlight on Hoda Kotb's staggering annual compensation, suggesting her salary has soared far beyond initial estimates. As of late December 2025, the beloved co-anchor of the Today show has been at the center of a major contract discussion, with some sources claiming her current earnings at NBC are now "more than $20 million per year," a figure that puts her in the same league as her co-host, Savannah Guthrie. This massive paycheck is a testament to her decades-long career and her irreplaceable role on morning television, especially as she navigates a significant career transition announced in late 2024.

The journey to this elite financial status has been long, marked by her initial, reportedly lower, starting salary when she first took the main anchor chair. Her enduring popularity, Emmy-winning work, and ability to connect with millions of viewers daily have, however, continually increased her leverage in contract negotiations. Beyond her annual salary, her total wealth is bolstered by her successful ventures as an author and her work on the spin-off show, Hoda & Jenna, all contributing to a formidable estimated net worth.

Hoda Kotb: Comprehensive Biography and Profile

  • Full Name: Hoda Kotb
  • Born: August 9, 1964, in Oklahoma, USA (Age 61 as of December 2025)
  • Parents: A.K. Kotb (Father, deceased) and Sameha "Sami" Kotb (Mother)
  • Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia
  • Education: Virginia Tech (B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, 1986)
  • Career Start: Began her career in broadcast journalism in the 1980s, working at local stations in Mississippi, Illinois, and Florida.
  • NBC News Career: Joined NBC News as a correspondent for Dateline NBC in 1998.
  • Today Show Debut: Became co-host of the fourth hour of Today, alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, in 2007.
  • Main Co-Anchor Role: Named co-anchor of the main two hours of Today in January 2018, replacing Matt Lauer.
  • Key Roles: Co-anchor of Today (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET) and co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna (10 a.m. ET).
  • Awards: Multiple Emmy Awards, including a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.
  • Personal Life: Has two adopted daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, with former fiancé Joel Schiffman. She is a breast cancer survivor.

The Controversy: Is Hoda Kotb’s Salary Really Over $20 Million?

The question of Hoda Kotb's exact annual salary has been a subject of intense media speculation for years, with a dramatic gap between reported figures. When she officially took over as co-anchor of the main Today show broadcast in January 2018, replacing the disgraced Matt Lauer, initial reports from outlets like Page Six suggested her starting salary was around $7 million per year.

This initial figure was reportedly the same as her co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, at the time, but was significantly less—by an estimated $18 million—than Lauer's reported $25 million contract.

However, recent reporting from late 2024 paints a completely different picture of her current financial standing at NBC. According to sources with direct knowledge of her compensation, Kotb was reportedly making "more than $20 million per year" at NBC. This massive increase in annual compensation would reflect her subsequent contract negotiations, her proven success in maintaining the show's ratings, and her expanded role across the Today franchise, including her co-hosting duties on Hoda & Jenna.

The $20 million-plus figure is a crucial indicator of her standing in broadcast journalism, placing her firmly among the highest-paid news anchors in the industry. It signifies a major correction in her pay relative to her predecessor and acknowledges the immense value she brings to the network's morning lineup.

Hoda Kotb’s Net Worth and Other Lucrative Income Streams

While her salary is the primary source of her wealth, Hoda Kotb's total financial picture is far broader. Her estimated net worth in 2025 is consistently reported by various financial publications to be a cool $30 million. This impressive figure is a result of a multi-decade career in high-profile broadcast journalism, but also stems from several other successful ventures that contribute to her overall topical authority and financial portfolio.

  • Book Deals and Royalties: Kotb is a successful author, having penned several books, including the motivational memoir Where We Belong and the children's book I've Loved You Since Forever. Her success as a published author provides a steady stream of royalties, making her more than just a news anchor.
  • Speaking Engagements: As a high-profile media personality and a breast cancer survivor, Kotb is a sought-after motivational speaker, commanding substantial fees for appearances and public engagements.
  • Endorsements and Partnerships: While details are not always public, top-tier television personalities often secure lucrative endorsement deals and brand partnerships that significantly boost their annual income.

The combination of a high-seven-figure (or potentially eight-figure) annual compensation from NBC and her substantial earnings from literary and public engagements makes her a financial powerhouse in the media landscape. Her longevity and consistent popularity ensure that her net worth will likely continue to grow in the coming years.

The Major 2024 Career Transition and New NBC Deal

A significant piece of fresh and unique information regarding Hoda Kotb's career trajectory emerged in late 2024, signaling a major shift in her responsibilities at NBC. In September 2024, Kotb announced her decision to step back from her full-time co-anchor role on the main Today show broadcast (the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. hours) at the end of the year. This announcement, made alongside her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, marked the end of an era for the morning show.

However, this was not a complete departure from NBC. Instead, it was reported that she signed a "new deal" with the network. This new contract outlines a more flexible, but still high-profile, future for Kotb. Her new responsibilities include:

  • Continuing Hoda & Jenna: She remains the co-host of the popular 10 a.m. hour, Today with Hoda & Jenna, alongside Jenna Bush Hager.
  • Exclusive Interviews: The new deal secures her contribution of exclusive, high-impact interviews for NBC News.
  • Olympic Coverage: She is contracted to contribute to NBC's coverage of the next two Olympic Games, a role she has excelled at in the past.

This career transition suggests a strategic move to a less demanding daily schedule while retaining a significant presence and a high annual salary. The network's willingness to keep her on a major contract for exclusive content and special events underscores her immense value as a key entity in the NBC News family. The new deal ensures that her annual compensation remains substantial, even as her daily morning show duties are reduced, allowing her to focus on her family and other personal projects.

hoda kotb salary
hoda kotb salary

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