Television host and political commentator Steve Doocy has built a remarkable net worth of $14 million. His decades-long broadcasting career and success as an author have contributed significantly to his wealth.

Doocy earns $4 million yearly from his role at Fox News. His career took an interesting turn when he announced plans to travel more for Fox & Friends in May 2025, after 27 years as the show's New York City-based co-host. This achievement makes him the second-longest running co-host in network morning television history, with only Al Roker ahead of him.

Doocy's Fox News career began in 1996, and he has been a familiar face since Fox & Friends first aired on February 1, 1998. His previous experience includes co-hosting NBC Cable's Wake Up America and hosting House Party with Steve Doocy. The Associated Press and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have recognized his exceptional reporting and writing skills with multiple awards.

This piece will delve into Doocy's path to financial success, his Fox News salary growth, and his remarkable transformation from a local reporter to one of America's most recognized morning TV personalities.

Steve Doocy’s Net Worth and Salary in 2025

Steve Doocy's net worth has reached $14 million by 2025, thanks to his successful television broadcasting career. He ranks among the wealthiest political commentators in the digital world. His Fox News salary, bestselling books, and various media projects have built this wealth over decades in the industry.

How much does Steve Doocy make a year?

Steve Doocy's annual earnings hit $4 million in 2025. He's one of Fox News' highest-paid personalities and their longest-running morning show host. His yearly pay package includes:

  • Base salary from hosting Fox & Friends
  • Ratings-based performance bonuses
  • Extra pay for field reporting as special correspondent
  • Fees from network events and functions

After 27 years on American morning TV, Doocy's earnings show how networks value trusted, familiar faces. His staying power has helped him negotiate better contracts that reward his consistency and appeal to viewers.

Steve Doocy salary at Fox News

Doocy earns $4 million yearly at Fox News – the result of his 30-year old relationship with the network. He joined Fox in 1996 and became part of the original Fox & Friends team in 1998. His pay has grown steadily with his rising prominence.

Fox News values more than just Doocy's screen time. The network appreciates his dependability, viewer recognition, and rapport with co-hosts. His skill at interviewing politicians and celebrities adds extra value to his morning show presence.

His switch to special correspondent in May 2025 involves more travel for the network. Fox still maintains his compensation level, showing their commitment even as his role changes.

Changes in income over the years

Doocy's earnings tell a story of steady growth that matches his career path. Here's how his income grew:

Early Career Phase (1980s-1990s): Local TV stations in Kansas and Iowa paid Doocy standard regional market rates. His first big pay bump came when he started hosting NBC Cable's "Wake Up America."

Mid-Career Growth (Late 1990s-2010s): Money really started flowing when he joined Fox News in 1996 and co-hosted Fox & Friends in 1998. Each new contract in the 2000s and 2010s brought better pay.

Peak Earning Years (2015-2025): The past decade has been Doocy's most profitable. His yearly pay jumped from about $2 million in the mid-2010s to today's $4 million. He also earns from his books, especially the cookbooks he wrote with his wife Kathy.

Doocy's financial success mirrors his rise from local reporter to national TV star. His steady income growth shows his value in TV news and his skill at varying his income beyond his Fox News paycheck.

From Kansas to the Newsroom: Early Life and Education

Steve Doocy's trip to becoming a millionaire media personality started with modest midwestern roots that molded his work ethic and communication skills. His small-town American experiences and education years ended up creating the base for his successful television career.

Childhood in Iowa and Kansas

Steve Doocy was born in Algona, Iowa on October 19, 1956, as the first child and only son of James "Jim" Edward Doocy and JoAnne Doocy (née Sharp). His father made a living in sales and construction. The family's heritage included Irish ancestry from his father's side and Swedish roots through his maternal grandmother.

The Doocy family moved from Iowa to Kansas when Steve was five, starting a period where they frequently changed homes. His youth was spent in several Kansas communities, including:

  • Russell (early grade school)
  • Salina (grade school)
  • Industry (grade school and formative years)
  • Wakefield (junior high)
  • Clay Center (high school)

This mobile lifestyle gave young Doocy exposure to small-town experiences throughout the Sunflower State. The young boy even delivered copies of The Kansas City Star, which sparked his early interest in news media.

During his time in Industry, Doocy attended a one-room schoolhouse – an educational experience rare in modern America. His humble beginnings stand in stark contrast to his future multimillion-dollar career at a major news network.

University of Kansas and journalism degree

After finishing high school in Clay Center, Doocy headed to the University of Kansas in Lawrence to prepare for his future. He studied journalism and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1979.

The university years coincided with major developments in campus media that gave Doocy valuable practical experience. Kansas's journalism program equipped him with broadcasting fundamentals that became the cornerstone of his career growth.

His impressive net worth came from specialized media skills rather than business or finance education – showing how expertise in broadcasting could lead to substantial financial success.

First radio experience at KJHK

A defining moment came when Doocy became the first on-air disk jockey for KJHK, the University of Kansas's student-run radio station. The historic first broadcast aired at exactly 12:25 p.m. on October 15, 1975, marking both his broadcasting debut and a milestone for the station.

KJHK evolved from KUOK, a "wireless-wired" cable AM station that reached only dormitories since 1956. The switch to FM broadcasting at 90.7 megahertz in 1975 expanded its reach, though its 10-watt signal only stretched 8-10 miles beyond campus.

Doocy's first glimpse of the station's headquarters, nicknamed "the Shack," left a lasting impression. He described it as "an absolute dump" with "cigarette holes in the carpet, piles of vinyl LPs scattered helter skelter with their jackets nowhere to be found". The radio broadcasting world fascinated him so much that he "spent more time at the Shack than at his home" over the next four years.

This modest start at a small college radio station gave him essential hands-on experience that propelled his future multi-million-dollar career. The skills he gained during these early years at KJHK built the foundation for his successful television broadcasting career.

Climbing the Ladder: Career Beginnings and Breakthroughs

Steve Doocy built his path to a $14 million net worth through local TV reporting jobs across the Midwest. His steady climb through bigger broadcasting roles led him to Fox News, where his financial success took off.

Local TV reporting in Kansas and Iowa

Doocy started in radio at the University of Kansas before moving to TV. His first break came at KSNT (formerly KTSB-TV) in Topeka. He worked there as a weekend weatherman during his sophomore year at KU. After graduating, he stayed at the station as a Statehouse reporter and handled morning cut-ins from the "Today Show".

His early career grew through several regional markets. He worked at:

  • WOI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa
  • KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kansas
  • KMBC-TV in Kansas City, Missouri

A big break came in 1984 when Doocy moved to Washington, D.C. He joined WRC-TV, NBC's local affiliate, as a features reporter. There, he created fun segments called "Steve Doocy's World" that showed off his friendly personality.

Hosting House Party and Wake Up America

The early 1990s brought Doocy his first national TV show. He hosted NBC's "House Party with Steve Doocy" from 1989 to 1990, a new version of Art Linkletter's popular 1960s show. This put him in front of a nationwide audience.

His next role was hosting "Not Just News," FOX's children's newsmagazine, from 1990 to 1994. During this time, he caught Roger Ailes' attention. Ailes, a political consultant and TV producer, later became key in creating Fox News.

In 1994, Doocy landed his first morning show job as co-host of "Wake Up America" on NBC's America's Talking cable network. He hosted the two-hour morning program with Kai Kim from seven to nine. The show's light approach to news matched the style he'd later bring to Fox & Friends.

Joining WCBS-TV and ABC's New Year's Eve

When America's Talking shut down in 1996 (becoming MSNBC), Doocy quickly moved to WCBS-TV in New York City. His role as co-anchor for the Early Morning Newscast at CBS's main station was another career boost.

He also gained national attention as the live Times Square reporter on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC. He covered the New Year's Eve ball drop four years in a row, making him a familiar face on TV.

This led to his big break at the new Fox News channel in November 1996. This role made him a morning TV star and boosted his net worth considerably.

The Fox & Friends Era: National Fame and Political Spotlight

Steve Doocy's role at Fox & Friends transformed him into a household name in morning television. His remarkable journey on the popular program helped build his substantial $14 million fortune through steady high-level earnings.

Becoming a founding co-host in 1998

Fox News Channel welcomed Doocy as a weather reporter when it launched in 1996. He quickly rose to become a founding co-host of Fox & Friends during its 1998 premiere. The program thrived under his leadership and claimed the top spot as cable news' #1 morning show within three years. The show managed to keep this position for an impressive 23 straight years, making Doocy a morning television icon.

Relationship with Donald Trump and political influence

Fox & Friends grew into a powerful political platform, especially as it featured regular interviews with Donald Trump before and after his presidential victory. Trump praised it as "the most honest morning show" after winning the election. The show's influence became so powerful that The New York Times called it "the most powerful TV show in America".

Trump gave Doocy a loyalty rating of "12 out of 10" in 2019, though their dynamic saw occasional challenges. Doocy stood his ground when he questioned Trump's announcement about weekly show appearances in September 2020. Trump continued to respect Doocy and called him "a fantastic guy" in a 2025 video tribute.

Transition to special correspondent in 2025

Doocy announced a major career change in May 2025 after roughly 6,800 pre-dawn wake-ups and more than 31,000 hours of live television. At 68, he stepped away from full-time hosting to become Fox & Friends' "coast-to-coast host". His new position based him in Florida, where he broadcasts remotely three days each week.

During his final studio broadcast, Doocy explained that his strategic move would let him cover "parts of America that don't get a lot of network airtime" while spending more time with family. His Fox News salary stays substantial even with this reduced schedule, showing his lasting value to the network.

Beyond the Screen: Books, Family, and Real Estate

Steve Doocy has grown his wealth well beyond his television career. His successful ventures in publishing and real estate have pushed his net worth to $14 million. His smart business moves show there's much more to his income than just his Fox News salary.

Bestselling cookbooks and other publications

Doocy has built quite a profitable career as an author alongside his broadcasting work. He and his wife Kathy have written several New York Times bestsellers that have added substantially to their wealth. Their cookbook series stands out as a soaring win, with titles like:

  • "The Happy Cookbook" (2018)
  • "The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook" (2020) – which landed at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list
  • "The Simply Happy Cookbook" (2022) packed with over 100 recipes

His other books "The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook" and "Tales from the Dad Side" also became New York Times bestsellers.

Family life and Peter Doocy's career

Doocy's family life centers around his wife Kathy, who made her mark as a former model and ESPN host. They have three grown children: Mary, Sally, and Peter. His son Peter now serves as Fox News Senior White House Correspondent, carrying on the family's journalism tradition.

Doocy became a grandfather in 2025. His granddaughter Bridget Blake arrived in February 2023, and grandson George Jack joined the family in April 2025. This growing family played a big part in his decision to adjust his career path.

Real estate in New Jersey and Florida

Doocy's property portfolio shows his investment smarts. He sold his New Jersey home for $1.73 million, coming close to his asking price with just a $25,000 difference. The four-bedroom Wyckoff house had been his since 1994, when he bought it for $585,000.

He also owns a relaxed three-bedroom home in Jupiter, Florida, which he picked up in 2014 for $1 million. This place has become his main home since scaling back his Fox News role. The move helped him say goodbye to those early 3:30 AM commutes.

Conclusion

Steve Doocy's impressive $14 million net worth shows his remarkable rise from a small-town Kansas reporter to Fox News star. His career at Fox spans nearly three decades, and he has become one of America's most recognizable morning TV personalities while building substantial wealth.

His story shows how commitment and adaptability can lead to big financial rewards in broadcast media. Fox News values his contributions with a $4 million annual salary. His move to a special correspondent role in 2025 shows his continued growth as a media professional and gives him more personal time.

Doocy smartly expanded beyond television by writing bestselling cookbooks with his wife Kathy. These books, along with smart real estate investments in New Jersey and Florida, have strengthened his financial position over the last several years.

Of course, Doocy's story proves you can build lasting success in the ever-changing media world. He stands out among TV personalities by staying prominent for over 27 years while growing his brand beyond the screen. His natural connection with viewers, adaptation to the changing digital world, and creation of multiple income streams helped transform him from a college radio DJ at KJHK to a multimillionaire broadcaster.

Today, Doocy travels across America for Fox & Friends – a perfect fit for someone who started in small-town Kansas. After years of early morning Manhattan commutes, he now reports from communities nationwide and spends more time with his growing family. It's a well-deserved reward for his impact on morning television.

FAQs

Q1. What is Steve Doocy's current net worth?

Steve Doocy's net worth is estimated at $14 million, accumulated through his long career in television broadcasting and other ventures.

Q2. How much does Steve Doocy earn annually at Fox News?

As of 2025, Steve Doocy's annual salary at Fox News is approximately $4 million, reflecting his value to the network as a long-standing host.

Q3. What major career change did Steve Doocy make in 2025?

In May 2025, Doocy transitioned from full-time hosting to become Fox & Friends' "coast-to-coast host," broadcasting remotely from Florida three days a week.

Q4. Has Steve Doocy pursued any successful ventures outside of television?

Yes, Doocy has co-authored several New York Times bestselling cookbooks with his wife Kathy, which have significantly contributed to his wealth.

Q5. Where does Steve Doocy currently reside?

As of 2025, Doocy's primary residence is in Jupiter, Florida, where he purchased a three-bedroom home in 2014 for $1 million.