Matt Lauer's Role and Salary on the Today Show
Matt Lauer was a co-host of the Today show for over two decades, becoming one of the highest-paid television news anchors in the United States. His base salary at NBC was reported to be in the range of $25 million to $30 million per year, with additional compensation from production deals and syndication. The Today show remained the most-watched morning program in the U.S. during much of his tenure, with ratings consistently leading the network morning landscape. Forbes
Lauer joined the Today show as the news anchor in 1997 and was promoted to co-anchor in 1999, sharing the desk with Katie Couric, then Meredith Vieira, and later Ann Curry and Savannah Guthrie. His contract extensions over the years reflected his central role in the program's dominance, with NBC structuring deals that included multi-year guarantees and profit participation. The show's advertising revenue during his co-anchor period regularly exceeded $300 million annually, driven by high CPMs for the morning demographic. Today Show on NBC
Departure, Contract Severance, and NBC's Response
Matt Lauer was terminated by NBC in November 2017 following a complaint of inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. The termination was immediate, and NBC stated the decision was based on the details of the complaint, which were reviewed by legal and human resources teams. Lauer's final contract negotiations had included a severance structure typical of senior broadcast talent, but the network invoked its code of conduct to end the relationship without the standard multi-year payout. NBC News coverage
NBC's parent company, Comcast, reported no material financial impact from the termination in its quarterly filings, noting that the cost was absorbed within existing operating expenses. The Today show replaced Lauer with Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin shifting into a expanded anchor role, maintaining the program's ratings lead in the key 25-to-54 demographic. The incident prompted NBC and other networks to review workplace conduct policies and accelerated internal investigations into historical complaints. SEC Filings - Comcast NBCUniversal
Post-Today Career, Public Appearances, and Current Status
After leaving NBC, Matt Lauer has not returned to regular television hosting or news anchoring. He has made no public appearances on major broadcast or cable networks, and his professional output has shifted away from the media industry. Reports indicate he has focused on private business interests and personal ventures, with no new on-air roles announced as of the latest available public information. Bloomberg
Estimates of Matt Lauer's net worth have varied, with most sources placing it between $60 million and $80 million, factoring in his NBC earnings, severance, and investment portfolio. His financial profile remains largely private, with no new public disclosures of significant deals or ventures since his departure. The Today show continues to operate as the top-rated morning program, with the current anchor team building on the format and audience base established during Lauer's tenure.