Top 10 highest-paid TV hosts in 2025: sports legend takes #1 spot, earns over Rs 338 crore

But behind the glamour, pay cuts and tougher contract negotiations are becoming the norm. Many longtime hosts now face pressure to justify their pay by taking on extra shows or added responsibilities. Fallon and Kimmel, for example, now juggle their talk shows with new game show gigs.

Meanwhile, TV’s superstar chefs continue to dominate. Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, and Gordon Ramsay each pull in around $33 million a year, thanks to multi-show empires and giant overall deals that guarantee huge annual payouts. These agreements often bundle together everything from show fees to product lines—but require hosts to stay constantly busy.

Below is a fresh look at the top 10 highest-paid TV hosts in 2025:

Tom Brady – $37.5 million

 

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Fox’s massive bet on the NFL legend goes far beyond the commentary booth. Part of Brady’s pay comes in company stock, which has shot up in value since he joined. Along with calling games, he represents Fox at high-profile events, making him one of the most expensive hires in TV history.

Guy Fieri – $33 million

 

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Fieri’s three-year, $100 million deal turned him into the Food Network’s biggest star. His long-running hit Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and a string of other Food Network and WBD shows keep him at the centre of food television, powering a mini-empire he has built over nearly two decades.

Bobby Flay – $33 million

 

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Flay’s renewed deal matches Fieri’s huge annual payout and covers everything he does—hosting, producing, appearances, and even parts of his business ventures. To hit those numbers, he stays constantly active, with new shows like Bobby’s Triple Threat and returning hits like Beat Bobby Flay.

Gordon Ramsay – $33 million

 

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Ramsay’s world of cooking competitions for Fox—from Hell’s Kitchen to MasterChef—earned him a top-tier overall deal. Unlike many TV chefs, his success extends outside television too, with Michelin-starred restaurants and a massive TikTok following boosting his brand even further.

John Oliver – $30 million

 

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Oliver’s Last Week Tonight remains a major draw for HBO, routinely sweeping awards and helping attract subscribers. His deal is nearly double what network late-night hosts make, thanks to the show’s influence and popularity on streaming—and, after some pushback, its return to timely YouTube uploads.

Judy Sheindlin – $30 million

 

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Judge Judy may have left her iconic syndicated show, but she has not slowed down. Now with Amazon, she hosts multiple new court programs, and a recent deal allows these shows to air on local TV stations, too. This keeps her earnings high and her courtroom presence as strong as ever.

Ryan Seacrest – $29 million

 

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Seacrest remains one of the busiest people on television. He now hosts Wheel of Fortune, continues on American Idol, fronts ABC’s New Year’s Eve special, and still runs his weekday radio show that pays more than $10 million alone. His schedule barely leaves room to breathe.

Michael Strahan – $26 million

 

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Strahan’s TV income now far surpasses his NFL earnings. He holds major roles at both ABC and Fox—appearing on Good Morning America, hosting The $100,000 Pyramid, and analysing NFL games. He also earns from personal appearances and his media company, SMAC Entertainment.

Sean Hannity – $25 million

 

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Hannity has been at Fox News since the very beginning, making him the longest-running primetime host in cable history. But his biggest pay cheque actually comes from radio. His syndicated show, which he partly owns, brings in more than $30 million a year.

Rachel Maddow – $25 million

 

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Despite a reported pay cut during her 2024 contract renewal, Maddow remains MSNBC’s signature personality. She now appears on air once a week but anchors the MS NOW brand and expands her reach through podcasts and bestselling books—still keeping her among TV’s biggest earners.