What is Katie Couric's Net Worth and Salary?
Katie Couric is an American journalist, author, and television personality who has a net worth of $110 million. Katie Couric is perhaps best known for co-anchoring NBC's "Today" show from 1991 to 2006. Her warm, relatable presence and sharp interviewing skills helped make "Today" the top-rated morning show in the country and established Couric as one of the most recognizable faces in American media.
In 2006, Couric made history by becoming the first solo female anchor of a major network evening news broadcast when she joined CBS Evening News. Though ratings struggled during her tenure, she earned praise for her hard-hitting interviews and in-depth reporting, including a memorable 2008 interview with then-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin that had a major impact on the election.
After leaving CBS in 2011, Couric transitioned to a variety of roles across television and digital media. She launched a syndicated daytime talk show, "Katie," which ran for two seasons, and later served as a global news anchor for Yahoo News. In this role, she embraced the digital shift in journalism, producing video interviews and documentaries for a new generation of viewers.
Couric is also a best-selling author, cancer awareness advocate, and documentary producer. Following the death of her first husband, Jay Monahan, from colon cancer, she became a prominent voice in public health, championing early detection and prevention efforts. In 2021, she published a candid memoir, Going There, which offered an unfiltered look at her personal life and professional journey.
Known for her versatility, resilience, and pioneering influence, Katie Couric remains one of the most respected and enduring figures in American broadcast journalism.
Salary History
For much of the mid-to-late 1990s, Katie Couric's salary was $7 million, which is the same as around $14 million per year today. In December 2001, just two months after the 9/11 attacks, Katie signed what was then the largest financial deal in television news history. This 4.5-year $60 million contract came with an average annual salary of $13 million. That's the same as making around $23 million per year today after adjusting for inflation.
In April 2006, Katie announced that she was moving from NBC to CBS. Her new CBS deal paid an average annual salary of $15 million per year.
In 2011, Couric signed a $40 million contract with ABC News.
In 2013, Katie was personally recruited by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer to become Yahoo's Global Anchor. Katie's Yahoo contract initially paid $6 million per year and was raised to $10 million in 2015. She exited the Yahoo deal in August 2017 after a four-year run.
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Early Life
Katherine Anne Couric was born on January 7th, 1957, in Arlington, Virginia. Although her mother was Jewish, she was raised in a Presbyterian home. Her father worked as an editor for various news organizations. While in high school, Katie Couric became a cheerleader and acted as an intern for WAVA, a radio station based in Washington, D.C. In 1975, Couric enrolled at the University of Virginia and worked on the school's newspaper. In 1979, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in American Studies.
Early Career
After graduating, Couric immediately found work at ABC News. She then joined CNN as an assignment editor. In the mid-80s, she had her first real taste as a reporter with a local TV news network in Miami, Florida. She then worked for an NBC-owned TV news network that was local to Washington, D.C., and earned an Emmy and an Associated Press Award.
NBC and The Today Show
Katie Couric's rise to national prominence began in the early 1990s during her tenure at NBC News. She initially joined the network as a Pentagon correspondent but quickly proved her versatility, stepping in as a substitute anchor for "Today," "NBC Nightly News," and "NBC News at Sunrise." Her poise and relatability resonated with viewers, and in 1991, she was named the permanent co-anchor of "Today."
Couric went on to co-anchor "Today" for 15 years, becoming one of the most trusted and recognizable faces in American morning television. During her time at NBC, she also served as a contributing anchor for "Dateline NBC" and hosted multiple high-profile news specials. Beginning in 2000, Couric took on the role of host for the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games, further expanding her presence on the global stage.
CBS
In 2006, Couric made history when she left NBC to become the first solo female anchor of a major network evening newscast, taking the helm of "CBS Evening News." She also served as the program's managing editor and contributed regularly to "60 Minutes." Although CBS continued to trail NBC and ABC in evening news ratings, Couric's presence brought a temporary ratings boost and renewed visibility to the broadcast.
During her five-year tenure, Couric covered major events including the 2006 midterm elections, the BP oil spill, the death of Osama bin Laden, the Egyptian revolution of 2011, and the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. One of her most talked-about moments was her 2008 interview with vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, which became a defining moment in that year's U.S. election. She also interviewed a wide range of figures, including Michelle Obama, Daniel Radcliffe, Glenn Beck, and Justin Bieber.
ABC and Syndication
Couric departed CBS in 2011 and rejoined ABC News, where she had briefly worked early in her career as a special correspondent. She contributed to programs such as "Nightline" and "Good Morning America," and occasionally co-hosted "The View." She also launched a year-end news special, "The Year With Katie Couric," in partnership with People magazine, offering a reflective look at major cultural and political events.
As part of her deal with ABC, Couric launched her own syndicated daytime talk show, "Katie," in 2012. The show aimed to blend newsmaker interviews with human-interest stories and lifestyle segments. Despite early buzz, the show was canceled in 2014 after two seasons due to declining ratings.
Yahoo News and Digital Media
In 2013, Couric embraced the shift toward digital journalism by becoming the Global Anchor for Yahoo News. She began appearing on Yahoo's video platform in 2014, conducting interviews and producing original content. As Yahoo deepened its partnership with ABC, Couric continued to appear in crossover segments on "Good Morning America." She remained with Yahoo until 2017, departing after the company was acquired by Verizon.
Recent Work and Production
In 2017, Couric briefly returned to "Today" to co-host for a week in celebration of Matt Lauer's 20th anniversary on the program. Around that time, she began to focus more on her production company, Katie Couric Media, which she founded in 2015. The company has produced a variety of content, including podcasts, digital series, and documentaries, in collaboration with partners such as National Geographic.
Couric also served as an executive producer on the acclaimed Netflix series "Unbelievable" and continues to develop projects focused on health, gender equity, and social change. With a career that spans traditional broadcast, streaming platforms, and digital innovation, Katie Couric remains one of the most influential and adaptable figures in modern journalism.
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Acting
Katie Couric has occasionally stepped into acting and voiceover roles, often portraying fictionalized versions of herself. In 2004, she voiced "Katie Current," an animated news reporter modeled after her own persona, in the DreamWorks film "Shark Tale." She also made a brief cameo in "Austin Powers in Goldmember," adding a comedic twist to her media image.
Couric has appeared in a variety of popular television shows, usually in light-hearted guest spots or cameos. Her TV credits include appearances on "General Hospital," "Murphy Brown," "Glee," "Pawn Stars," and "Will & Grace," often poking fun at her status as a news icon.
In addition to her acting appearances, Couric has narrated and hosted several impactful documentaries and docuseries. These include "Fed Up" (2014), which examines the American obesity epidemic; "Under the Gun" (2016), a deep dive into gun violence and firearm policy in the United States; and "America Inside Out with Katie Couric" (2018), a six-part National Geographic series exploring social and cultural change across the country.
Writing
In addition to her work in television, Katie Couric has built a successful writing career spanning non-fiction, memoir, and children's literature. She is the author of several children's books, including "The Brand New Kid" (2000), a story about embracing diversity and overcoming bullying, and "The Blue Ribbon Day" (2004), which follows a young girl learning about resilience and confidence through sports. Both books reflect Couric's passion for promoting empathy, kindness, and emotional growth in children.
In 2011, Couric published the best-selling anthology "The Best Advice I Ever Received: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives," a collection of personal essays and reflections from a wide range of public figures. The book highlights wisdom and life lessons from influential voices, including Maya Angelou, Jimmy Carter, and Meryl Streep, among others. Couric curated the book as a way to inspire readers of all ages with insights on success, adversity, and character.
Her most personal work to date came in 2021 with the publication of her memoir, "Going There." The book offers an unflinching look at her life and career, exploring everything from her rise in broadcast journalism to the tragic loss of her first husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer. With a candid tone and deeply personal revelations, "Going There" received critical acclaim for its honesty and vulnerability.
Personal Life
In 1989, Katie Couric married John Paul Monahan. They had two daughters together before Monahan passed away from cancer in 1998. In 2001, Couric's sister also died of cancer. Throughout her life, Katie Couric has been extremely involved in cancer research, activism, and charity work.
In 2014, Katie Couric married a financier named John Molner. Molner is a partner at the investment bank Brown Brothers Harriman.
Real Estate
In 1998, Katie paid $3.6 million for a 4,000-square-foot apartment on Park Avenue in New York City. She listed this property for sale in 2017 for $8.25 million, eventually finding a buyer in June 2018 for $7.8 million.
In March 2016, Katie and her husband, John Molner, paid $12.2 million for a condo on NYC's Upper West Side. Simon Cowell also owns a unit in the building.
Since 2006, Katie has owned a 1.6-acre estate in East Hampton, NY. This is where she and Molner married in 2014.