When Hoda Kotb announced she was walking away from her anchor chair at Today in late 2024, the collective gasp from morning TV fans was practically audible across the country. We’d spent nearly two decades watching her sip wine with Kathie Lee or deliver the hard news alongside Savannah Guthrie. But as she officially wrapped up her tenure in early 2025, a massive question started swirling around the internet: exactly how much did she take with her?
People always want to know Hoda Kotb’s net worth, and the numbers you see on those flashy celebrity tracking sites often miss the nuance. They see the $30 million estimate and think it’s all just NBC paychecks.
🔗 Read more: Charlie Kirk Children Ages: Everything We Know About the Family Right Now
The reality? It’s a lot more interesting than just a salary line.
The $30 Million Question: Breaking Down the Number
Currently, most financial experts and industry insiders peg Hoda Kotb’s net worth at approximately $30 million.
It’s a huge number. Honestly, it’s the kind of money that lets you buy a $2.9 million suburban getaway in Bronxville without breaking a sweat, which is exactly what she did in April 2024. But here is where it gets kind of messy. For years, there was a glaring disparity between what Hoda was making and what her predecessors were pulling in.
When Hoda took over Matt Lauer’s spot in 2018, her starting salary was reported to be around $7 million to $8 million. Compare that to Lauer, who was reportedly raking in $20 million to $25 million a year. Even Megyn Kelly had a contract worth $20 million before her exit.
✨ Don't miss: Sabrina Carpenter Dunkin Collaboration: What Most People Get Wrong
The Recent Salary Drama
Wait, it gets even more dramatic. Just before she decided to leave, reports from Puck News suggested that Hoda’s salary had actually climbed to over $20 million a year during her peak seasons. However, the "golden era" of broadcast TV is fading.
NBC executives reportedly told her team that those massive, $20 million+ contracts just weren't sustainable anymore. Ratings are down across the board for morning shows, and the network was looking to trim the fat. This rumored pay cut—or at least the refusal to keep the "stratospheric" pay going—is widely cited as one of the reasons Hoda decided it was time to "jump and find joy" elsewhere.
Not Just a News Anchor: The Diversified Portfolio
If you think Hoda's wealth is only about the Today show, you’ve been missing the bigger picture. She’s been a bit of a workhorse in the media world.
💡 You might also like: The Truth About Candace Cameron Bure in a Bikini: Why She Deleted the Photos
- Best-Selling Author: Hoda isn't just a "celebrity author" who slaps her name on a ghostwritten book. She’s written seven of them. Her latest, Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life, hit shelves in September 2025 and basically served as the manifesto for her career shift. These book deals, especially with major publishers like G.P. Putnam's Sons, often come with six-figure advances and healthy royalty streams.
- Radio and Podcasts: For seven years, she hosted a show on SiriusXM. While those numbers aren't public, SiriusXM is famous for paying their high-tier talent very well.
- Public Speaking: Now that she’s "retired" from the daily grind, she’s become a massive draw on the speaking circuit. We’re talking $100k to $250k per appearance to talk about resilience, motherhood, and career pivots.
Real Estate: The Bronxville Move
In 2024, Hoda made a pretty clear signal that she was changing her life. She left the high-octane Manhattan lifestyle to move her daughters, Haley and Hope, to a more "normal" suburban environment.
She dropped $2.89 million on a stunning home in Bronxville, New York. It’s got that classic suburban charm—big bay windows, a massive kitchen for family Thanksgiving, and plenty of privacy. While she still owns property in the city and has a place on the Long Island waterfront, this Bronxville move was about more than just equity; it was about the next chapter.
Why the "Net Worth" is Poised to Explode in 2026
Usually, when someone leaves a high-paying TV gig, you expect their net worth to plateau. With Hoda, the opposite might happen.
Industry insiders suggest she is entering her "Brand Era." Without the strict NBC News conflict-of-interest rules, she is now free to sign massive endorsement deals. Think of the "Hoda-approved" lifestyle brands—skincare, wellness, home goods. In the world of 2026 media, a trusted face like hers is worth more to a brand than a 30-second commercial during the news.
What You Can Learn from Hoda's Financial Journey
- Know your worth, but prioritize joy. Hoda famously said she wasn't making "Matt Lauer money" and she was fine with it because she loved the work.
- Diversify early. She didn't wait until she was 60 to start writing books or hosting a podcast. She built those foundations while she had the biggest platform in the world.
- The pivot is profitable. Leaving a $20 million salary sounds insane to most people. But by betting on herself and her own brand, she’s likely to earn more in the long run through speaking, writing, and partnerships than she ever would have staying at a shrinking network.
If you’re looking to follow a similar path of financial independence, start by auditing your "side" skills. Hoda’s transition from a journalist to a lifestyle icon is a masterclass in building a personal brand that outlasts any single employer. Check your own contracts for restrictive covenants—knowing when you are legally "free" to monetize your name is the first step toward a Hoda-style pivot.