Megyn Kelly is a rapidly rising star at Fox News, her contract expires next year, and she has hired a new agent and publicity team to help her negotiate a hefty raise. Kelly is set to earn $15 million this year, The Wall Street Journal reports, and is seeking more than $20 million a year for her next contract, about the same as fellow Fox News star Bill O'Reilly makes (though O'Reilly's contract is up for renewal next year, too). Fox News CEO Rupert Murdoch tells The Journal, which he owns, that he is monitoring Kelly's contract talks "every minute of the day" and hopes to sign a new contract "very soon," but if Fox News and Kelly can't reach agreement, "we have a deep bench of talent, many of whom would give their right arm for her spot."
CNN and ABC are reportedly very interested in poaching Kelly, with ABC reportedly considering her for Good Morning America or an evening news magazine. Kelly, a lawyer by training, has gained notoriety through tough on-air exchanges with Donald Trump and, on Tuesday, Trump advocate Newt Gingrich. There has been speculation that with former Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes' ouster, the conservative cable news network might take a more centrist turn, and Kelly would be a key part of that strategy. Murdoch shot that idea down, telling The Journal "we're going to want Bill [O'Reilly] to stay with us," and "we're not changing direction... that would be business suicide."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Is this the end of cigarettes?Today's Big Question An FDA rule targets nicotine addiction
-
A beginner's guide to exploring the AmazonThe Week Recommends Trek carefully — and respectfully — in the world's largest rainforest
-
What is the future of the International Space Station?In the Spotlight A fiery retirement, launching the era of private space stations
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor dealSpeed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US SteelSpeed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons mergerSpeed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battleSpeed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rallySpeed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraudSpeed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strikeSpeed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
