Hoda Kotb’s Surprising Today Show Exit May Everything to Do with Behind the Scenes Financial Discussions

On Thursday, Hoda Kotb caught fans off guard when she made the tearful announcement that she’d be leaving the Today Show in January 2025. This big decision came after 60th birthday in August. Kotb, who has been a beloved figure on the show, first joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline NBC. Her career has been marked by her empathetic interviewing style and ability to connect with audiences across the country.

Prince Harry's Unusual Pit Stop Has People Wondering If He Just Reignited His Teen Rebellion Phase

On a September 26 episode of Today , she shared her realization, saying, “I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new.” Her decision reflects a broader trend of not just high-profile media figures, but women working in all types of fields reassessing their careers post-pandemic.

According to insiders, Kotb’s decision wasn’t solely driven by her understandable desire to spend more time with her family. It was also influenced by being asked to take a pay cut from her $20 million salary, per OK! Magazine.

And while it might seem out of touch to balk at a $20 million salary, let’s put it in perspective. Kotb joined the show as a co-anchor in 2018. During her tenure, she played a crucial role in covering major events, from presidential elections to global crises.

She started at $7 million-a-year contract, but there were reports that her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, makes well over $8 million a year, according to The Daily Beast .

To really put it all in perspective, in 2016, just the first two hours of the Today Show raked in a jaw-dropping $508.8 million in advertising revenue. It’s hard to negate Kotb’s influence as one of the faces of the talk show on that massive revenue stream.

Kotb’s choice to stand her ground is a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for fair pay, not just for women in top jobs, but for working women in every field.

Looking ahead, Kotb says she wants to branch into storytelling and philanthropy, including writing more books and producing documentaries. So while her departure marks the end of an era for the morning show, it also the beginning of new opportunities for Kotb to explore new interests on her own terms.

Before you go, click here to check out the highest paid celebrity women today.