Megyn Kelly is one of the most recognizable figures in modern American media. From her beginnings as a corporate lawyer to becoming a primetime news anchor and now a podcasting powerhouse, her career has been marked by ambition, controversy, and significant financial success. This journey has naturally led many to wonder about the megyn kelly net worth. It’s a figure that reflects not just her high-profile salaries but also her strategic career moves and entrepreneurial spirit. In this detailed exploration, we will break down the components of her wealth, trace her career trajectory, and provide a clear picture of her financial standing today.
Understanding the megyn kelly net worth requires looking beyond a single number. It involves analyzing her major television contracts, her successful foray into independent media, her book deals, and other ventures. Her story is a fascinating case study in building a powerful personal brand and leveraging it for financial independence.
Key Takeaways
- Estimated Net Worth: As of 2025, Megyn Kelly’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $45 million.
- Primary Income Sources: Her wealth has been built through high-value contracts at major networks like Fox News and NBC, a bestselling book, and her current successful independent media company, Devil May Care Media.
- Career Pivot: Kelly’s move from mainstream television to independent podcasting with “The Megyn Kelly Show” has proven to be a financially lucrative and strategically sound decision.
- Real Estate: She and her husband, Douglas Brunt, own valuable real estate, which contributes to their overall family wealth.
- Brand Power: The megyn kelly net worth is a testament to her strong personal brand, which has allowed her to maintain influence and earning power outside of traditional media structures.
Who is Megyn Kelly? A Brief Biography
Before diving into the numbers, it’s important to understand the person behind the name. Megyn Marie Kelly was born in Champaign, Illinois, and spent her formative years in a suburb of Albany, New York. She wasn’t always destined for the anchor’s chair. Initially, she pursued a career in law after graduating from Albany Law School in 1995.
For nearly a decade, Kelly worked as a corporate litigator, first at a major Chicago law firm and later in New York City. However, she grew dissatisfied with the legal profession and decided to pivot toward her true passion: journalism. In 2003, she began her media career as a general assignment reporter for an ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C. This move set the stage for her meteoric rise in the news industry and was the first step on the path toward building the substantial megyn kelly net worth we see today.
From Law to Journalism
The transition from a successful law career to an entry-level journalism position was a significant risk. Yet, it was a calculated one. Kelly’s legal background gave her a unique and powerful skill set for a journalist: an analytical mind, a sharp interrogative style, and the ability to dissect complex issues. This expertise quickly made her stand out. Within a year, her talent was noticed by a major cable news network, and she was hired by Fox News in 2004, marking the beginning of her national prominence. This career change was the foundational decision that ultimately led to her immense financial success.
The Fox News Era: Building a Financial Foundation
Megyn Kelly’s tenure at Fox News, from 2004 to 2017, was the period where she became a household name and her earnings began to skyrocket. She started as a legal contributor and reporter before eventually hosting her own segments. Her incisive questioning and commanding on-screen presence resonated with audiences.
Her rise was rapid. She co-anchored America’s Newsroom and later hosted her own afternoon show, America Live. However, it was her primetime show, The Kelly File, launched in 2013, that cemented her status as a media superstar. The show was a ratings juggernaut, often beating its competitors and establishing Kelly as a key player in the cable news landscape. This success gave her immense leverage during contract negotiations. By the end of her time at Fox News, her salary was reportedly in the range of $6 million to $9 million per year, a significant contributor to the growing megyn kelly net worth.
Notable Moments and Salary Growth
During her time at Fox News, several key moments elevated her profile and, consequently, her earning potential. Her sharp coverage of the 2012 presidential election night and her moderating of the 2015 Republican primary debate—where she famously confronted Donald Trump—made national headlines. While controversial, these events amplified her brand. Each successful year and high-profile moment allowed her to command a higher salary, laying a strong financial groundwork for her future endeavors.
The NBC Move: A High-Stakes Gamble
In 2017, Megyn Kelly made headlines again by announcing she was leaving Fox News for a blockbuster deal with NBC News. The move was a major shake-up in the media world. NBC reportedly offered her a multi-year contract worth an estimated $69 million, translating to an astonishing $23 million per year. This salary was one of the highest in television news history and was intended to position her as a flagship morning show host for the network.
The deal included hosting the third hour of the Today show, titled Megyn Kelly Today, as well as a Sunday night newsmagazine show and anchoring major event coverage. This was a clear signal that NBC was investing heavily in her as the future face of their news division. The contract significantly inflated the megyn kelly net worth, making her one of the highest-paid personalities in the industry overnight. However, the enormous salary also came with immense pressure to deliver ratings and connect with a new, broader audience.
Why the NBC Era Was Short-Lived
Despite the massive investment, Kelly’s time at NBC was fraught with challenges. Megyn Kelly Today struggled to find its footing and connect with the traditional Today show audience. The show faced criticism for its tone and a series of on-air missteps. The high point of her salary coincided with the low point of her public approval in this role.
The tenure came to an abrupt end in late 2018, just over a year and a half into her contract, following controversial on-air remarks. NBC and Kelly negotiated her exit, with reports indicating she was paid out the remainder of her massive $69 million contract. While the stint at NBC is often viewed as a career misstep, from a purely financial perspective, it was incredibly lucrative and a major factor in boosting the megyn kelly net worth to its current levels.
The Return: Independent Media and Devil May Care Media
After her departure from NBC, many in the industry speculated about Megyn Kelly’s next move. Instead of seeking another television role, she took an entrepreneurial path. In 2020, she launched her own independent media company, Devil May Care Media, and a new podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show. This pivot to independent media has been a resounding success.
By going independent, Kelly took full control of her content, brand, and, most importantly, her revenue streams. The Megyn Kelly Show quickly gained a large and loyal following, featuring long-form interviews with a wide range of influential figures. This new platform allowed her to reconnect with her core audience and speak more freely than she could in a corporate media environment.
The SiriusXM Deal: A Financial Game-Changer
The success of her podcast did not go unnoticed. In 2021, she signed an exclusive, multi-year deal with SiriusXM. While the exact financial terms were not disclosed, industry experts estimate the deal to be worth millions of dollars annually, potentially rivaling her previous television salaries. The show now airs live daily on SiriusXM’s Triumph channel before being released as a podcast.
This deal solidified her comeback and proved the viability of her independent brand. It allows her to generate revenue through subscriptions, advertising, and syndication, giving her multiple income streams. This move is a primary driver of the current megyn kelly net worth and demonstrates her shrewd business acumen. As highlighted in a piece on emerging media trends, independent creators like Kelly are reshaping the industry, a topic often explored on sites like https://siliconvalleytime.co.uk/.
Breakdown of Megyn Kelly Net Worth
To fully understand her wealth, it’s helpful to break it down into its core components. The megyn kelly net worth of approximately $45 million is not just cash in the bank; it’s a combination of earnings, investments, and assets.
|
Income Source |
Estimated Contribution |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fox News Salary (2004-2017) |
$45-50 million+ |
Cumulative earnings over 13 years, with salary escalating to $6-9M/year. |
|
NBC Contract (2017-2019) |
$69 million |
Full contract value reportedly paid out upon her departure. |
|
Book Deal (“Settle for More”) |
$10 million |
Reported advance for her bestselling 2016 memoir. |
|
Devil May Care Media / SiriusXM |
$5-8 million+ annually |
Estimated annual earnings from her current multi-year deal and media company. |
|
Real Estate and Investments |
Variable |
Value of properties and other investments, which fluctuate with the market. |
The Power of Her Bestselling Book
In 2016, at the height of her Fox News fame, Megyn Kelly released her memoir, Settle for More. The book was an instant success, debuting at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. Reports indicate she received a massive $10 million advance for the book. This one-time payment provided a substantial boost to her finances and further solidified her brand outside of the television studio. The success of the book demonstrated her marketability and the public’s deep interest in her personal and professional story.
Real Estate Portfolio
Megyn Kelly and her husband, author Douglas Brunt, have also invested wisely in real estate. While specific details of their portfolio are private, high-net-worth individuals commonly hold a significant portion of their wealth in property. They are known to have owned homes in the New York City area and other desirable locations.
Real estate investments serve two purposes: they provide a primary residence and act as a valuable asset that can appreciate over time. The value of these properties contributes to the overall calculation of the megyn kelly net worth. As with any investment, real estate values can fluctuate, but prime properties in sought-after locations are generally considered a stable long-term asset.
Personal Life and Family
Megyn Kelly has been married to Douglas Brunt, a successful novelist and former CEO, since 2008. They have three children together. Brunt’s own success adds to the family’s overall financial security, though public net worth calculations typically focus on Kelly’s individual earnings from her high-profile media career.
Her family is often a topic of discussion on her show, and she credits her husband and children as her primary motivation. This grounding in her personal life seems to have provided stability through the ups and downs of her public career. Her husband’s understanding of the business world has likely been a valuable asset as she navigated contract negotiations and the launch of her own company.
The Future of Megyn Kelly’s Brand and Wealth
Looking ahead, Megyn Kelly’s financial future appears bright. By successfully transitioning to an independent platform, she has created a durable and profitable business model that is not subject to the whims of television network executives. Her deal with SiriusXM provides a stable, high-value revenue stream for the foreseeable future.
Furthermore, her company, Devil May Care Media, has the potential to expand. She could produce other podcasts, launch a subscription-based digital platform, or venture into other forms of media. Her brand is strong enough to support various extensions, each of which could create new revenue streams and further increase the megyn kelly net worth. She has proven her ability to attract and retain a large audience, which is the most valuable currency in the media landscape.
Conclusion
The megyn kelly net worth of an estimated $45 million in 2025 is the result of a dynamic and strategically navigated career. From her beginnings as a lawyer to her rise as a cable news star, her record-breaking NBC contract, and her successful pivot to independent media, every step has contributed to her financial standing.
More than just a number, her wealth tells a story of ambition, risk-taking, and resilience. She leveraged her talent and brand to secure some of the most lucrative deals in media history. When faced with a major career setback, she reinvented herself as an entrepreneur and built a new, powerful platform on her own terms. Megyn Kelly’s journey demonstrates that in the modern media era, individual brand power can be the most valuable asset of all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the estimated megyn kelly net worth in 2025?
As of 2025, Megyn Kelly’s net worth is estimated to be around $45 million. This figure is based on her past high-value television contracts, book deals, and her current lucrative deal with SiriusXM.
How much was Megyn Kelly paid at NBC?
Megyn Kelly signed a contract with NBC in 2017 that was widely reported to be worth $69 million over three years, or $23 million annually. She was reportedly paid the full value of the contract upon her departure in early 2019.
What is Megyn Kelly’s current job?
Megyn Kelly is the host of The Megyn Kelly Show, which airs daily on SiriusXM. She also runs her own media production company, Devil May Care Media, which produces the show.
Did Megyn Kelly write a book?
Yes, she wrote a memoir titled Settle for More, which was released in 2016. The book became a number one bestseller, and she reportedly received a $10 million advance for it, significantly contributing to the megyn kelly net worth.
Who is Megyn Kelly’s husband?
Megyn Kelly is married to Douglas Brunt, a successful novelist and the former CEO of the cybersecurity firm Authentium. They have been married since 2008 and have three children together.
