Don Lemon — $1 million

After cutting his teeth as a news anchor and investigative journalist for local station KTVI St Louis in the United States, Don Lemon worked his way to the top. From KTVI to NBC where he corresponded for NBC Today, Night News, and anchored for Weekend Today and MSNBC.

Don won three Chicago Emmy Awards while working for NBC owned Station WMAQ for stories on the Chicago Craigslist real estate industry and HIV in Africa, respectively. He moved to CNN in September 2006, where he now earns $1 million a year. Don is engaged to his long-time partner and successful real estate agent, Tim Malone.

Stephen A. Smith (1967), New York | $12M

Probably one of the well-known sports journalists in the world, Stephen A Smith primarily works for ESPN. Smith was born on the 14th of October in 1967, in The Bronx, New York. Stephen A Smith started his journalism career with the Winston-Salem journal before heading to the Greensboro News and Record, and New York Daily News. He then began working as a writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer – a position that he held until 2008.

After 4 years with WEPN, Smith moved to Fox Sports Radio. He famously broke the news of Allen Iverson’s retirement in November 2009. 2 years later, Smith moved to ESPN as a columnist as well as a Radio Show host. Stephen A Smith’s salary in 2022 is a whopping $12 million.

Megyn Kelly (1970), United States | $23M

After graduating, Megyn Kelly earned her Juris Doctor and then became an associate at a law firm. Her career on television began in the 2000s, most notably when she covered the presidential elections in 2004. Soon, Fox News hired her, and her knowledge of legal matters became useful in her profession.

It didn’t take long before Kelly became an in-demand name in the broadcasting industry. After her contract with Fox expired, NBC tapped her to be a contributor and anchor. While she previously earned $8 million per year with her former network, the host faced a sizable increase of $23 million annually with NBC.