Fired 'Today' host Matt Lauer's contract was reportedly worth $25 million a year —here's how that compares to other top TV show hosts

pulse

November 29, 2017 3:57 PM

Matt Lauer was making $25 million a year before being fired by "Today" after a sexual misconduct allegation. Here's how that compares to other TV show hosts.

On Wednesday, NBC announced in shocking fashion while opening the "Today" show that its longtime host Matt Lauer had been fired due to "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace."

This is the latest bombshell revelation of a powerful man in entertainment who has been taken down due to sexual misconduct allegations.

Though it's too soon to tell what the ramifications will be for "Today" in the battle for morning ratings, it's clear NBC has lost one of its major players. That's evident by how much the company was paying him.

Lauer, who has been a host on "Today" for 20 years, was earning $25 million a year, according to Variety.

The trade compiled the biggest estimated annual salaries of reality, news, and talk show hosts over the summer, and Lauer is in the top three on the list, which also includes the likes of Megyn Kelly, Ryan Seacrest, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Here are the top 20 paid hosts:

Note: Some of these figures below include fees for producing and back-end compensation.

Mike Myers (“The Gong Show”) - $3 million

Jamie Foxx (“Beat Shazam”) - $ 3 million

Alec Baldwin (“Match Game”) - $3 million

Ryan Seacrest (“American Idol”) - $12 million

Conan O’Brien (“Conan”) - $12 million

David Letterman (Untitled Netflix Interview Show) - $12 million

Anderson Cooper (CNN) - $12 million

George Stephanopoulos (ABC News) - $15 million

Ryan Seacrest (“Live with Kelly & Ryan”) - $15 million

Pat Sajak (“Wheel of Fortune”) - $15 million

Jimmy Kimmel (“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”) - $15 million

Stephen Colbert (“The Late Show”) - $15 million

Jimmy Fallon (“The Tonight Show”) - $16 million

Robin Roberts (“Good Morning America”) - $18 million

Megyn Kelly (NBC News) - $18 million

Kelly Ripa (“Live with Kelly & Ryan”) - $22 million

Katy Perry (“American Idol”) - $25 million

Matt Lauer (“Today”) - $25 million

Judith Sheindlin (“Judge Judy”) - $47 million

Ellen DeGeneres (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show”) - $50 million

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