How Much Does Trevor Noah Make as Host of The Daily Show?

As the host of Comedy Central‘s popular late night show The Daily Show, Trevor Noah has seen his career and bank account skyrocket over the past 7 years. But exactly how much does Noah make from his hosting duties? What is his annual salary, net worth, and how does his income compare to other late night hosts? This in-depth guide provides a comprehensive overview of Trevor Noah‘s earnings as host of The Daily Show.

Trevor Noah‘s Daily Show Salary Has Ballooned in Recent Years

When Trevor Noah took over as host of The Daily Show from Jon Stewart back in 2015, he was earning a modest (by late night standards) salary between $5-$8 million per season according to industry estimates. However, as Noah quickly found his footing and developed his own style as host, his salary saw major increases with each contract renewal.

In 2017, Noah signed a lucrative contract extension with Viacom that doubled his per season salary to a whopping $16 million. That deal kept Noah at the helm through 2022 when he shocked fans by announcing his departure. Here‘s a quick look at how Noah‘s Daily Show salary progressed over the years:

Noah‘s pay escalated rapidly thanks to strong viewership and high ratings among the coveted 18-34 demographic. By 2022, he was one of the highest paid hosts in late night television.

Trevor Noah‘s Reported Earnings Per Episode Tap Out Around $20,000

In addition to his massive seasonal salary, Trevor Noah also earns a per episode fee for hosting The Daily Show. Industry insiders estimate this figure lands between $5,000-$20,000 for the 3.5 hour episode tapings.

For comparison, James Corden reportedly earned around $20,000 for his first time hosting the Grammy Awards back in 2017. So Noah‘s per episode fee likely falls on the higher end of that range at around $20,000 per show.

At 4 episodes per week, that equates to around $80,000 per week in base pay before his lucrative seasonal salary.

Between The Daily Show and Other Projects, Noah‘s Annual Income Tops $16 Million

Thanks to his high per episode fees and massive Daily Show seasonal salary, Trevor Noah‘s estimated annual income By conservative estimates, Noah earned $16-$18 million per year during his final seasons hosting The Daily Show.

And that figure doesn‘t even include income from other projects like…

• Stand-up Comedy – Comedy tours and Netflix specials
• Book Publishing – Royalties from best-selling books
• Acting Roles – Movie cameos and voice acting gigs
• Production Company – Day Zero Productions development deals

When all his income streams are combined, Noah earned well over $20 million per year in recent seasons.

Noah‘s Salary Stacks Up As One of the Highest Among Late Night Hosts

Thanks to his massive Daily Show contract, Trevor Noah‘s annual salary places him among the top tier of late night talk show hosts. Here‘s a breakdown of how Noah‘s estimated $16-$18 million yearly pay stacks up against other hosts:

So Noah finds himself near the very top along with Jimmy Fallon in terms of yearly compensation. Noah‘s $16+ million per year edges out Kimmel, Colbert, and Corden for highest paid among that group.

Trevor Noah‘s Net Worth Reaches $100 Million Mark

What is Trevor Noah‘s total net worth after his lucrative Daily Show run? According to reputable celebrity wealth indexes, Noah‘s current net worth is estimated at around $100 million. The bulk of his fortune comes from 7 years as host of The Daily Show, where he pulled in $16-$18 million per season.

To put his tremendous wealth into perspective, when Noah took over as host in 2015, his net worth sat at just around $2 million according to MoneyInc. So his net worth grew 50x over during his tenure leading The Daily Show.

Here‘s a quick snapshot of how Noah‘s fortune has grown over the years:

In just 7 short years, Trevor Noah went from rising stand-up comic to one of the wealthiest comedians and media figures in the world thanks to his Daily Show windfall. His $100 million net worth trails only heavy hitters like Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, and Ellen Degeneres.

Advertising Revenues Were Strong With Noah as Host

So how did Trevor Noah leverage his popularity with younger viewers into such a lucrative contract? Strong advertising revenues and ratings among 18-34 year olds gave Noah significant leverage in contract negotiations.

According to metrics reported by Standard Media Index, ad revenue for The Daily Show grew 44% from Q1 2015 (when Noah took over) to Q1 2019. And that growth came even as most late night shows declined.

Industry insiders credited Noah‘s popularity among Millennial and Gen Z viewers. Advertisers covet those demographics, allowing Comedy Central to charge premium ad rates during The Daily Show.

Why Did Noah Decide to Leave The Daily Show?

In September 2022, Trevor Noah shocked audiences by announcing his departure from The Daily Show after a very successful 7 year run. This left many wondering why he gave up a job paying him over $16 million per year.

Noah himself explained he simply wanted to devote more time to stand-up comedy and other projects rather than re-upping his Daily Show contract. After hosting the show for 7 years, he felt it was the right time to move on and leave while the show was still very popular.

Some industry insiders also noted that Noah had leverage to negotiate a higher salary if he had stayed. So money likely did not play a big role in his decision to exit.

Who Is Replacing Trevor Noah as Host?

After a brief search for Trevor Noah‘s replacement, Comedy Central surprised many by choosing comedian and actress Leslie Jones to take over hosting duties. Jones landed the high profile gig despite being relatively new to politics and late night.

She officially took over on January 17, 2023 after a 5 week hiatus following Noah‘s departure. It remains to be seen if Jones can attract the same loyal audience that Noah enjoyed, especially among younger viewers.

Noah leaves huge shoes to fill, but Comedy Central executives are confident Jones‘ outgoing personality and fresh perspective will connect with fans.

Trevor Noah entered rarified air during his 7 year run as host of The Daily Show, joining the top tier of highest paid late night hosts. Thanks to massive contract renewals and growing ad revenues, Noah‘s annual income soared to around $20 million at his peak.

He translated his high compensation into an estimated $100 million net worth, going from stand-up comic to centimillionaire in just a few years. While fans will certainly miss his presence, Noah made the decision to leave on his own terms and seek new creative challenges. The next phase of his career will be fascinating to watch unfold.

Whoever takes over The Daily Show hosting chair has massive shoes to fill. Trevor Noah connected with audiences in a way few comedians or broadcasters do these days. It may take years to rebuild that loyal viewership – and the ad revenues that come with it.