Bill O’Reilly was once the undisputed king of cable news For over 16 years, his primetime Fox News show The O’Reilly Factor pulled in monster ratings and ad revenue But how much did Fox pay its mega star host at the height of his career? Let’s take a deep dive into O’Reilly’s massive salary and how he became the highest paid personality on cable news.
O’Reilly’s Sky-High Salary at Fox
At his peak, Bill O’Reilly earned an estimated $18 million per year from Fox News. According to reports, this made him:
- The highest paid host in cable news by a wide margin.
- More than 5 times higher paid than MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow at $7 million annually.
- His annual income hit $37 million when including book deals and speaking fees.
To put into perspective how much Fox paid O’Reilly, their second highest paid host Sean Hannity made $12 million and Megyn Kelly earned $15 million in 2016.
So why did Fox pay O’Reilly so handsomely? Simple – his show was an ad revenue powerhouse thanks to monster ratings.
Huge Ad Revenue Generated by The O’Reilly Factor
Between 2014-2016 alone, The O’Reilly Factor generated a staggering $446 million in ad revenue. That’s over $100 million annually from a single hour of TV per day.
The show’s ratings also dominated cable news. In early 2017, O’Reilly averaged 3.7 million viewers per night – the highest on cable news for 16 consecutive years.
With numbers like that, it’s no wonder Fox was happy to pay O’Reilly $18 million. The exposure and ratings justified his mega-salary.
The End of O’Reilly’s Fox Tenure
In April 2017, the New York Times reported that 5 women received $13 million total in settlements over sexual harassment accusations against O’Reilly.
In the aftermath, over 50 advertisers pulled ads from O’Reilly’s show. With ad revenue drying up and public scrutiny mounting, Fox soon parted ways with O’Reilly after over 20 years on the network.
- O’Reilly denied wrongdoing related to the allegations.
- Individual settlements ranged from $1 million to $9 million.
- Major advertisers that pulled out included BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Hyundai, Allstate and T.Rowe Price.
- Fox canceled The O’Reilly Factor months later due to loss of sponsors.
O’Reilly’s Salary and Career Before Fox News
Before becoming a cable news juggernaut, O’Reilly had a long career in broadcast journalism:
- Got his start in local TV in Scranton, PA in the late 1970s.
- Transitioned to national stage with CBS and ABC in the 1980s.
- Hosted tabloid TV show Inside Edition from 1989-1995.
- Also worked as a print journalist for CBS News and USA Today.
He brought over 20 years of experience when starting at Fox News in 1996.
O’Reilly’s Post-Fox Career and Income
After leaving Fox in disgrace, O’Reilly has crafted a smaller but lucrative media empire:
- Launched a subscription online show No Spin News in 2019.
- Continues to publish best-selling books like Killing Crazy Horse (2020).
- Hosts a podcast called The O’Reilly Update 3 days a week.
- Tours with Doug Brinkley on The History Tour live show.
- Leverages his large social media following for sponsorships.
He likely earns a fraction of his former Fox salary, but still commands seven-figure book deals and has paying subscribers.
Fox’s Big Severance Payout to O’Reilly
Even after his firing, Fox owed O’Reilly around $18 million in severance pay, according to reports.
This likely stemmed from the contract extension he signed just before his termination. So ironically, Fox continued paying O’Reilly for a period after his departure.
Key Takeaways on O’Reilly’s Massive Fox Salary
- At peak, O’Reilly earned $18 million annually, making him the highest paid cable host.
- His show generated over $400 million in ad revenue from 2014-2016.
- Sexual harassment settlements ended his Fox career, despite his denial of wrongdoing.
- Post-Fox, he earns income from books, tours, subscriptions, but far below his Fox salary.
- Fox owed him a large severance payout even after terminating him.
Bill O’Reilly’s cable news career ended in controversy, but during his ratings reign, Fox paid him a salary befitting the King of Cable. Even today, he continues leveraging his brand into seven-figure deals.
O’Reilly Reports on Celebrities Who Pledged to Leave the U.S.
FAQ
What happened with Bill o reilly and Fox News?
What happened to the O’Reilly Factor?
How much did Fox News Pay Bill O’Reilly?
A New York Times investigation published on Saturday revealed that Fox News and Bill O’Reilly have paid a cumulative $13 million to five women since 2002 to settle harassment allegations brought against the Fox host.
What was Bill O’Reilly’s annual salary?
Bill O’Reilly had netted Fox News almost $450 million in ad revenues for his show from 2014 to 2016, according to Kantar Media. He had also signed a new contract prior to being forced out that would have bumped his salary to $25 million a year as of February 2017.
How much did Bill O’Reilly get paid for sexual harassment?
Bill O’Reilly was the source of a number of separate sexual harassment claims over his 20-plus years at Fox News. The largest settlement, totaling $32 million, was paid to former legal analyst Lis Wiehl. Other settlements, totaling $13 million, were made to resolve other claims.
Why did Bill O’Reilly leave Fox News?
Bill O’Reilly left Fox News following a New York Times article that detailed several large settlements made with women who had accused him of sexual misconduct. Here’s a closer look at Bill O’Reilly, his rise to fame, and where the former Fox News anchor’s net worth sits following his ousting.
How much did Bill O’Reilly pay to Lis Wiehl?
Bill O’Reilly paid $32 million to settle a sexual misconduct allegation with Fox News colleague Lis Wiehl. The staggering sum was revealed in a New York Times exposé on Saturday. The story immediately raised new questions about the ongoing Justice Department investigation into Fox News.
Why did Bill O’Reilly lose his job at Fox?
Bill O’Reilly lost his job at Fox in April after reports of sexual harassment allegations and settlements. The $32 million payout to one of the accusers is the highest known settlement. Two sources confirmed the $32 million figure to CNN on condition of anonymity.