Last Updated on June 17, 2017
NBC’s Matt Lauer is reportedly about to sign a contract extension that will keep him on morning powerhouse Today, but will also up his salary from about $17 million per year to an estimated $25 million.
At that level, he’ll be making almost double the income of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, who reportedly earns $13 million a year.
Flat ratings on Today may have helped Lauer play hardball. While CBS still remains a distant third with it’s newly-revamped CBS This Morning, ABC’s Good Morning America is showing ratings growth, now closing the gap between it and NBC more than it has in 16 years.
Keeping Lauer at least gives NBC enough stability that it can remain competitive. There’s that, and the fact that Lauer’s heir apparent, Ryan Seacrest, could have been a risky gamble, since no one knows how well he’d be received as a permanent replacement.
Lauer is a solid anchor. And I realize that he has to get up at a ridiculous hour of the morning to be able to upbeat and coherent by 7:00am on national television. It’s not a job I’d want because I’m not an early-morning person.
But still, $25 million a year for anchoring two hours a day? Is anyone worth that?
That’s $68,493 per day. He makes more in a day than most people make in a year.
My theory is that if you can convince someone to pay you any sum, that is what you are worth in that situation. Admittedly, the numbers I deal with are a tiny percentage of Matt Lauer’s, but I definitely hold no ill will against him for it. If you want to blame someone for outrageous salaries, focus it towards the pockets behind them.Â
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Yes, it is crazy that sports figures earn a gagillion dollars, but they wouldn’t earn that if their performance didn’t earn their employers substantially more than that.
 @TammyL All valid points, Tammy.I suppose you can add to it that while NBC has had major ratings trouble over the past several years, its Today show is one of the few standouts. Â