Matt Lauer’s net worth is estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2026. He earned it during more than 20 years on NBC’s Today, where he was one of the highest-paid people in television news, with contracts worth $20 million to $25 million a year in his final years.
He has not held a TV job since NBC fired him in 2017, so his wealth now rests on what he saved and invested during his peak years. Here is how it adds up.
Key Takeaways
- Lauer’s fortune is estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2026, roughly the same range as in 2025.
- He co-anchored Today from January 1997 to November 2017, after three years as its news anchor.
- His 2012 NBC contract was valued at about $25 million a year, and his 2016 deal at about $20 million a year.
- NBC fired him for cause in November 2017 and paid no settlement on the rest of his contract.
- Since then he has had no regular salary, and his 2019 divorce split the marital estate.
| Full name | Matthew Todd Lauer |
|---|
| Born / Age | December 30, 1957, New York City (68 in 2026) |
|---|
| Profession | Former television news anchor |
|---|
| Known for | Co-anchor of NBC’s Today, 1997 to 2017 |
|---|
| Education | Ohio University (degree completed in 1997) |
|---|
| Estimated net worth (2026) | About $80 million to $100 million |
|---|
| Main income sources | Past NBC salaries, investments, real estate |
|---|
How did Matt Lauer make his money?
Lauer made almost all of his money from one job: hosting the most profitable morning show in American TV. Before that, he spent more than a decade in local television, earning a solid but ordinary living.
He left Ohio University in 1979 to take a job at WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia. Through the 1980s he co-hosted PM Magazine in Richmond, Providence and New York, then hosted 9 Broadcast Plaza on New York’s WWOR from 1989 to 1991. He finished his Ohio University degree in 1997, long after his career had taken off.
His big move came in 1992, when NBC hired him as a co-anchor at its New York station, WNBC. Two years later he became the news anchor on Today.
How much did NBC pay Matt Lauer?
NBC paid Lauer about $25 million a year under a contract signed in 2012, which made him one of the best-paid anchors in TV news. His next deal, signed in November 2016, paid about $20 million a year and was set to run through 2018.
| Years | Role | Pay level |
|---|
| 1979 to 1991 | Local TV reporter and host | Local market salary |
| 1992 to 1994 | Co-anchor, WNBC New York | Major market salary |
| 1994 to 1997 | Today news anchor | Network salary |
| 1997 to 2012 | Today co-anchor | Rising into eight figures a year |
| 2012 to 2016 | Today co-anchor | About $25 million a year |
| 2016 to 2017 | Today co-anchor | About $20 million a year |
Over two decades as co-anchor, his gross NBC pay likely added up to well over $150 million. As with any top earner in New York, taxes took close to half. Living costs, homes and later his divorce took more. That is why a career with this much pay leads to a net worth estimate below $100 million rather than far above it.
Morning shows earn networks huge sums from ads, and the anchors who lead them share in that. Our look at Bill O’Reilly’s net worth shows a similar pattern at Fox News, where top ratings pushed a host’s pay to $25 million a year.
Why was the Today job worth so much?
The Today job was worth so much because the show is one of NBC’s biggest earners. It has aired since 1952, and for most of Lauer’s years it led the morning ratings, which made it a major source of ad revenue for the network.
Lauer was the steady face of the show for two decades while his co-anchors changed. He sat beside Katie Couric until 2006, then Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and, from 2012, Savannah Guthrie. NBC also used him for big events, including its coverage of Olympic opening ceremonies. That range made him hard to replace and gave him strong bargaining power at contract time.
Why did NBC fire Matt Lauer?
NBC fired Lauer in late November 2017 after a colleague filed a detailed complaint about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. NBC said it had reason to believe it was not an isolated incident. The network announced his firing on November 29, 2017.
The firing had a direct cost. Because he was let go “for cause,” NBC did not pay out the rest of his contract, which still had about a year to run. At $20 million a year, that meant giving up roughly $20 million or more in salary he would otherwise have earned.
What does Matt Lauer do now?
Lauer has stayed out of television since 2017 and has not taken a regular media job. He has lived a mostly private life, spending time in the Hamptons on Long Island and at a property in New Zealand.
Without a salary, his money now works in a different way. Instead of growing from new paychecks, it depends on how his investments and properties perform, minus what he spends each year. That is why Matt Lauer’s net worth in 2025 and 2026 has stayed roughly flat rather than climbing.
What real estate does Matt Lauer own?
Property has long been a major part of his wealth. Over the years he has owned homes in Manhattan and in the Hamptons, where many New York TV stars keep weekend houses.
His most unusual asset is in New Zealand. In 2016 he bought the lease on Hunter Valley Station, a large sheep and cattle station on the South Island near Lake Hāwea. The deal needed approval from New Zealand’s overseas investment rules and drew wide local attention. It gives him land and a working farm far from New York.
Exact current values for his homes are not public, so we count property as a large but loose part of the estimate. For the method behind estimates like this, see our guide on how to calculate your net worth.
How did his divorce affect his net worth?
Lauer married Annette Roque, a former model, in 1998. They have three children. The couple separated after his firing, and their divorce was finalized on September 7, 2019.
The terms were not made public. In New York, a divorce generally divides property built up during the marriage between both spouses, and the marriage covered almost all of his peak earning years. That makes the divorce one of the main reasons his estimate sits where it does.
How has his net worth changed over time?
Matt Lauer’s net worth grew quickly through the 2000s and early 2010s, then stopped growing after 2017:
- 1990s: Joining Today moved him from local pay to network pay.
- 2000s: As co-anchor of the top morning show, his salary climbed into eight figures.
- 2012 to 2017: His peak years, at about $20 million to $25 million a year.
- 2017: His firing ended his salary and cost him the last year of his contract.
- 2019 to now: His divorce split the estate, and his wealth has since depended on investments and property.
Compared with other TV hosts in our News & Commentators section, Lauer earned among the most but has had no new income stream since leaving TV. Hosts such as Tucker Carlson built their own media businesses after leaving a network, which keeps their wealth growing. For a sense of scale, even the largest TV salaries are small next to the fortunes in our billionaire net worth profiles, or the business leaders in CEOs & Executives.
Conclusion
Matt Lauer’s net worth is estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2026. He built it over more than two decades at NBC, where Today paid him about $25 million a year at his peak. His firing in 2017 ended that income and cost him the rest of his contract, and his 2019 divorce divided the estate. Today his wealth rests on savings, investments and property, including a large station in New Zealand, rather than on new earnings.
Frequently asked questions
What was Matt Lauer’s net worth in 2025?
Matt Lauer’s net worth was estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2025, much the same as in 2026. He has not had a TV salary since 2017, so his wealth now changes mainly with his investments and property.
How much did Matt Lauer make on the Today show?
His 2012 contract with NBC paid about $25 million a year, among the highest salaries in TV news. A new contract signed in November 2016 paid about $20 million a year and was set to run through 2018.
Did NBC pay Matt Lauer after firing him?
No. NBC fired Lauer for cause in November 2017 and said he would receive no settlement. He gave up the remainder of his contract, which still had about a year left at roughly $20 million a year.
Where does Matt Lauer live now?
Lauer has kept a low profile since leaving NBC. He spends much of his time in the Hamptons on Long Island and also holds the lease on Hunter Valley Station, a large farm property on New Zealand’s South Island.
How many children does Matt Lauer have?
Matt Lauer has three children with his former wife, Annette Roque. The couple married in 1998 and finalized their divorce in September 2019 after nearly two years of separation.
Matt Lauer Net Worth 2026: Today Show Pay and Life After NBC
Matt Lauer’s net worth is estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2026. He earned it during more than 20 years on NBC’s Today, where he was one of the highest-paid people in television news, with contracts worth $20 million to $25 million a year in his final years.
He has not held a TV job since NBC fired him in 2017, so his wealth now rests on what he saved and invested during his peak years. Here is how it adds up.
Key Takeaways
How did Matt Lauer make his money?
Lauer made almost all of his money from one job: hosting the most profitable morning show in American TV. Before that, he spent more than a decade in local television, earning a solid but ordinary living.
He left Ohio University in 1979 to take a job at WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia. Through the 1980s he co-hosted PM Magazine in Richmond, Providence and New York, then hosted 9 Broadcast Plaza on New York’s WWOR from 1989 to 1991. He finished his Ohio University degree in 1997, long after his career had taken off.
His big move came in 1992, when NBC hired him as a co-anchor at its New York station, WNBC. Two years later he became the news anchor on Today.
How much did NBC pay Matt Lauer?
NBC paid Lauer about $25 million a year under a contract signed in 2012, which made him one of the best-paid anchors in TV news. His next deal, signed in November 2016, paid about $20 million a year and was set to run through 2018.
Over two decades as co-anchor, his gross NBC pay likely added up to well over $150 million. As with any top earner in New York, taxes took close to half. Living costs, homes and later his divorce took more. That is why a career with this much pay leads to a net worth estimate below $100 million rather than far above it.
Morning shows earn networks huge sums from ads, and the anchors who lead them share in that. Our look at Bill O’Reilly’s net worth shows a similar pattern at Fox News, where top ratings pushed a host’s pay to $25 million a year.
Why was the Today job worth so much?
The Today job was worth so much because the show is one of NBC’s biggest earners. It has aired since 1952, and for most of Lauer’s years it led the morning ratings, which made it a major source of ad revenue for the network.
Lauer was the steady face of the show for two decades while his co-anchors changed. He sat beside Katie Couric until 2006, then Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and, from 2012, Savannah Guthrie. NBC also used him for big events, including its coverage of Olympic opening ceremonies. That range made him hard to replace and gave him strong bargaining power at contract time.
Why did NBC fire Matt Lauer?
NBC fired Lauer in late November 2017 after a colleague filed a detailed complaint about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. NBC said it had reason to believe it was not an isolated incident. The network announced his firing on November 29, 2017.
The firing had a direct cost. Because he was let go “for cause,” NBC did not pay out the rest of his contract, which still had about a year to run. At $20 million a year, that meant giving up roughly $20 million or more in salary he would otherwise have earned.
What does Matt Lauer do now?
Lauer has stayed out of television since 2017 and has not taken a regular media job. He has lived a mostly private life, spending time in the Hamptons on Long Island and at a property in New Zealand.
Without a salary, his money now works in a different way. Instead of growing from new paychecks, it depends on how his investments and properties perform, minus what he spends each year. That is why Matt Lauer’s net worth in 2025 and 2026 has stayed roughly flat rather than climbing.
What real estate does Matt Lauer own?
Property has long been a major part of his wealth. Over the years he has owned homes in Manhattan and in the Hamptons, where many New York TV stars keep weekend houses.
His most unusual asset is in New Zealand. In 2016 he bought the lease on Hunter Valley Station, a large sheep and cattle station on the South Island near Lake Hāwea. The deal needed approval from New Zealand’s overseas investment rules and drew wide local attention. It gives him land and a working farm far from New York.
Exact current values for his homes are not public, so we count property as a large but loose part of the estimate. For the method behind estimates like this, see our guide on how to calculate your net worth.
How did his divorce affect his net worth?
Lauer married Annette Roque, a former model, in 1998. They have three children. The couple separated after his firing, and their divorce was finalized on September 7, 2019.
The terms were not made public. In New York, a divorce generally divides property built up during the marriage between both spouses, and the marriage covered almost all of his peak earning years. That makes the divorce one of the main reasons his estimate sits where it does.
How has his net worth changed over time?
Matt Lauer’s net worth grew quickly through the 2000s and early 2010s, then stopped growing after 2017:
Compared with other TV hosts in our News & Commentators section, Lauer earned among the most but has had no new income stream since leaving TV. Hosts such as Tucker Carlson built their own media businesses after leaving a network, which keeps their wealth growing. For a sense of scale, even the largest TV salaries are small next to the fortunes in our billionaire net worth profiles, or the business leaders in CEOs & Executives.
Conclusion
Matt Lauer’s net worth is estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2026. He built it over more than two decades at NBC, where Today paid him about $25 million a year at his peak. His firing in 2017 ended that income and cost him the rest of his contract, and his 2019 divorce divided the estate. Today his wealth rests on savings, investments and property, including a large station in New Zealand, rather than on new earnings.
Frequently asked questions
What was Matt Lauer’s net worth in 2025?
Matt Lauer’s net worth was estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in 2025, much the same as in 2026. He has not had a TV salary since 2017, so his wealth now changes mainly with his investments and property.
How much did Matt Lauer make on the Today show?
His 2012 contract with NBC paid about $25 million a year, among the highest salaries in TV news. A new contract signed in November 2016 paid about $20 million a year and was set to run through 2018.
Did NBC pay Matt Lauer after firing him?
No. NBC fired Lauer for cause in November 2017 and said he would receive no settlement. He gave up the remainder of his contract, which still had about a year left at roughly $20 million a year.
Where does Matt Lauer live now?
Lauer has kept a low profile since leaving NBC. He spends much of his time in the Hamptons on Long Island and also holds the lease on Hunter Valley Station, a large farm property on New Zealand’s South Island.
How many children does Matt Lauer have?
Matt Lauer has three children with his former wife, Annette Roque. The couple married in 1998 and finalized their divorce in September 2019 after nearly two years of separation.
Our Editorial Team researches every net worth profile using company filings, official financial disclosures and reputable business reporting, and updates articles when new public information appears.
Related Articles
Bill O’Reilly Net Worth 2026: Fox Pay, Books and No Spin News
Bill O’Reilly’s net worth is estimated at about $80 million to $100 million in
Tucker Carlson Net Worth 2026: Fox Pay, TCN and Real Estate
Tucker Carlson’s net worth is estimated at about $30 million to $50 million in
From Radio to Cable News: How Commentators Build Their Fortunes
From Radio to Cable News comes down to a few public facts and a
Finanzas Domesticas explains how billionaires, CEOs, politicians and news hosts built their wealth. Every net worth profile is researched from public sources and checked by our Editorial Team.