CNBC's Squawk Box cast profiles: Who earns the biggest salary?
Financial news commentators and analysts play a crucial role in shaping people's understanding of the ever-changing financial landscape. They can influence market perceptions, investor decisions, and public sentiment. Due to their impact in the financial sector, some of them take home massive pay cheques. So, here are the CNBC Squawk Box cast profiles in 2025.

Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- CNBC's Squawk Box cast profiles
- 10. Scott Wapner - $4 million - $6 million
- 9. Sara Eisen - $7 million
- 8. Rick Santelli - $8 million
- 7. Carl Quintanilla - $9 million
- 6. Andrew Ross Sorkin - $12 million
- 5. David Faber - $12 million
- 4. Joe Kernen - $16 million
- 3. Becky Quick - $20 million
- 2. Shepard Smith - $30 million
- 1. Jim Cramer - $150 million
- Is Joe Kernan married?
- Who is the female reporter on CNBC?
- How much do CNBC anchors get paid?
Key takeaways
- CNBC's Squawk Box is a TV show where experts talk about money and business.
- They discuss important news, stocks, and how the economy is doing.
- The programme is often hosted by well-known news anchors from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern time on the CNBC channel.
- Most of CNBC's Squawk Box cast are known to have an impressive net worth.
CNBC's Squawk Box cast profiles
Apart from the hosts, the show brings guests to share their knowledge and opinions, making it a go-to place for financial news. Here are the top-earning members of CNBC's Squawk Box cast, based on estimates from Yahoo Finance, The Richest, MoneyInc, and other reliable sources.
Rank | CNBC host | Net worth | Salary |
1 | Jim Cramer | $150 million | $5 million |
2 | Shepard Smith | $30 million | $10 million |
3 | Becky Quick | $20 million | $3 million |
4 | Joe Kernen | $16 million | $3 million |
5 | David Faber | $12 million | $4 million |
6 | Andrew Ross Sorkin | $12 million | - |
7 | Carl Quintanilla | $9 million | $3 million |
8 | Rick Santelli | $8 million | $2 million |
9 | Sara Eisen | $7 million | $3 million |
10 | Scott Wapner | $4 million - 6 million | $500,000 - $750,000 |
If you are wondering how much the Squawk Box hosts' salaries are or who the members of CNBC's Squawk Box are, below is the information about the top ten earning news journalists on the show.
10. Scott Wapner - $4 million - $6 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Scott Wapner
- Date of birth: 13 February 1969
- Age: 56 years
- Net worth: $4 million - 6 million
- Salary: $500,000 -$750,000
Scott Wapner hosts CNBC's Fast Money Halftime Report and Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Wapner is recognised for conducting interviews with globally influential investors, delving into the details of individual stocks and sectors.
He guides viewers through real-time developments and market fluctuations throughout and following the trading day. Although there are very few reputable sources, the news commentator's net worth has been estimated at $4 million - $6 million. He earns an annual salary of $500,000 -$750,000.
9. Sara Eisen - $7 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Sara Aliza Eisen
- Date of birth: 7 August 1984
- Age: 40 years
- Net worth: $7 million
- Salary: $3 million
Sara Eisen is an American journalist and television anchor who works for CNBC. She joined CNBC in December 2013 as a correspondent, and later, she became the co-anchor of Squawk on the Street, a business news program that airs on CNBC.
Sara mostly works on news about big-picture economics and money from other countries and has handled the European debt crisis extensively. She has made a fortune in her career with a net worth of $7 million. Sara earns a salary of $3 million.
8. Rick Santelli - $8 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Rick John Santelli
- Date of birth: 6 July 1956
- Age: 69 years
- Net worth: $8 million
- Salary: $2 million
Rick Santelli is an American financial journalist, commentator, and one of Squawk Box's hosts. Born on 6 July 1956 in Chicago, Illinois, he is best known as the on-air editor for CNBC, where he has been a long-time contributor. He has gained recognition for his coverage of financial markets and economic issues.
Rick Santelli is particularly famous for his passionate and outspoken style, often expressing strong opinions on economic and political matters. Celebrity Net Worth lists him as one of the well-paid celebrities with a salary of $2 million per year and a net worth of $8 million.
7. Carl Quintanilla - $9 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Carl Quintanilla
- Date of birth: 10 September 1970
- Age: 54 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $9 million
- Salary: $3 million
Carl Quintanilla serves as the co-anchor for CNBC's Squawk on the Street and Money Movers, both broadcast from Post 9 at the New York Stock Exchange. Since joining NBC Universal in 1999, Quintanilla has reported on a diverse range of stories for CNBC and NBC News.
He held roles as a correspondent for Today and NBC Nightly News, stationed in both New York and Chicago. His coverage spans various events, including the Olympics and presidential elections. Quintanilla's net worth is estimated at $9 million, with an annual salary of $3 million.
6. Andrew Ross Sorkin - $12 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Andrew Ross Sorkin
- Date of birth: 19 Feb 1977
- Age: 48 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $12 million
Andrew Ross Sorkin is an American journalist and author best known for his work as a financial columnist for The New York Times and as the co-anchor of CNBC's Squawk Box. He was born on 19 February 1977 in New York, United States.
Sorkin gained prominence for his coverage of financial and economic news on CNBC. In addition, he is the author of the bestselling book Too Big to Fail. The celebrity has garnered a net worth of $12 million, making him one of the highest-paid Squawk Box hosts.
5. David Faber - $12 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: David H. Faber
- Date of birth: 10 March 1964
- Age: 61 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $12 million
- Salary: $4 million
David Faber is an award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author. He is known as a co-anchor of CNBC's Squawk on the Street show. In addition, Faber is the co-producer of CNBC's acclaimed original documentaries and long-form programming.
Faber reports breaking news and offers comprehensive analyses on various business subjects through the Faber Report show. He is currently highly rated among well-paid anchors on the Squawk Box show, with a net worth of $12 million. His salary at CNBC is $4 million annually.
4. Joe Kernen - $16 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Joseph Richard Kernen
- Date of birth: 6 January 1956
- Age: 69 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $16 million
- Salary: $3 million
Joe Kernen serves as a co-anchor on CNBC's well-known morning program, Squawk Box. Despite studying biology in college, he did not anticipate becoming a highly paid news anchor. In addition to his work in the media, Kernen has a background as a skilled stockbroker and business executive, concentrating on smaller to mid-sized businesses.
Joe Kernen's net worth is estimated at $16 million. He earns an annual salary of $3 million. His main source of income is his job as a news anchor at CNBC Networks.
3. Becky Quick - $20 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Rebecca Quick
- Date of birth: 18 July 1972
- Age: 53 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $20 million
- Salary: $3 million
Becky Quick is among the highly paid Squawk Box hosts. She is a journalist and television personality best known for her role as a co-anchor on Squawk on the Street. She specialises in analysing financial and economic topics. Before joining CNBC, Becky Quick worked for The Wall Street Journal.
She began her career in journalism as a reporter for the Journal, covering various beats, including retail and e-commerce. Becky is among the highest-paid female CNBC reporters. According to the Traders Union, she earns an annual salary of $3 million. She has an estimated net worth of about $20 million.
2. Shepard Smith - $30 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: David Shepard Smith Jr.
- Date of birth: 14 January 1964
- Age: 61 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $30 million
- Salary: $10 million
Shepard Smith previously served as the primary anchor and host of the weekday evening program titled The News with Shepard Smith. Before this position, he gained recognition for his contributions to Fox News. While at Fox, he hosted shows such as Fox Report, Studio B, and Shepard Smith Reporting.
Following his departure from the Fox channel, Smith transitioned to CNBC. Currently, he holds the position of chief general news anchor at CNBC. He has a staggering net worth of $30 million and a salary of $10 million annually.
1. Jim Cramer - $150 million

Source: Getty Images
- Full name: James Joseph Cramer
- Date of birth: 10 February 1955
- Age: 70 years (As of 2025)
- Net worth: $150 million
- Salary: $5 million
Jim Cramer is a renowned financial personality and television host, best known for his career in investment analysis and stock market commentary. Born on 10 February 1955 in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, Cramer began his journey on Wall Street after graduating from Harvard College.
Jim Cramer stands tall among the highest-paid Squawk Box CNBC anchors, earning $5 million annually. Jim is best known as a stock analyst and the host of the popular CNBC show Mad Money with Jim Cramer. He has a net worth of about $150 million.
Is Joe Kernan married?
He has been married to Penelope Scott since 1998. They have one child.
Who is the female reporter on CNBC?
CNBC has several female reporters, including Becky Quick and Sara Eisen.
How much do CNBC anchors get paid?
The take-home for CNBC anchors varies depending on the contract negotiated by the anchor. However, some of the highest-paid CNBC anchors are Jim Cramer ($5 million), Shepard Smith ($10 million), and Joe Kernen ($4 million).
Exploring CNBC's Squawk Box cast profiles provides valuable insights into the diverse perspectives and expertise that shape the program's dynamic discussions. The cast's collective knowledge and unique backgrounds bring richness to the financial insights shared on the show.
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