PAY SCALE

They’re Worth How Much? TV Anchors By the Numbers

The Daily Beast divided the individual salaries of some of the top talking heads by the number of viewers their shows bring in. The results might surprise you.

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-tease_fl2vzo — Cooper. Sawyer. Blitzer. They have multimillion-dollar contracts and perfect hair. But which newsmakers deliver the most bang for their boss’s bucks? To find out, The Daily Beast divided the individual salaries of some of the top talking heads by the number of viewers their shows bring in. The results might surprise you.

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-cooper_w4vyeg — Anderson Cooper 360°

Network: CNN

Salary: $11 million

Total viewers: 608,000

$ Per viewer: $18.09

John Shearer / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-scarborough_pnhpke — Morning Joe

Network: MSNBC

Salary: $4 million

Total viewers: 367,000

$ Per viewer: $10.90

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-morgan_skmfcf — Piers Morgan Tonight

Network: CNN

Salary: $6 million

Total viewers: 560,000

$ Per viewer: $10.71
AP Photo

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-hannity_r0f9rd — Hannity

Network: Fox News

Salary: $15 million

Total viewers: 1.939 million

$ Per viewer: $7.74
AP Photo

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-blitzer_pyifsz — The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

Network: CNN

Salary: $3 million

Total viewers: 411,000

$ Per viewer: $7.30

Don Emmert, AFP / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-matthews_wxh5pw — Hardball with Chris Matthews

Network: MSNBC

Salary: $5 million

Total viewers: 803,000

$ Per viewer: $6.23

Jim Watson, AFP / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-lauer_qszyui — TODAY

Network: NBC

Salary: $25 million

Total viewers: 4.245 million

$ Per viewer: $5.89

NBC NewsWire

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-brzezinski_dhd6of — Morning Joe

Network: MSNBC

Salary: $2 million

Total viewers: 367,000

$ Per viewer: $5.45

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-smith_g46l9o — Fox Report and Studio B

Network: Fox News

Salary: $10 million

Total viewers: 1.877 million

$ Per viewer: $5.33

Richard Drew / AP Photo

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-burnett_vpwtff — OutFront

Network: CNN

Salary: $2 million

Total viewers: 506,000

$ Per viewer: $3.95

Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-schultz_lsronf — The Ed Show

Network: MSNBC

Salary: $4 million

Total viewers: 1.024 million

$ Per viewer: $3.91

Virginia Sherwood / MSNBC

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-rose_ben0xu — CBS This Morning

Network: CBS

Combined salary: $8 million

Total viewers: 2.341 million

$ Per viewer: $3.41

Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-baier_zjwzwk — Special Report with Bret Baier

Network: Fox News

Salary: $7 million

Total viewers: 2.076 million

$ Per viewer: $3.37

Charles Ommanney / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-fox-and-friends_jk1hs7 — Fox & Friends

Network: Fox News

Salary: $2 million average

Total viewers: 1.044 million

$ Per Viewer: $1.92

Henry S. Dziekan III / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-sorkin_n3mxsr — Squawk Box

Network: CNBC

Salary: $250,000

Total viewers: 140,000

$ Per Viewer: $1.79

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-quick_ghwiuv — Squawk Box

Network: CNBC

Salary: $250,000

Total viewers: 140,000

$ Per viewer: $1.79

Jin Lee / AP Photo

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-kernen_qvp8h1 — Squawk Box

Network: CNBC

Salary: $250,000

Total viewers: 140,000

$ Per viewer: $1.79

Kelly Conaty / NBC

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-williams_ztpngo — NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

Network: NBC

Salary: $13 million

Total viewers: 7.736 million

$ Per viewer: $1.68

Charles Sykes / NBC

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-roker_kjm9bl — TODAY

Network: NBC

Salary: $7 million

Total viewers: 4.245 million

$ Per viewer: $1.65

Dave Hogan / NBC

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-sawyer_zaqdtg — World News with Diane Sawyer

Network: ABC

Salary: $12 million

Total viewers: 7.32 million

$ Per viewer: $1.63

Ida Mae Astute / ABC

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-roberts_wfvnnc — Good Morning America

Network: ABC

Salary: $6 million

Total viewers: 4.598 million

$ Per viewer: $1.30

Ida Mae Astute / ABC

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-Stephanopolous_ds0yky — Good Morning America

Network: ABC

Salary: $5 million

Total viewers: 4.598 million

$ Per Viewer: $1.09

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-pelley_ux55sz — CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley

Network: CBS

Salary: $5 million

Total viewers: 5.78 million

$ Per viewer: $0.87

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-king_v4wcx8 — CBS This Morning

Network: CBS

Salary: $2 million

Total viewers: 2.341 million

$ Per viewer: $0.85

Frederick M. Brown / Gety Images

galleries/2012/08/08/they-re-worth-how-much-tv-anchors-by-the-numbers/highest-paid-anchors-guthrie_uvhgpa — TODAY

Network: NBC

Salary: $2 million

Total viewers: 4.245 million

$ Per viewer: $0.47

Peter Kramer / ABC

TRENDING NOW