Al Roker's Enduring Net Worth & Career (2023)

One thing as clear as day is that Al Roker has been one of the most successful personalities in the media industry. The American television weather forecaster and TV personality is one of the most recognizable faces on television. He is best known for his weather forecast segments and hosting duties on NBC’s Today show, where he has been since 1996. His career in media spans nearly 50 years.

You might be wondering, how much money does Al Roker have after all these years in the entertainment industry?

Well, grab your hats because Al Roker net worth is absolutely staggering. In this article, we will be taking a look at the specifics of Al Roker’s net worth and life story.

Early Life and Education

Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. was born in 1954 in Queens, New York City. He is the son of Isabel and Albert Lincoln Roker Sr., a bus driver who later became a shop steward for the Amalgamated Transit Union.

He graduated in 1972 from Xavier High School, where he had been a member of the fencing team since he was a freshman. He then went on to attend the State University of New York at Oswego, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in communication and meteorology.

Career Highlights

Roker began his career as an intern for CBS affiliate WHEN-TV in Syracuse, New York. In 1978, he moved to Washington D.C., where he worked for NBC’s WRC-TV as a weather anchor and feature reporter.

After graduating from SUNY Oswego, he moved back to New York City. He became the weather anchor at local station WNBC-TV in 1983.

He later became the anchor for Weekend Today (1984-1996) and was also a part of the on-air team that covered the historic 1996 Summer Olympics from Atlanta where he also served as a substitute anchor on the Today show.

When Willard Scott was absent or ill, Roker often filled in for him as the weatherman on the Today show. He was eventually made co-host of the show, along with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric, in 1996.

Al Roker’s extreme weather reporting of tornadoes and other weather phenomenons has earned him an impressive reputation in the media world.

He has since gone on to become one of America’s most beloved TV personalities, hosting a variety of shows such as Al Roker’s Back to the Future: The Ride, Al Roker Entertainment programs, and more.

The Norwegian weather broadcaster Eli Kari Gjengedal’s 33-hour unofficial world record for a live weather report was a goal he attempted to achieve in 2014.

In addition to his work on the Today Show, he is also an author and has written several books, including Don’t Make Me Stop This Car!: Adventures in Fatherhood and Al’s Book of Love, among others. He has also hosted numerous television shows, such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Celebrity Family Feud, Hollywood Squares, and more.

‘Roker-Thon’

In 2017, Roker set a Guinness World Record by broadcasting 34 hours of uninterrupted weather reporting. This was in regard to fundraising for the Wounded Warriors Project in the military charity event dubbed ‘Roker-thon.’

He has since broken his own record multiple times and earned the nickname “Roker-Thon” for his achievements where he would have the ‘Roker-Thon 2’ for hurricane relief and ‘Roker-Thon 3’ for children’s charities.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Roker is synonymous with the Macy’s thanksgiving day parade. He has been an integral part of the annual event since 2001, and he currently co-hosts it along with Savannah Guthrie.

In 2013, Roker was honored at the parade for his charity work and commitment to NBC as he made a surprise appearance during the event.

Al Roker’s Net Worth

Thanks to all his hard work as a television personality, Al Roker has accumulated an incredible net worth. The exact figure isn’t known but he is estimated to be worth around $70 million.

His work of covering both the today show and weather news were covered in his 5 year contract worth $50 million dollars.

The bulk of this comes from his salary as the host of the Today show, which reportedly pays him around $10 million per year. He also makes money through his various books, TV shows, and endorsement deals.

In addition to his monetary wealth, Roker has a huge following on social media with over seven million followers on Twitter alone. He is also highly respected in the entertainment industry for his philanthropic work and charity causes.

Personal Life, Health, and Controversies

Roker has been married twice: first to Alice Bell (1984-1994), with whom he had a daughter, and later to Deborah Roberts (1995-present). He has two children with Roberts.

In 2002, Roker underwent gastric bypass surgery after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This procedure was a huge success and helped him lose over 100 pounds in the following 10 years.

Roker was later diagnosed in 2018 with prostate cancer and underwent surgery in November of that same year. In 2022 after a hiatus of several months, Roker disclosed he was hospitalized and being treated for blood clots in the lung.

Roker has also been part of many controversies. The 2012 Olympic logo controversy where several people complained of seizures from the campaign video of the logo. Roker made jokes about it on-air which caused controversy. He would later raise racial concerns when he accused a cab driver of racially profiling him and his son in 2015.

However, Roker is mostly known for his light-hearted approach to life and consistent jovial attitude making him one of the most popular and beloved figures in the entertainment industry. He is an inspiration to many with his hard work, dedication, and commitment to charitable causes. His legacy will be remembered for generations to come.

Wrapping Up

For many years, Al Roker has been a fixture of the Today Show and the entertainment industry. With his net worth estimated to be around $70 million, Roker is one of the wealthiest personalities in the industry.

Though he’s been part of several controversies, most notably the Olympic logo controversy and cab driver incident, Roker is mostly known for his upbeat attitude, charity work, and dedication to his craft. With many years ahead of him in the industry, Roker will continue to show why he’s one of the most beloved figures in television.

Al Roker’s recent hospitalization due to blood clots has been a cause of concern for his fans and family. We send him our best wishes and hope that he makes a quick recovery soon!