Hoda Kotb Is Reportedly Getting $18 Million Less Than Matt Lauer As Co-Anchor Of “Today”
It was announced yesterday that Hoda Kotb would officially be taking over from Matt Lauer as co-anchor of Today. Hoda might have gotten Matt’s job, but she sure as shit didn’t inherit his paycheck.
Sources tell Page Six that Hoda Kotb has made a $7 million a year deal with NBC News to co-host Today with Savannah Guthrie. That’s the same amount Savannah makes per year. Matt Lauer was reportedly getting $25 million a year before NBC News kicked his ass to the curb. That means Hoda’s yearly paycheck is $18 million lighter than Matt’s was.
Hoda has been with NBC News for almost 20 years and has been a part of Today for 10 years. Matt was with Today for about 23 years. So it makes sense that Hoda wouldn’t make Matt Lauer money yet even if she’s doing more work (she’s still co-hosting the fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford), but try to explain Megyn Kelly’s paycheck. Page Six says that Megyn makes $20 million a year to host a single hour of Today. I don’t want to say that NBC News is getting ripped off, but that’s a lot of money to dump on the hour-long break most viewers take to run a shower and make more coffee.
Hoda isn’t bothered by the lack of cash. She recently spoke about her and Matt’s difference in salaries to People, and she let it be known she isn’t it in for the money.
“The answer is no – that’s not happening. 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.”
Page Six’s sources say that Hoda could eventually ask NBC for a raise. But she shouldn’t even have to ask. NBC should feel obligated out of guilt to drop more money on Hoda after giving her the wardrobe department’s scraps most years on Halloween.
There’s also talk that Hoda might possibly step away from the fourth hour of the Today show. If she does, sources tell Page Six that Kathie Lee wants to pick Hoda’s replacement. And rumor has it that she’s thinking either Marlo Thomas or Kris Jenner. Dear sweet daytime TV Jesus, anyone but Kris Jenner. The point of the fourth hour of the Today show is for the hosts to get drunk, not the audience at home.
Pic: NBC via Wenn.com