How Gayle King’s Journalism Career Earned Her An $80 Million Net Worth

Distinguishing herself beyond Oprah Winfrey’s creative counterpart, Gayle King has built an impressive portfolio for herself, earning her rightful spot on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019. Known for her role as a co-host on CBS’s “This Morning,” as well as editor for O, The Oprah Magazine , her journalistic endeavors have led to a successful career in broadcasting and publishing, as well an impressive net worth to match.

Here’s what to know about King’s professional journey and how it’s amassed an $80 million net worth, as reported by Assets Magazine.

Who Is Gayle King?

Born December 28th, 1954 in Chevy Chase, Maryland,  King graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in psychology, though her interests guided her on an alternate professional course.

Like any other journalist, King worked her way up in the ranks, from smaller newsrooms to national television. She began her career as a production assistant at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, where Winfrey was working as an anchor. The two quickly became life-long friends, sharing with Barbara Walters “She is the mother I never had; she is the sister everybody would want; she is the friend everybody deserves; I don’t know a better person.”

Following her time as a production assistant, she transitioned to weekend anchor and general-assignment reporter, and in 1981, was hired as a news anchor for WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut, staying in the role for 18 years. With her journalistic roots only growing deeper, King was able to transition through more reporter roles, from co-anchoring “CBS This Morning” to serving as a special correspondent for “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Her triumph wasn’t without failure, however; her very own talk show, “The Gayle King Show,” was canceled after one season due to low ratings. Despite the hurdles, she’s stayed the course and built herself to be a widely respected, reporter, journalist and TV personality.

What Is Gayle King’s Net Worth?

As of 2024, King has amassed an $80 million net worth. This is thanks to income from podcast earnings, book royalties, real estate assets and an impressive work check. She earns an annual salary of $12 million from her anchoring on CBS, which has allowed her to be the owner of several properties across the country: a beach house in Malibu, a condo in Miami, a cabin in the Poconos, and a farmhouse in upstate New York, amongst a few more.

She also has 14 luxury cars in her garage, including a Rolls Royce, Porsche Macan and Ferrari 812. Having built her journalistic career brick by brick, she’s certainly allowed herself to enjoy the fruits of her labor while actively donating yearly to charitable causes and splurging on her two children , Kirby Bumpus and William Bumpus Jr.