Brian Kilmeade Net Worth 2025: The Untold Story Behind His Fox News Fortune

Brian Kilmeade's net worth sits between $12-14 million according to various sources, while some estimates go as high as $27 million. His financial success seems almost as fascinating as his media career, especially as one of Fox News' most recognizable faces.

Brian Kilmeade has built a strong presence at Fox News over two decades. He currently co-hosts the popular morning show Fox & Friends and runs his own radio program, The Brian Kilmeade Show. His Fox News salary reaches an impressive $4 million per year, which adds by a lot to his overall wealth.

This piece will reveal the complete financial picture behind this television and radio political commentator. We'll get into how his net worth has grown and trace his path from sports anchor to Fox News star. His ventures beyond broadcasting have helped build his fortune, and we'll explore those too.

Brian Kilmeade Net Worth in 2025: The Numbers Revealed

Brian Kilmeade's net worth reaches $12-14 million in 2025. Financial reporting sites offer different estimates. His role at Fox News serves as the cornerstone of his financial success.

How much is Brian Kilmeade worth today?

Different sources paint varying pictures of Kilmeade's wealth. Celebrity Net Worth reports $14 million, while other reliable sources suggest $12 million. Some reports even put his net worth at $27 million as of 2022.

These varying numbers stem from Kilmeade's multiple income streams. His wealth flows from:

• Multiple bestselling history and political books
• His nationally syndicated radio program
• Paid speaking events about media, politics, and history
• Brand deals and endorsements

His success story shows how media personalities can build wealth by using their platform across multiple channels.

What is Brian Kilmeade's salary at Fox News?

Reliable sources confirm Kilmeade makes $4 million annually at Fox News as co-host of Fox & Friends. Some reports suggest his yearly earnings might reach $6 million with performance bonuses and incentives.

This salary ranks him among the network's higher-paid personalities. He sits below the top-tier primetime hosts, yet his steady earnings over the years have added significantly to his wealth.

How his net worth has changed over the years

Kilmeade's wealth has grown steadily throughout his career. Available data shows this progression:

Year	Estimated Net Worth
2018	$18 million
2019	$21 million
2020	$24 million
2021	$26 million
2022	$27 million

Most current reports place his wealth between $12-14 million, despite these higher figures from one source. This difference might reflect varied valuation methods or challenges in assessing private finances accurately.

Kilmeade's success comes from his smart approach to career building. He combines TV hosting, radio broadcasting, writing books, and public speaking. This mix of income sources has helped his wealth grow steadily throughout his career.

From Sports Anchor to Fox News Star: Career Timeline

Brian Kilmeade's impressive net worth comes from a career that started nowhere near the Fox News spotlight. His experience from modest broadcasting beginnings to national prominence shows the step-by-step building of his media fortune.

Early roles in local TV and radio

At the time of his career start, Kilmeade worked as a correspondent on Channel One News, a daily national high school television news program. He later became an anchor and host at KHSL-TV in Chico, California. These early years helped shape his communication skills. He worked multiple jobs at once and earned just $25,000 working seven days a week.

Money was tight in those days. Kilmeade took several jobs to make ends meet, including selling health club memberships and waiting tables. His radio career began with co-hosting "The Jim Brown Show" on KLSD, an all-sports radio network.

Breakthrough with UFC and NewSport

The year 1993 marked a turning point when Kilmeade joined the announcing team for the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event and conducted post-fight interviews. His role expanded as he became the play-by-play announcer for UFC 2 and UFC 3 in 1994.

His career gained momentum as he became a feature reporter and anchor for NewSport. There, he hosted "NewSport Journal" and anchored "Scoreboard Central," a live half-hour general sports program.

Joining Fox & Friends in 1998

Kilmeade's career took off after joining Fox News in 1997. The following year brought his biggest break – becoming co-host of "Fox & Friends" with Steve Doocy and E.D. Hill. The show reached the top spot in morning cable TV ratings by 2000.

Hosting One Nation and other shows

Beyond "Fox & Friends," Kilmeade now hosts "One Nation with Brian Kilmeade" on Saturday nights. His media presence grew with "What Made America Great" on Fox Nation. Since 2006, he has managed to keep an impressive schedule, staying on air for 6 hours daily, 5 days a week.

Beyond the Screen: Books, Radio, and Other Ventures

Brian Kilmeade's impressive net worth stems from various ventures that showcase his entrepreneurial spirit in the digital world, beyond his Fox News salary.

Overview of his bestselling books

Kilmeade's literary portfolio includes seven books, and six of them have reached New York Times bestseller status. His writing journey started with sports-themed books "The Games Do Count" (2004) and "It's How You Play the Game" (2007).

The historical works brought him the most success. His notable books include "George Washington's Secret Six," "Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates," "Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans," "Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers," and "The President and the Freedom Fighter".

His latest work "Teddy and Booker T.: How Two American Icons Blazed a Path for Racial Equality" came out in November 2023.

These books have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, making Kilmeade a respected author beyond his broadcasting career.

The Brian Kilmeade Show on radio

Kilmeade hosts his nationally syndicated radio program, "The Brian Kilmeade Show," on Fox News Talk from 9AM to noon ET daily after his morning duties on Fox & Friends. His program features engaging debates about current news, politics, sports, and entertainment.

Talkers Magazine ranked the show among the Top 10 Most Powerful Shows in Radio. The podcast version features 2,039 episodes that run about 75 minutes each and holds a 4.2-star rating from 1,801 reviews.

Speaking engagements and brand deals

Speaking fees between $30,000 to $50,000 per appearance have made Kilmeade a popular choice on the speaking circuit. He shares his expertise on media, broadcasting, journalism, sports, politics, and history.

New York serves as his base while he travels for corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, and other performances. His income streams have broadened through various endorsement deals, adding to his media earnings.

Kilmeade's financial success comes from his smart blend of broadcasting, authorship, speaking, and endorsements. This strategy has helped build his substantial financial portfolio.

Controversies, Criticism, and Public Perception

Brian Kilmeade's career at Fox News has brought him wealth, but his controversial statements have largely shaped how the public views him.

Notable on-air remarks and backlash

The Fox News host's comments have repeatedly sparked outrage. His early career featured remarks against Americans marrying across cultures, while he praised Sweden's "pure genes." He also made sweeping claims that "all terrorists are Muslim."

His comments about immigrant families were particularly harsh: "These aren't our kids … it's not like [Trump] is doing this to the people of Idaho or Texas."

Relationship with Donald Trump

Kilmeade's support for Trump comes with occasional disagreements on crucial issues. His March 2025 social media post challenged Trump's Ukraine stance: "Can we all remember [Vladimir Putin] is the bad guy… They invaded — they kidnap kids".

He also pushed back on Trump's claims about Cracker Barrel's logo change, stating: "I'm not giving Trump credit for this, I'm giving Fox credit".

Recent controversies and public apologies

The host's most damaging controversy erupted in September 2025 during a "Fox & Friends" segment about homelessness. After co-host Lawrence Jones suggested jailing those who refuse help, Kilmeade responded: "Or involuntary lethal injection, or something.

Just kill 'em". His words drew fierce criticism from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, which demanded his "immediate termination". He later apologized on air and called his comment a "very callous remark".

Conclusion

Brian Kilmeade has built a net worth of $12-14 million, going from a struggling sports broadcaster to a Fox News powerhouse. His $4 million yearly Fox News salary is just one part of his diverse income sources. His story shows how building a personal brand on multiple platforms can lead to financial success.

He has made use of his fame to create new money-making ventures. His seven books have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, with six becoming New York Times bestsellers. His radio show ranks among the top 10 most influential programs. Speaking engagements that bring in $30,000-$50,000 per appearance have added to his wealth.

His career hasn't been without its share of controversy. Public outcry has followed his remarks about immigrants, Muslims, and homeless people. Yet he keeps his position at Fox News and sometimes breaks from party lines, as shown by his criticism of Donald Trump.

Brian Kilmeade's full story reveals a media figure who amassed wealth through hard work and smart planning. He went from waiting tables and selling gym memberships to becoming one of Fox News' most familiar faces.

People may see him as controversial or respect him as a commentator, but he has turned his media platform into impressive financial success. His net worth story proves just as interesting as his on-air personality.

FAQs

Q1. What is Brian Kilmeade's annual salary at Fox News?

Brian Kilmeade's annual salary at Fox News is reported to be $4 million, primarily for his role as co-host on Fox & Friends. Some sources suggest his total compensation could reach up to $6 million per year when including bonuses and other incentives.

Q2. How has Brian Kilmeade's net worth changed over the years?

Brian Kilmeade's net worth has shown steady growth throughout his career. While estimates vary, most current reports place his wealth in the range of $12-14 million. This increase reflects his diverse income streams from television, radio, book sales, and speaking engagements.

Q3. What are Brian Kilmeade's main sources of income beyond his Fox News salary?

Beyond his Fox News salary, Kilmeade earns income from his nationally syndicated radio program, authorship of bestselling books, paid speaking engagements, and brand endorsements. His books have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, contributing significantly to his wealth.

Q4. How much does Brian Kilmeade charge for speaking engagements?

Brian Kilmeade commands between $30,000 to $50,000 per speaking engagement. He is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from media and broadcasting to journalism, sports, politics, and history.

Q5. Has Brian Kilmeade faced any major controversies during his career?

Yes, Kilmeade has faced several controversies throughout his career. He has made controversial statements about immigrants, Muslims, and interracial marriages. Most recently, in September 2025, he sparked widespread condemnation for a remark about homeless people, which led to calls for his termination and a subsequent on-air apology.