Paula Zahn has an estimated net worth of $18 million. The American journalist and newscaster built her wealth through a long television career that included major roles at ABC News, CBS News, Fox News and CNN.
Zahn has covered some of the biggest stories in the United States and around the world. She has anchored morning and evening news programs, reported from major international events and hosted several television specials.
Her career has also extended into true crime television. Since 2009, she has produced and hosted “On the Case with Paula Zahn” on Investigation Discovery, a documentary series examining real-life criminal cases.
Zahn’s television career has made her one of the recognizable names in American broadcast journalism, while her work across several major networks has been a significant source of her wealth.
- Paula Zahn Net Worth: $18 Million
- Date of Birth: February 24, 1956
- Place of Birth: Omaha, Nebraska
Paula Zahn’s Salary and Contracts
Paula Zahn earned approximately $600,000 annually during the peak of her time at Fox News.
In 2006, Fox News fired Zahn after learning that she had received an offer from CNN worth about $2.1 million per year.
Fox News subsequently threatened legal action against CNN, Zahn and her agent over an alleged breach of contract.
The network argued that Zahn was restricted from accepting new offers while under contract with Fox News.
The dispute came during a major transition in Zahn’s television career and preceded her continued work with CNN.
Early Life
Paula Zahn was born on February 24, 1956, in Omaha, Nebraska.
Her father worked as an IBM sales executive, while her mother was a schoolteacher.
Zahn grew up with three siblings. Her family initially lived in Canton, Ohio, before moving to Naperville, Illinois.
She attended Washington Junior High School and Naperville Central High School.
As a teenager, Zahn participated in beauty pageants. In 1973, she competed in the Miss Teenage America pageant.
For college, Zahn attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, on a cello scholarship.
She graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Career Beginnings
After graduating from college, Zahn entered television news broadcasting.
She spent approximately 10 years working for local television stations around the country.
Among the stations where she worked were KFMB-TV in San Diego, KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and WFAA-TV in Dallas.
The experience gave Zahn a foundation in broadcast journalism before she moved into national news.
Paula Zahn at ABC News
Zahn joined ABC News in 1987, marking the beginning of her national television career.
She initially anchored “The Health Show,” a weekend program focused on health and medical issues.
Within months, she began co-anchoring “World News This Morning” and providing news segments for “Good Morning America.”
Her work at ABC News helped establish her as a national news anchor and correspondent.
After about three years with the network, Zahn moved to CBS News in 1990.
Paula Zahn at CBS News
At CBS News, Zahn initially co-anchored “CBS This Morning” alongside Harry Smith.
She later took on a wider range of reporting assignments.
Zahn covered the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
She also reported on the 1993 Waco siege.
In 1996, Zahn left her position on “CBS This Morning” and subsequently became an anchor for the Saturday edition of “CBS Evening News.”
She also contributed reports to programs including “48 Hours” and “Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel.”
Paula Zahn at Fox News
In 1999, Zahn moved to Fox News.
It was her first job at a cable news network.
At Fox News, she anchored “Fox Report” before launching her own primetime program, “The Edge with Paula Zahn.”
Her time at Fox News lasted about two years before she moved to CNN.
Zahn’s Fox News career also played an important role in the salary negotiations that later accompanied her move to CNN.
Paula Zahn at CNN
Zahn joined CNN on September 11, 2001.
Her first day at the network coincided with the terrorist attacks in the United States, and she immediately became part of CNN’s coverage of the historic events.
The following day, she began co-anchoring “American Morning” with Anderson Cooper.
Zahn returned to primetime in 2003 with “Live from the Headlines,” a program that covered major international events, including the Iraq War.
She later launched “Paula Zahn Now.”
Zahn resigned from CNN in 2007.
On the Case with Paula Zahn
One of the longest-running chapters of Zahn’s television career began in 2009.
She became the host and producer of “On the Case with Paula Zahn” on Investigation Discovery.
The true crime documentary series examines real criminal cases and features interviews with people connected to the investigations.
Zahn travels across the United States to speak with victims’ families, investigators and others affected by the cases.
The program has become a major part of her television career after her time as a traditional network news anchor.
Other Television Appearances
After leaving CNN, Zahn returned to local broadcasting.
In 2008, she co-hosted “SundayArts” on New York City PBS stations WNET and WLIW.
She also hosted the annual PBS special “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration” on New Year’s Day in 2011.
Her television career has therefore extended across network news, cable television, public broadcasting and documentary programming.
Personal Life
Paula Zahn married New York City real estate developer Richard Cohen in 1987.
The couple had three children: Austin, Jared and Haley.
Zahn and Cohen divorced in 2007 after about two decades of marriage.
That same year, Zahn sued Cohen, alleging that he had mismanaged approximately $25 million in her career earnings during their marriage.
The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by a New York state court.
Zahn was also later linked romantically to businessman Paul Fribourg, who was reportedly a close friend of Cohen. Zahn and Fribourg continued dating for more than a decade after her divorce.
Charity Work
Beyond journalism, Zahn has supported cancer-related causes.
She is an advocate for breast cancer awareness and cancer research.
Zahn was also named an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Her involvement in cancer advocacy has added another dimension to her public work outside television journalism.
Paula Zahn’s Awards
Zahn has received recognition throughout her journalism career.
She was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Dowling College in 2003.
Her long career across ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN and Investigation Discovery has also established her as a veteran figure in American television journalism.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
