8 of the richest news anchors in the US – net worths, ranked: conservative commentators Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson made the list, alongside CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC’s Megyn Kelly

Dec 28 , 2024

Sean Hannity, Anderson Cooper and Tucker Carlson are among the richest TV anchors in the US. Photos: Getty Images, AP, TNS

Famous on-air faces from ABC, CNN, MSNBC and Fox are all bringing in the big bucks for their numerous broadcasting gigs – but who takes top spot, with a net worth of US$250 million?

Turns out, delivering the news to millions via daily broadcasts can earn you millions – especially if you’re an on-air anchor for a major TV network.

New anchors for companies such as CNN and CBS – and TV personalities who host nightly shows on the likes of channels Fox and MSNBC – are pulling in millions of dollars every year thanks to their hefty salaries.

Here’s how their wealth stacks up at the time of writing.

8. Megyn Kelly, 54

Estimated net worth: US$45 million

Ex-Fox host Megyn Kelly now runs her own media company. Photo: @megynkelly/Instagram

Known for her to-the-point interviewing style, Megyn Kelly started her career as a lawyer before becoming a news anchor at Fox News, where she hosted shows such as America Live and The Kelly File. After many years at Fox, she made the leap to NBC in 2017, but left in 2018 after she made controversial comments on air. Kelly is the founder of Devil May Care Media and now hosts The Megyn Kelly Show podcast.

7. Rachel Maddow, 51

Estimated net worth: US$50 million

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow is one of TV’s richest anchors. Photo: @maddowshow/Instagram

Liberal political commentator Rachel Maddow is the host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and the network’s co-anchor for special live broadcast events. She’s also a successful author, having written 2012 bestseller Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power and 2019’s Blowout, whose audio edition earned her a 2021 Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album.

6. Tucker Carlson, 55

Estimated net worth: US$50 million

Tucker Carlson at the 2022 Fox Nation Patriot Awards in Florida. Photo: TNS

Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight, political commentator, author and anchor Tucker Carlson was once one of the most outspoken and controversial voices on Fox News. However, the right-wing conspiracy theorist’s reign on television came to an end in April 2023 when he was fired from the network for reportedly becoming “too big for his boots” and alienating much of the company’s staff. These days, he runs the Tucker Carlson Network, producing a series of politically focused shows, podcasts, films and documentaries.