The 8 Richest Daytime Talk Show Hosts

When It Comes to Net Worth, These Daytime Hosts Score Big

How's that song go? Money, money, money. There's plenty of that floating around the world of daytime television. Though TV talk shows give producers a quick way to make an inexpensive and compelling TV show, they certainly don't skimp when it comes to paying their talent.

The women and men of daytime television make a considerable amount of money. Beyond their salaries, many have built up years of extra income through endorsements, books, and gigs outside of their shows. Let's take a look at the net worth of the biggest names in daytime talk.

01
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Ellen DeGeneres: $450 million

People's Choice Awards 2017 - Press Room
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According to the latest statistics, Ellen DeGeneres, the popular host of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (which premiered in 2003) and perhaps the true inheritor of Oprah Winfrey's audience, is the daytime talk show host with the largest net worth.

Both her salary and net worth have grown considerably recently. Stand-up and other investments have her counting a $450 million net worth; Forbes magazine listed her as the 15th top highest paid celebrity, making $87.5 million in the first half of 2018.

02
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Dr. Phil McGraw: $400 million

Dr. Phil McGraw
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Oprah Winfrey protégé, in a way, Dr. Phil McGraw, host of "The Dr. Phil Show," has certainly made a name of his own in the talk show scene. His daytime talk show program debuted in 2002 and at his peak, he earned $88 million a year. His presence so high in the list may be a surprise for many, who would expect Whoopi Goldberg or another seemingly more popular host to take top honors. But remember, this is all about net worth, not popularity.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Dr. Phil has a net worth of $400 million; he makes a salary of $77.5 million, making him the 22nd best-paid celebrity on Forbes magazine's list. Not all of that is from his show, of course. He also has a series of popular branded products, numerous books, a private practice, and other sources of income. 

03
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Sharon Osbourne: $220 million

Talk show host Sharon Osbourne
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It's no surprise that "The Talk" co-host Sharon Osbourne makes it pretty high on this list. Her work with her superstar and rock icon husband, Ozzy Osbourne, has helped her build an envious nest egg. After all, she's the creator of Ozzfest, one of the most popular touring music festivals ever created.

Now she collects a good wage for her daytime work, which is $1 million a year. That's only a little cushion to an already successful career that has accumulated to a net worth of $220 million.

04
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Steve Harvey: $160 million

Talk show host Steve Harvey
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Talk show host Steve Harvey has a lot of things going on beyond "The Steve Harvey Show." While his show is not as big and popular as "Ellen" or "The View," Harvey cracks the top five because of his successful stand-up, television production, and publication career. He currently hosts and executive produces four concurrently running programs and has won five Daytime Emmy Awards for his work.

Forbes listed Harvey as the #63 highest paid celebrity in 2018, at $44 million.

05
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Kelly Ripa: $120 million

Talk show host Kelly Ripa
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The host of "Live with Kelly and Ryan," Kelly Ripa has gone from Kathie Lee Gifford's replacement to the sole driver for the show. She gained notice with Regis Philbin and hung on with Michael Strahan before taking the show on by herself. In 2017, Ryan Seacrest became her new co-host.

Between endorsement deals and other investments outside of Live, Ripa has a $120 million dollar net worth; and an annual salary of $22 million. 

06
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Wendy Williams: $60 million

Wendy Williams Hosts The Match Bachelor Showcase Benefiting The American Heart Association
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Talk show host Wendy Williams has scored high ratings and a solid spot on TV and radio. That, along with endorsement deals, has upped her net worth from $17.5 million just a few years ago to $60 million today. Her current salary for all of her work including "The Wendy Williams Show" is $15 million per year.

Don't forget that Williams was a popular radio show host for many years. That popularity built a strong brand that has put Williams on this list. 

07
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Rachael Ray: $80 million

Talk show host Rachael Ray
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Daytime talk show host Rachael Ray has a lot going on and there's always something good cooking up. Ray is fascinating in that Daytime Emmy Award-winning "The Rachael Ray Show" continues to stay strong in the ratings while Ray remains mostly under the radar as a daytime personality.

Never mind the Emmys and early notoriety. Still, her food empire—cookware, cookbooks, cooking shows—has given her an $80 million net worth.

08
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Whoopi Goldberg: $45 million

Academy Museum Conversation at The Times Center, Featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Brougher and Renzo Piano
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"The View" co-host is well known for her stand-up and acting career, which helps fuel her $45 million net worth, with an annual salary of $5 million per year. But she's come into her own as a talk show host and moderator of the popular morning talk show.