Lesley Stahl is an American television journalist who has a net worth of $40 million. She is best known for her long-running role as a correspondent on CBS’s legendary news program “60 Minutes.” Over the course of her decades in broadcast journalism, Stahl has become one of the most respected and recognizable figures in American television news.
Before joining “60 Minutes” in 1991, Stahl served as CBS News’ White House correspondent and was also a moderator of “Face the Nation.” Throughout her career, she has covered some of the most significant political and global events of modern times, including Watergate, the Gulf War, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She also hosted and co-hosted several major CBS programs, including “America Tonight” and “48 Hours Investigates.”
Stahl is widely regarded as one of the pioneering women in political journalism. She became the first female White House correspondent for CBS News and later the first woman to moderate “Face the Nation.” Her career has been defined by high-profile interviews with world leaders and major political figures, as well as in-depth investigative reporting on global conflicts and U.S. politics.
In addition to her reporting work, Stahl has remained a central figure at “60 Minutes,” where she has worked since 1991. Her interviews have included prominent figures such as Al Gore, Donald Trump, and Nicolas Sarkozy, often making headlines for their intensity and journalistic impact.
- Lesley Stahl Net Worth: $40 Million
- Date of Birth: December 16, 1941
- Place of Birth: Lynn, Massachusetts
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Journalist
Salary
Lesley Stahl reportedly earns an annual salary of approximately $8 million for her work on “60 Minutes.”
Early Life
Lesley Stahl was born on December 16, 1941, in Lynn, Massachusetts, and raised in Swampscott. She is the daughter of Louis and Dorothy Stahl and grew up with one younger brother.
She attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts, where she earned a degree in history. She later pursued graduate studies in zoology at Columbia University but did not complete her degree, choosing instead to pursue a career in journalism.
Career Beginnings
Stahl began her career in television at Boston’s WHDH-TV, where she worked as both a producer and reporter. She joined CBS News in 1971, marking the beginning of a long and influential tenure with the network.
She gained early recognition for her coverage of the Watergate scandal and was notably the only television journalist to cover the early court appearances of the Watergate burglars.
Her rise at CBS coincided with major shifts in American television journalism, and she quickly established herself as a leading political reporter.
White House Correspondent
During the late 1970s, Stahl became CBS News’ White House correspondent during the Carter administration—making history as the first woman to hold the role. She continued in the position through the Reagan administration and into the George H. W. Bush era.
She covered major historic events during this time, including the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan and the Gulf War.
From 1983 to 1991, Stahl served as moderator of “Face the Nation,” becoming the first woman to host the program. During her tenure, she interviewed major global leaders, including Margaret Thatcher, Boris Yeltsin, and Yasser Arafat.
60 Minutes Career
In 1991, Stahl left “Face the Nation” to join “60 Minutes” as a correspondent, where she remains one of the program’s defining journalists.
Her work on the show has included coverage of presidential elections, political conventions, the Iraq War, terrorism investigations, and global human rights issues. She has reported extensively on Guantánamo Bay, Saddam Hussein’s regime, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Stahl is also known for high-profile interviews that have made national headlines, including conversations with Donald Trump and Nicolas Sarkozy, both of whom abruptly ended interviews during tense exchanges.
Other Television Work
Outside of “60 Minutes,” Stahl has held several major television roles. She co-hosted “America Tonight” with Charles Kuralt from 1990 to 1991 and later hosted “48 Hours Investigates” from 2002 to 2004.
She has also contributed to documentary programming, including Showtime’s climate change series “Years of Living Dangerously.” Stahl has even appeared as herself in scripted television, including an episode of “Frasier.”
Books and Writing
Stahl is also an author. Her first book, “Reporting Live,” was published in 1999. In 2016, she released “Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting,” which explores aging, family life, and modern grandparenting.
Awards
Lesley Stahl has received numerous honors for her journalism, including multiple Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Emmy, the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Gerald Loeb Award, and the Paul White Award for Lifetime Achievement.
She has also been awarded honorary doctorates and recognized by major journalism institutions for her contributions to broadcast news and investigative reporting.
Personal Life
Lesley Stahl was first married to Jeffrey Gordon in 1964; the marriage ended in divorce three years later. In 1977, she married journalist Aaron Latham. The couple had one daughter, Taylor.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
