Hoda Kotb's Net Worth Means She'll Be Rich Today, Tomorrow, and Probably Forever
Hoda Kotb on NBC's Today
Hoda Kotb is one of the most beloved figures on daytime TV.
The TODAY co-anchor made a name for herself not just reporting the news, but reacting to it in very human and empathetic ways, whether it means sharing a personal anecdote in relation to a story or crying on air in emotional moments (like when she reported on Drew Brees' donation to New Orleans at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic).
"I'm a worker. I'm a grinder," she told Forbes. "I'm not the most talented. I'm not top of my class. I'm not that person. But I'm a grinder, and the one thing I think I do really well is, I get up. I'll fall a thousand times, but I get up."
Find out exactly Hoda Kotb's net worth and how much her grind has paid off.
Related: Hoda Kotb's 4 Steps to Becoming Your Best Self
How did Hoda Kotb become famous?
Kotb was born in Norman, Oklahoma, and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, then in Alexandria, Virginia, where she was elected homecoming queen at her high school. (Because of course she was!)
In 1986, Kotb graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism, then got her first job at a CBS affiliate in Greenville, Mississippi. She worked at several other affiliate networks, including an ABC affiliate in New Orleans, through April 1998, at which point she became a correspondent for Dateline NBC and NBC News.
Kotb's star power entered the stratosphere in 2007 when she joined TODAY's fourth hour, and she grew even more famous in April 2008 when Kathie Lee Gifford joined her ranks—making them into living memes for their Wine Wednesday segments.
Kotb's tangible warmth made her an audience favorite on TODAY, landing her the co-anchor spot with Savannah Guthrie in 2018 after Matt Lauer's ouster for alleged sexual misconduct.
In terms of achieving fame, Kotb was a late bloomer, and she doesn't regret it.
"I heard the saying, 'It gets greater later,' and it does. It gets greater in every single aspect of life," she told Forbes in October 2022. "You know what's weird? If someone told me, 'Hey Hoda, guess what? When you're in your mid-50s you're going to be a mom of two and you're going to host the TODAY show, but you have to wait until your mid-50s,' I would have said, 'Are you kidding me?' And now that I sit in the middle of this, I can't believe how blessed I feel."
What is Hoda Kotb's net worth in 2023?
Hoda Kotb's net worth in 2023 is estimated at a cool $30 million. This comes not just from hosting TODAY (though obviously that's a huge part of it!), but also from her other endeavors: She's an author of six bestselling books, the one-time host of TODAY's fourth hour, and a former correspondent on Dateline NBC. She's also hosted her own SiriusXM radio show, Today, twice a week since 2015.
Related: Everything to Know About Al Roker's Family
What is Hoda Kotb's annual salary?
When Kotb took over as co-anchor of Today in 2018, it was reported that she'd make $7 million per year. While that's a paycheck most people would kill for, it's actually a lot less than her predecessor: The disgraced Lauer, who was dismissed in 2017 for highly publicized allegations of "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace," made a whopping $25 million per year.
Kotb also made less than Megyn Kelly, whose contract granted her $20 million annually until she defended blackface on air and was dismissed from NBC after 18 months.
Still, insiders believe that Kotb wasn't in it for the cash anyway.
"Hoda isn't complaining about the money. She has landed the big job she always dreamed of, and most definitely deserves," a source told Page Six. "Plus, Matt's salary reflected the long time he was on the show—25 years. If things go well, Hoda could ask for more next time if she re-ups her contract. But the figures underline the huge wage disparity at NBC News."
Related: The Real Reason for Hoda Kotb's Prolonged Absence From TODAY
Does Hoda make more than Savannah?
Sources told Page Six that Kotb makes the same salary as her co-anchor on TODAY, Savannah Guthrie. That means Guthrie makes somewhere in the $7 million range as well (though both anchors have likely gotten a raise since Kotb first signed her deal in 2018).
What is the salary for Hoda and Jenna?
Kotb makes about $7 million per year (likely more), while Jenna Bush Hager's salary is estimated at about $4 million per year.
Related: Jenna Bush Hager's Three Go-To Easy Weekday Dinners
How much does Hoda Kotb make per year?
When Kotb first signed her deal to co-anchor TODAY, she made $7 million per year. She's likely gotten a raise since then, though the specifics of her annual salary in 2023 aren't publicly known.
