It’s been almost a decade since the world woke up to that shell-shocked broadcast where Savannah Guthrie, voice cracking, told us her "dear friend" Matt Lauer had been fired. In the media world, eight years is an eternity. It's long enough for a whole generation of viewers to have never even heard of the "button under the desk" or the Sochi Olympics scandal. But for Lauer, the question of where is Matt Lauer now isn’t just about a GPS coordinate in the Hamptons. It’s about a man trying to figure out if there’s a second act for someone the industry has largely decided is "un-hirable."
If you’re looking for him today, in early 2026, you won’t find him in a studio. Honestly, you probably won't find him much at all. He’s become something of a ghost in the very town he used to run.
The Hamptons "Hermit" Life
For a long time after the 2017 firing, the narrative was that Lauer was "hiding." People would snap grainy photos of him at a gas station or a grocery store in Sag Harbor, looking—as the tabloids loved to put it—"unrecognizable." Usually, that just meant he grew a beard or wore a hat.
But as we move into 2026, the vibe has shifted. He’s not exactly hiding anymore; he’s just... living. He spends the bulk of his time on his massive estate in the Hamptons. He’s 67 now. He’s got that quiet, wealthy retiree lifestyle down to a science. He spends a lot of time on his boat, which he famously named Resilient—a move that many in the industry found a bit "tone-deaf," to put it mildly.
He also still shares a massive horse farm with his ex-wife, Annette Roque. Despite a messy, $50 million divorce settlement that was finalized back in 2019, the two have reportedly managed to co-parent and co-manage the property fairly well. It’s one of those weird "rich people" dynamics where they’re divorced but still basically business partners in a high-end stable.
The Relationship Keeping Him Grounded
One of the biggest surprises for people following the where is Matt Lauer now saga is that his relationship with Shamin Abas is still going strong. They’ve been together since 2019.
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Abas is a high-end PR and marketing executive. She’s Welsh, she’s sophisticated, and she’s been by his side through the absolute worst of the public fallout. They were friends for twenty years before they started dating, which probably explains why she stuck around when almost everyone else in his old life hit the exit.
- They aren't "red carpet" people anymore.
- You’ll see them at low-key dinners in Sag Harbor.
- They attended Don Lemon’s wedding together in 2024.
- She travels a lot for her luxury marketing business; he often stays back.
Sources close to the couple say they’re "happy and serious." It’s a very different life than the one he had with Annette, which was under the constant microscope of New York high society. With Shamin, it’s mostly private walks and quiet nights.
Is a Comeback Actually Happening?
This is where things get tricky. Every year, like clockwork, a report comes out saying "Matt Lauer is eyeing a media return." And every year, the industry collectively groans.
In late 2025 and into this year, those rumors started heating up again. Word on the street—and by "street," I mean the deep-background sources talking to People and Page Six—is that Lauer is "talking to people." He’s supposedly interested in getting back into the "media arena" in some capacity. Maybe not as a morning show host (that ship hasn't just sailed; it’s sunk), but perhaps a podcast or an independent digital project.
But here’s the reality: the industry is still terrified of him.
One executive recently told a reporter that "no one will hire him" because the PR nightmare is simply too high a price to pay for whatever "name brand" value he still has. Plus, he’s still reportedly "angry" about how he was treated. He feels like he was a "sacrificial lamb" of the #MeToo movement, while his former colleagues feel like they never really knew the man they worked next to for twenty years. That’s a massive gap to bridge for any network.
The "Iced Out" Social Circle
If you want to know where is Matt Lauer now socially, the answer is: in a much smaller room.
He’s basically "iced out" a huge chunk of his old NBC life. Savannah Guthrie? They don't talk. Hoda Kotb? No. Al Roker? Not really. Even Katie Couric, his legendary partner, went on a press tour for her memoir a few years ago and basically said she was "disgusted" by the things that came to light.
There are a few exceptions. Bryant Gumbel has stayed a loyal friend, famously calling Lauer a "good man" even when the world was piling on. Don Lemon has also been supportive, mentioning in interviews that he’d love to see Matt back on TV. But for the most part, Lauer’s world has shrunk from thousands of "friends" to a handful of people he actually trusts.
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The New Zealand Escape
When the Hamptons get too crowded or the headlines get too loud, Lauer heads to his other sanctuary: New Zealand. He owns a massive, 16,000-acre farm there called Hunter Valley Station.
It hasn't been without controversy. Because it’s on "sensitive land," there were all sorts of legal hoops he had to jump through with the New Zealand government to keep it after his firing. People there weren't exactly thrilled to have a disgraced American media mogul as a neighbor. But he’s kept the property, and it remains his ultimate "off-the-grid" escape. He goes there to hike, fish, and basically exist in a world where nobody cares about the Today show ratings from 2012.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Lauer is "broke" or "suffering." He’s not.
He had a contract worth roughly $20 million a year for a long time. Even after the divorce and the legal fees, he is incredibly wealthy. He doesn't need to work. When you see him in Sag Harbor in a puffer jacket and jeans, it’s not because he can’t afford a suit; it’s because he’s done with the "suit" life.
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Another thing people get wrong is the idea that he’s totally isolated. He’s actually very close with his three kids—Jack, Romy, and Thijs. They are his priority now. He spent their teen years being a "present" father in a way he never could when he was waking up at 3:00 AM every day to head to Rockefeller Center.
The Legal Landscape
While the headlines have died down, the legal shadow is always there. Lauer has never faced criminal charges. He has admitted to extramarital affairs but has vehemently denied the more serious allegations of non-consensual encounters, specifically the ones detailed in Ronan Farrow’s book Catch and Kill.
In 2026, he remains in a sort of legal and professional purgatory. He’s not a "criminal" in the eyes of the law, but he’s "toxic" in the eyes of the market. It’s a weird, quiet life for a man who used to interview presidents and kings.
Actionable Insights for Following This Story
If you’re trying to keep tabs on what’s next for Lauer, here is what to actually look for:
- Watch the "independent" space. If he makes a comeback, it won't be on NBC or ABC. Look for a Substack, a YouTube channel, or a self-produced documentary. That’s the only place he has total control.
- Monitor real estate listings. Lauer has been consolidating his assets for years. If he sells the Hamptons estate or the New Zealand farm, it’s a sign he’s making a major life pivot—possibly moving closer to a city or a new venture.
- Check the podcast circuit. Disgraced public figures often use "friendly" podcasts (like Joe Rogan or Bill Maher) to test the waters for a comeback. If Lauer shows up on one of those, you’ll know the "Return of Matt" campaign has officially launched.
- Follow Shamin Abas's business moves. She is his main link to the professional world. If her firm starts taking on projects that look like they could involve him, that’s your smoking gun.
Basically, Matt Lauer is living a life of "quiet luxury" and loud silence. He’s waiting for the world to forget enough to let him back in, even if it’s just through a side door. Whether that ever happens is anyone's guess, but for now, he’s exactly where he’s been for years: on the outskirts, looking in.