Hoda Kotb's 'Today' Show Salary Is Reportedly $18 Million Less Than Matt Lauer's
Hoda Kotb is making significantly less money than Matt Lauer was for co-anchoring the Today show, according to multiple reports.
On Tuesday, the NBC morning show officially announced Kotb was taking over Lauer's co-hosting duties alongside Savannah Guthrie, after Lauer was fired in November for "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace." But according to Page Six, Kotb is making $7 million a year under her new deal, while Lauer was getting $25 million before he was fired.
The outlet quotes a source noting that Lauer's salary reflected the long time he was on the show -- 25 years. Meanwhile, Kotb has been co-hosting the fourth hour of the Today show alongside Kathie Lee Gifford since 2008.
The Hollywood Reporterechoes the reason why Kotb is reportedly making millions less than Lauer, citing Lauer's star presence and decades on the morning show.
"This is a symptom of the correct economic decision to downsize the role and not throw millions and millions of dollars at it," independent news analyst Andrew Tyndall also tells THR.
Meanwhile, a show insider tells Page Six that Kotb isn't contesting her salary, and could ask for more the next time she negotiates her contract.
"She has landed the big job she always dreamed of, and most definitely deserves," the insider tells Page Six. "... But the figures underline the huge wage disparity at NBC News.”
On Wednesday, an NBC spokesperson told ET that the network doesn't comment on compensation.
Kotb has talked about her salary compared to Lauer's, and admitted she isn't making nearly the same amount.
"The answer is no -- that’s not happening,” Kotb told People about whether or not she's getting the same salary. "I think the whole money thing for me, I’ve always been sort of -- I know it sounds ridiculous that I’m going to say this, but I really have done jobs I liked for the job I liked because I never wanted to be happy every other Friday on pay day. Like, I didn’t want that to be the happy day. I wanted to feel good throughout. So no, I’m not making Matt Lauer money. Not even close."
On Wednesday's show, Kotb said she was overwhelmed by the celebrity support she's received since landing the big promotion, which has included sweet messages from Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres, Mindy Kaling, Rod Stewart and more. ET spoke to the 53-year-old newswoman on Tuesday in New York City, where she revealed Lauer also texted her congratulations.
"I did hear from him, yeah, he texted me and he said congratulations and some really nice words, and it meant the world when I saw the text pop up," Kotb said. "My heart just went like, you know, it meant the world to see that."
Watch below:
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