Megyn Marie Kelly (born November 18, 1970) is an American commentator and media personality. She hosts The Megyn Kelly Show, a daily podcast airing on SiriusXM’s Triumph channel, with 2.3 million subscribers. Previously, she worked as a talk show host at Fox News from 2004 to 2017 and as a host and correspondent with NBC News from 2017 to 2018.
At Fox News, she hosted America Live, America’s Newsroom, and The Kelly File. In 2014, she was named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people.
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Megyn Kelly Net Worth
Megyn Kelly has a net worth of $45 million. At Fox News, she earned a peak salary of $8 million per year, making her one of the network’s top earners. However, her income increased exponentially after moving to NBC with a three-year contract worth $69 million, equivalent to $23 million per year.
After her controversial departure from NBC, Kelly was initially set to receive the full $69 million, though her final severance package was reportedly around $30 million, significantly less than anticipated.
Early Life
Megyn Kelly was born in Champaign, Illinois, to Edward Francis Kelly, an educator, and Linda DeMaio, a homemaker. She has an older sister, Suzanne, and an older brother, Pete. Kelly is of Italian, German, and Irish descent and was raised Catholic.
After attending Tecumseh Elementary School and Bethlehem Central High School, she earned a degree in political science from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School in 1992 and a J.D. from Albany Law School in 1995. She worked as an attorney before transitioning to media.
Career
Megyn Kelly began her television career in 2003, working for an ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., covering stories like the 2004 presidential election. In 2004, she joined Fox News, where she hosted Kelly’s Court and appeared as a guest on shows like The O’Reilly Factor.
In 2010, she started hosting America Live and later The Kelly File. In 2017, Kelly joined NBC News, hosting Megyn Kelly Today and Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly, but left in 2018 following controversial remarks.
Personal life
Kelly married anesthesiologist Daniel Kendall in 2001, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2006. In March 2024, she revealed she was undergoing the Catholic annulment process. In 2008, she married Douglas Brunt, a former cybersecurity executive turned novelist.
They have three children: Yates (2009), Yardley (2011), and Thatcher (2013), all conceived through in vitro fertilization. The family splits time between Connecticut and a New Jersey home. Kelly is a lifelong Catholic and has Raynaud’s disease. She lost her sister, Suzanne Crossley, in 2022 to a heart attack.
How did Megyn Kelly become famous?
Megyn Kelly rose to fame at Fox News, becoming a prominent figure in political commentary and investigative journalism. She joined the network in 2004 as a legal correspondent before transitioning to hosting roles. Kelly became known for her strong on-air presence and insightful coverage, gaining recognition as a leading voice in the media.
Her rise to prominence came through her work on shows like America Live and The Kelly File, where she tackled key political issues and earned a reputation for hard-hitting journalism.
Conclusion
Megyn Kelly’s journey from a lawyer to a renowned journalist and media personality illustrates her versatility and influence. Her financial success, coupled with her contributions to journalism and philanthropy, underscore her complex and noteworthy career.
FAQs About Megyn Kelly
- What is Megyn Kelly’s net worth?
- Approximately $45 million.
- What major networks has Megyn Kelly worked for?
- Fox News and NBC News.
- What is the title of Megyn Kelly’s autobiography?
- “Settle for More.”
- How has Megyn Kelly contributed to philanthropy?
- She has supported victims of abuse and spoken out about harassment issues.
- What was Megyn Kelly’s highest annual salary at Fox News?
- $8 million per year.