Sign in

Who is Lester Holt? All about the longtime ‘NBC Nightly News’ anchor

Lester Holt joined NBC News in 2000. He became the lead anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News' in 2015. Holt will be stepping down as the show's anchor later this year.

Updated on: Feb 24, 2025, 23:27:36 IST
By
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Lester Holt announced on Monday that he will step down as the host of ‘NBC Nightly News ‘at the beginning of the summer. He will transition to a full-time role at NBC’s primetime newsmagazine ‘Dateline.’

Lester Holt is leaving ‘NBC Nightly News.' (X/ @LesterHoltNBC)
Lester Holt is leaving ‘NBC Nightly News.' (X/ @LesterHoltNBC)

In a note to the staff, Lester Holt wrote, "After 10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of Nightly News. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do.”

His successor has not been named by the network.

Who is Lester Holt?

Born on March 8, 1959, in California, to June DeRozario and Lester Don Holt Sr., Holt graduated from Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova in 1977. He then majored in government at California State University, Sacramento, though he never graduated.

Holt began his career at CBS New York in 1981, where he spent 19 years before joining NBC News in 2000. Holt was initially a substitute anchor for ‘NBC Nightly News’ and ‘Today’. He then became a full-time co-anchor of ‘Weekend Today’ after the demise of previous co-anchor David Bloom. He later led the weekend edition of ‘Nightly News’ before replacing Brian Williams as the lead anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News' in 2015. He has been contributing to ‘Dateline’ since 2011.

Lester Holt salary and net worth -

Lester Holt earn around $10 million per year, according to The US Sun. The 65-year-old has an estimated net worth of $35 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Lester Holt family -

Holt is married to Carol Hagen. The couple has two sons, Stefan and Cameron. Stefan, born in 1987, is a co-anchor at the local NBC station in Chicago. He and his wife Morgan have three sons - Henry, Samuel, and James.

Cameron, who graduated from Stanford, now works at Morgan Stanley. He is 35 years old.

  • Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.