(MENAFN- Live Mint) Ever wondered who is the richest among all the TV hosts in the American entertainment industry? Hosting shows on television is not merely a game of ratings and charisma. It opens up the path towards generating staggering wealth. From Oprah Winfrey to Jimmy Fallon , these daytime and late-night stalwarts have made a name for themselves over the past few decades, besides turning their screen presence into grand empires.

Here's a list of top earning TV hosts in the United States.

Richest TV Hosts in the US Oprah Winfrey

According to Forbes, Winfrey has a total net worth of $3.1 billion. She is best known for her talk show, which aired for 25 years before coming to an end in 2011.

She introduced her cable channel OWN in 2011, but later decided to sell the majority of her stake in the company to Warner Bros. Discovery in 2020. In return, Oprah Winfrey was provided shares in the production banner.

Oprah is the proud owner of multiple houses in California, besides having more than a dozen properties in other regions. This includes her famous 2,100 acres of land in Hawaii.

Jay Leno

With earnings of $450 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Jay Leno continues to remain a prominent name among the TV hosts in the US.

Besides being a former late-night TV host, Leno has also made a name as a comedian, actor, writer as well as a producer. The major highlight from his decades-long career was The Tonight Show for NBC, which ran from 1992 until 2009 and later made a comeback in 2010. It finally ended in 2014.

Also Read: 'It's my mistake': Jay Leno on letting Jimmy Kimmel 'humiliate' him on his sho

Dr. Phil

Phil McGraw, popularly known among fans as Dr. Phil, holds a net worth of around $460 million, Parade Magazine reported. Most of his earnings are from his historic talk show that came to an end in January 2023.

Also, Phil is famous as a podcaster and author, besides producing several TV shows like The Doctors.

David Letterman

Letterman is a veteran in the field of late-night talk shows, having hosted his own for 33 years in total. Celebrity Net Worth states that he holds total earnings of up to $400 million.

His journey on Late Night with David Letterman kicked off in 1982 and drew curtains in 2015 with the Late Show with David Letterman.

Ellen DeGeneres

Forbes has estimated her net worth at $450 million in 2025. Ellen came out with The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2003. Soon after, she became a popular name in the TV world, hosting major A-listers from Hollywood on her show, which was on air till 2022.

Also Read: THIS billionaire surpassed Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos to be second richest person on Forbes real-time list

Jimmy Fallon

Fallon is known for Saturday Night Live, besides appearing in The Tonight Show. His net worth is estimated to be $70 million.

Fallon, who has bagged both Grammy and Emmy honors, is also a famous writer of children's books, besides collaborating with musicians.

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FAQs Who is the top-earning TV host worldwide?

Oprah Winfrey is the richest among all, having made a total fortune of $3.1 billion.

How many TV hosts have net worth over $1 billion?

Multiple reports suggest that only Oprah Winfrey has crossed the mark so far.

Who are the highest-earning TV hosts in the US?

These include Oprah Winfrey, Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon, among others.

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