The 10 Wealthiest Daytime Talk Show Hosts
How's that song go? Money, money, money. There's plenty of that floating around daytime television. And though daytime TV talk shows give producers a quick way to make an inexpensive, but compelling, TV show, they certainly don't skimp when it comes to paying their talent. The women and men of daytime television make a lot of cool coin. Here are the top 10 richest, as measured by net worth:
An Oprah Winfrey protégé, in a way, Dr. Phil McGraw, host of The Dr. Phil Show, is No. 2 on our list holding his position from last year. A surprise for many, who would expect Whoopi Goldberg or another seemingly more popular host to come in at No. 2. But remember, this is all about net worth, not popularity. Dr. Phil has a net worth of $280 million. That's not all from his show, of course, but a series of popular branded products, a private practice and so much more.More »
It's no surprise that The Talk co-host makes it pretty high on this list. Her work with her superstar, rock icon husband, Ozzy Osbourne, has helped her build an envious nest egg. After all, she's the creator of Ozzfest, one of the most popular touring music festivals ever created. Now she collects a good wage for her daytime work, but it's only a little bit more to an already successful career.More »
Talk show host Steve Harvey enters the list at No. 4. While his show is not as big and popular as Ellen or The View, Harvey cracks the top 5 because of his successful stand-up, television production and publication career.More »
The View's Rosie O'Donnell returns to the list after a hiatus. She was on the last back when she co-hosted The View in the mid-2000s. And her new show on the Oprah Winfrey Network didn't last long enough to get her back on this list. But now what she's returned to daytime talk, we welcome Ms. O'Donnell to No. 5 on our list.
Host of Live with Kelly and Michael, Kelly Ripa has gone from Kathie Lee Gifford's replacement to driver of Live. The show wouldn't be the same without her at all. Now, with endorsement deals and other investments outside of Live, Ripa rips into the net worth Top 10 at No. 7.More »
Latifah has only hosted her own talk show for a year, so it may come as a surprise to see her beat out hosts like Dr. Oz and Whoopi Goldberg. But like Sharon Osbourne, we have to remember that Latifah's net worth is built on an iconic hip hop career and a fairly successful film and television career.More »
Talk show host Wendy Williams has scored high ratings and solid spot on TV and radio over the last few years. And that, along with endorsement deals, has upped her net worth from $17.5 million about two years ago to $60 million today. Don't forget that Williams was a popular radio show host for many years, and that popularity built a strong brand that has put Williams on this list.More »
1. Ellen DeGeneres: $285 million
Ellen DeGeneres, host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, may be the true inheritor of Oprah Winfrey's audience. She's certainly the inheritor of the top spot in this net worth battle, taking over for Oprah, who is no longer a daytime talk show host. But even though she may be the next darling of daytime, she hasn't quite matched Oprah's net worth. While her salary may not top other hosts, her net worth has grown in leaps and bounds since our list started. Stand-up and other investments have her counting a $285 million net worth.More »
2. Dr. Phil McGraw: $280 million
An Oprah Winfrey protégé, in a way, Dr. Phil McGraw, host of The Dr. Phil Show, is No. 2 on our list holding his position from last year. A surprise for many, who would expect Whoopi Goldberg or another seemingly more popular host to come in at No. 2. But remember, this is all about net worth, not popularity. Dr. Phil has a net worth of $280 million. That's not all from his show, of course, but a series of popular branded products, a private practice and so much more.More »
3. Sharon Osbourne: $220 million
It's no surprise that The Talk co-host makes it pretty high on this list. Her work with her superstar, rock icon husband, Ozzy Osbourne, has helped her build an envious nest egg. After all, she's the creator of Ozzfest, one of the most popular touring music festivals ever created. Now she collects a good wage for her daytime work, but it's only a little bit more to an already successful career.More »
4. Steve Harvey: $100 million
Talk show host Steve Harvey enters the list at No. 4. While his show is not as big and popular as Ellen or The View, Harvey cracks the top 5 because of his successful stand-up, television production and publication career.More »
5. Rosie O'Donnell: $100 million
The View's Rosie O'Donnell returns to the list after a hiatus. She was on the last back when she co-hosted The View in the mid-2000s. And her new show on the Oprah Winfrey Network didn't last long enough to get her back on this list. But now what she's returned to daytime talk, we welcome Ms. O'Donnell to No. 5 on our list.
6. Kelly Ripa: $75 million
Host of Live with Kelly and Michael, Kelly Ripa has gone from Kathie Lee Gifford's replacement to driver of Live. The show wouldn't be the same without her at all. Now, with endorsement deals and other investments outside of Live, Ripa rips into the net worth Top 10 at No. 7.More »
7. Rachael Ray: $60 million
Daytime talk show host Rachael Ray has slipped slightly in rankings, dropping to No. 7. Ray is fascinating in that her show continues to stay strong in the ratings while Ray remains mostly under the radar as a daytime personality. Never mind the Emmys and early notoriety. Still, her food empire - cookware, cookbooks, cooking shows - has given her a $60 million net worth.More »
8. Queen Latifah: $60 million
Latifah has only hosted her own talk show for a year, so it may come as a surprise to see her beat out hosts like Dr. Oz and Whoopi Goldberg. But like Sharon Osbourne, we have to remember that Latifah's net worth is built on an iconic hip hop career and a fairly successful film and television career.More »
9. Wendy Williams: $60 million
Talk show host Wendy Williams has scored high ratings and solid spot on TV and radio over the last few years. And that, along with endorsement deals, has upped her net worth from $17.5 million about two years ago to $60 million today. Don't forget that Williams was a popular radio show host for many years, and that popularity built a strong brand that has put Williams on this list.More »
10. Whoopi Goldberg: $45 million
The View co-host is well known for her stand up and acting career, which helps fuel her $45 million net worth. But she's come into her own as a talk show host and moderator of the popular morning talk show. Will Whoopi get her own talk show sometime in the future? Possibly. And by saying so, we're really just starting a rumor.More »
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