Lester Holt bio: Nationality, wife, salary, net worth, family, ethnicity

Lester Holt's bio reveals a distinguished career as a respected American journalist and news anchor. Known for his calm demeanour and authoritative reporting, Holt has become a household name in broadcast journalism. Beyond his professional achievements, fans are often curious about Lester Holt’s lifestyle.

Key takeaways

• Lester Holt is an American journalist and news anchor known for his credibility and professionalism.
• He is married and maintains a private family life.
• Holt’s ethnicity includes African American heritage.
• He earns a substantial salary as a leading news anchor.
• His net worth reflects decades of success in broadcast journalism.

Lester Holt profile summary

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Lester Holt's bio

Lester Holt is a respected journalist and former anchor of NBC Nightly News. Born in 1959, Lester Holt’s age reflects decades of experience in journalism.

He holds a political science degree from California State University, Sacramento. His parents are Lester Don Holt Sr. and Alene Holt, with his father working as a police officer in California—a role that helped shape Holt’s strong sense of justice and community throughout his career.

What is Lester Holt's nationality?

Lester Holt’s nationality is American. Born in California, he has built a prominent career as a trusted news anchor in the U.S. His American nationality is central to his identity and connects him closely with the audience he informs.

What is Lester Holt's ancestry?

Lester Holt’s ethnicity is African American. He comes from a heritage that has played a significant role in shaping his identity and perspective as a journalist. His background contributes to the diversity and representation he brings to American broadcast news.

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Is Lester Holt married?

Yes, Lester Holt is married. His current wife is Carol Hagen. While there is little public information about a first wife, Lester Holt is known to have two children. Fans often search for details about his wife and children, but he keeps his family life relatively private.

Here’s a notable quote from Lester Holt about his family, from a 2015 interview with People magazine:

"My wife, Carol, and our two daughters are my rock. Balancing family and a demanding career is never easy, but their support keeps me grounded."

Education

Lester grew up in Marine County, California. He went to Cordova High School located in Rancho in 1977. After graduating, he joined California State University. The American journalist majored in Government. However, he did not graduate from university.

Professional career

• Started his journalism career at a San Francisco station after dropping out of university.
• Joined WCBS-TV in 1981, then moved to KCBS-TV in Los Angeles in 1982.
• Returned to WCBS-TV in New York in 1984, before relocating to Chicago’s WBBM-TV in 1986.
• Spent 14 years at WBBM-TV, building his reputation despite being dropped as primary anchor and facing a salary cut.
• Joined MSNBC in 2000 as lead daytime anchor for Decision 2000, covering the presidential election.
• Became lead anchor for MSNBC daytime news by the end of 2001, covering major events like the Afghanistan war, 9/11, and the Iraq war.
• Anchored Countdown: Iraq from 2002-2003, becoming the chief war anchor and substitute anchor for NBC’s Today.
• Filled in as an anchor for Today occasionally from 2003 to 2014.
• Has anchored Dateline NBC since 2011.
• Moderated the 2016 Democratic presidential debate and the first 2016 presidential debate.

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From his remarks before moderating the first 2016 U.S. presidential debate, he said.

"It’s a historic moment, and I’m going to do my best to ask the questions that Americans want answered."

• He was mistakenly thought to be a Democrat by Donald Trump during the debates, but was a registered Republican; in 2018, Holt changed his registration to independent.

Lester Holt has built a distinguished career in journalism, known for his calm and authoritative reporting style. He currently serves as the anchor of NBC Nightly News and is a correspondent for Dateline NBC.

With decades of experience, Holt has covered major national and international events, earning respect for his professionalism and reliability. His career highlights include anchoring weekend editions of NBC Nightly News before taking over the weekday slot, becoming one of the most trusted news figures in America.

What happened with Lester Holt?

Lester Holt continues to thrive as a leading journalist and anchor, with no major controversies or setbacks reported. He remains the trusted face of NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC, known for his professionalism and calm reporting.

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Over the years, he’s gained respect for moderating high-profile political debates and covering significant national and international events. Overall, nothing negative has happened to impact his successful career.

Who is replacing Lester Holt?

Tom Llamas replaced Lester Holt as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, starting June 2, 2025. Holt delivered his final broadcast on May 30, 2025, after a decade leading the program. In a heartfelt farewell moment, Holt said:

"After 10 years, this is my last Nightly News broadcast… Around here, facts matter. Words matter. Journalism matters. And you matter."

"I’ll miss our evenings together, and I’ll miss the team that puts it all together… But for now, I just want to say thank you to my incredibly supportive and patient family and all of you. Please continue to take care of yourself and each other, and I’ll do the same."

Moving forward, Holt will focus full-time on anchoring Dateline NBC, allowing him to concentrate on long-form investigative reporting. This transition marks a new chapter for both journalists within the NBC network.

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Movies and TV series

In the 1990s, Lester became a famous figure throughout the United States because of his exposure as a newscaster on several TV series and films. They include:

• Decision 2000
• MSNBC Live (2000-2004)
• Countdown: Iraq (2002-2003)
• Today, Weekend Edition (2003-2015)
• Lester Holt Live (2004)
• NBC Nightly News, (2007-)
• The Fugitive (1993)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
• Primal Fear (1996)

Net worth

Lester Holt's net worth is $35 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Presently, Lester Holt's salary is estimated to be about $10 million per year. However, his role in TV shows and films has complemented his earnings and improved his worth.

What kind of dog does Lester Holt have?

Lester Holt has a German Shepherd dog.

Trivia

• Lester Holt was the first African American solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast.
• He moderated the 2016 U.S. presidential debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
• Before journalism, he briefly attended college but left to pursue his media career.
• Holt’s father was a police officer, inspiring his strong sense of justice.
• He’s known for his calm and steady delivery during breaking news events.
• He switched his political registration from Republican to Independent in 2018.

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Lester Holt’s bio showcases not only his impressive career but also the personal details that shape his life off-camera. From his American roots and family background to his successful career earnings, Holt continues to be a prominent figure in the media world, admired for both his professionalism and character.

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