Bidding war for Megyn Kelly takes a surprising turn amid news of major salary ask


One of Fox News' biggest stars, Megyn Kelly, might have just received a pretty sweet contract renewal offer.

"The Kelly File" star's current contract is set to expire in July, and she's reportedly asked Fox News for an average annual salary of more than $20 million for her next contract.

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The Wall Street Journal reported that's about what Bill O'Reilly earns. His Fox News show, "The O'Reilly Factor," is the most-watched show on the network, while Kelly's show is the second-most watched.

And it appears Fox News is willing to pay up the big bucks, because Vanity Fair says the network has agreed to Kelly's request.

See photos of Megyn Kelly through the years:

It spoke with several unnamed sources who reportedly have knowledge of the negotiations, but a Fox News spokesperson would not comment on Kelly's contract.

Kelly has gained a lot of national attention while covering the presidential election this year, most recently when she interviewed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. So it would make sense that Fox News would want to keep her on its roster.

Vanity Fair also reported on Monday, though, that the bidding war for Kelly hasn't been much of a "war." Sources from multiple networks indicated that they wouldn't be fighting Fox News for the star, citing her steep salary ask as a negative.

"I don't believe anyone is pursuing her other than Fox at this point," an ABC insider told Vanity Fair.

"Of course we would love to have her," a CNN source added before saying that hiring Kelly away from Fox News "is not something we are seriously considering."

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Kelly might be game to try something new, though. Earlier this year, she spoke with The New York Times about possibly hosting a long-form interview show in the future, similar to Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey.

Fox News chief executive Rupert Murdoch told the Wall Street Journal he hopes to have Kelly's next contract signed "very soon."

But he also hinted that if Kelly doesn't want to renew her contract with Fox News, it has plenty of other talent very willing to take her spot.

Additional reporting by AOL.


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