Megyn Kelly Net Worth

What is Megyn Kelly's Net Worth and Salary?

Megyn Kelly is a television host and political commentator who has a net worth of $45 million. Megyn Kelly rose to prominence as one of the most recognizable anchors on Fox News before moving on to high-profile roles at NBC and in independent media. She began her professional career as a corporate litigator after earning her law degree, working at major firms such as Bickel & Brewer and Jones Day. In 2003, she transitioned into broadcast journalism, joining an ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., before being hired by Fox News in 2004.

At Fox, Kelly quickly established herself as a sharp interviewer and rising star. She co-anchored "America's Newsroom" and later hosted "America Live," but her biggest breakthrough came with "The Kelly File," which debuted in 2013. The program became one of the highest-rated shows on the network, known for Kelly's mix of tough questioning and willingness to challenge figures across the political spectrum. Her profile grew further during the 2016 presidential campaign, when her pointed questioning of Donald Trump in a Republican primary debate made national headlines and drew both praise and criticism.

In 2017, Kelly left Fox for NBC News, signing a major contract and launching "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly" and the daytime program "Megyn Kelly Today." Both shows struggled with ratings and controversy, and her NBC tenure ended in 2018 after remarks on-air about blackface sparked backlash.

After departing NBC, Kelly shifted to building her own platform. In 2020, she launched "The Megyn Kelly Show," a podcast and later a video program distributed through SiriusXM and digital platforms, where she conducts long-form interviews and commentary. Her career reflects both her prominence in mainstream media and her adaptability in the growing world of independent journalism, keeping her as a significant voice in American political and cultural debate.

Salary

During her time at Fox News, Megyn Kelly eventually reached a peak salary of $8 million per year. This salary made her one of the highest-earning employees at the network, right on par with people like Tucker Carlson.

However, Megyn Kelly received an exponential increase in income after making the decision to move to NBC. Her three-year contract was worth $69 million, which was the equivalent of $23 million per year – although some reports state that she was actually being paid between $15 million and $20 million per year at NBC.

NBC Contact Debacle

Because Kelly was released from NBC only one year after joining in the wake of her controversial statements, many assumed that she would forfeit the majority of this lucrative contract.

Unfortunately for NBC, Megyn Kelly seemed prepared for a major legal battle after her dismissal. Initial reports suggested that NBC was prepared to offer her the full $69 million from her three-year contract in order to make her "go away." She also, at one point reportedly wanted an extra $10 million paid as a confidentiality agreement. Later reports stated that Kelly's severance package was actually significantly less – in the ballpark of $30 million.

Either way, this entire debacle proved to be a major cause for outcry in the journalism community. In just one year at NBC, Kelly seriously damaged her reputation as a serious journalist while still managing to walk away with at least $30 million – more than most journalists can ever dream of earning in a lifetime. In addition, Kelly managed to maneuver her way out of a key part of her contract: a clause that stated she couldn't accept offers from competing networks after leaving NBC.

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Early Life

Megyn Marie Kelly was born on November 18, 1970, in Champaign, Illinois. She was raised in a Catholic household and spent much of her childhood in Syracuse, New York, before her family relocated to Albany when she was nine. Her father, Edward Kelly, was a professor of education at the State University of New York at Albany, while her mother, Linda, worked as a nurse. When Megyn was just 15 years old, tragedy struck when her father died suddenly of a heart attack. The loss left a lasting mark on her and helped shape the independent, driven personality that later defined her career.

Kelly attended Bethlehem Central High School in the Albany suburbs, where she was active in athletics and student government. After graduation, she enrolled at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, earning a bachelor's degree in political science. In 1992, she entered Albany Law School, where she was editor of the Albany Law Review and sharpened her debating and research skills. She received her Juris Doctor in 1995 and immediately embarked on a legal career. Kelly first joined the Chicago law firm Bickel & Brewer, where she focused on litigation. She later moved to the international firm Jones Day, where she spent nine years as a corporate litigator, gaining extensive experience that would later bolster her authority as a legal analyst on television.

Career

Although Kelly found success as an attorney, she long harbored ambitions to work in journalism. In 2003, she made the leap by taking a job as a reporter with an ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C. There she covered major stories, including the 2004 presidential election, and quickly developed a reputation for sharp questioning and polished on-camera delivery. In 2004, Fox News took notice and hired her as a correspondent. At first, she contributed legal segments under the banner "Kelly's Court" and appeared as a guest on programs such as "The O'Reilly Factor" and "On the Record." Her ability to combine legal expertise with incisive commentary made her a rising star at the network.

By 2010, Kelly was given her own daytime program, "America Live," which significantly boosted her profile. After a maternity leave, she returned to launch "The Kelly File" in 2013. Airing in prime time, the show quickly became one of Fox News' highest-rated programs, regularly topping cable news viewership. On "The Kelly File," Kelly interviewed political leaders, covered breaking news, and often sparked debate with her direct style. Her prominence skyrocketed during the 2016 election cycle, particularly after a heated exchange with Donald Trump during a Republican primary debate, when she pressed him about derogatory comments he had made about women.

In 2017, after her Fox contract ended, Kelly signed a lucrative deal with NBC News. She was given a "triple role": serving as a high-profile correspondent, hosting the Sunday night program "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly," and launching the daytime talk show "Megyn Kelly Today." She landed interviews with major figures, including Russian president Vladimir Putin. However, her NBC tenure was short-lived. Despite the network's heavy investment, her shows struggled with ratings, and her time there ended abruptly in 2018 following an on-air controversy.

After leaving NBC, Kelly took a step back before reinventing herself in independent media. In 2020, she launched "The Megyn Kelly Show," a podcast featuring long-form interviews and commentary. Distributed through SiriusXM and digital platforms, it became a successful vehicle for her brand of direct, often provocative commentary, keeping her highly visible in political and cultural discourse outside of traditional television.

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Controversy

Controversy has been a recurring theme throughout Kelly's public career. While hosting "The Kelly File," she drew attention in 2013 for stating that both Santa Claus and Jesus were "white," sparking backlash and late-night satire. During the 2016 presidential race, she became a central figure in the clash between Fox News and Donald Trump, who repeatedly attacked her after she challenged his treatment of women during a televised debate.

Her most damaging controversy came during her NBC tenure. In October 2018, on "Megyn Kelly Today," she made remarks suggesting that wearing blackface as part of a Halloween costume could be acceptable, comments that drew widespread criticism. The fallout was swift: NBC canceled her show, and she negotiated an exit from her contract with a reported payout.

Despite these setbacks, Kelly has maintained a strong following and remains a polarizing but influential media figure. Her independent ventures have allowed her to retain a platform on her own terms, free from the constraints of network television.

Book Advance

In 2016, Megyn Kelly released her autobiography, Settle for More. The book was released through HarperCollins after Kelly had signed a deal with the publishing company worth more than $10 million.

(ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Personal Life

Megyn Kelly's first marriage was to anesthesiologist Daniel Kendall in 2001. They divorced in 2006. In 2008, she married Douglas Brunt, president and CEO of cybersecurity firm Authentium. Over the course of their marriage, the couple has had three children.

Although Megyn Kelly has expressed strong political views over the years, she doesn't support the Democrat Party or the Republican Party. Instead, she identifies as an Independent and has admitted to voting for both Democrat and Republican presidents in the past. In addition, Megyn Kelly identifies as a Catholic and has followed this faith for her entire life.

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