Gayle King is an award-winning journalist and co-host of CBS Mornings with an estimated net worth of $40 million and annual salary of $10 million. She interviews top newsmakers and delivers original reporting to CBS News broadcasts and platforms while serving as editor-at-large of Oprah Daily.
Gayle King stands as one of television journalism’s most recognizable faces, serving as co-host of CBS Mornings while delivering original reporting across CBS News broadcasts and platforms. Her career spans decades in media, marked by groundbreaking interviews, a historic friendship with Oprah Winfrey, and most recently, a journey to space that captured national attention.
In 2025, King made headlines when she joined Blue Origin’s historic all-women spaceflight crew alongside celebrities like Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez, stepping “out of her comfort zone and into a space suit” to experience approximately 10 minutes in space.
Early Life and Educational Background
Gayle King spent several years of her childhood in Ankara, Turkey, before returning with her family to the United States. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in psychology. This international exposure during her formative years would later inform her global perspective as a journalist.
Her path to journalism began during her university years, though her psychology degree initially suggested a different career trajectory. The first time she became active on television was in 1981, launching what would become an 18-year career with CBS as a broadcast journalist.
The Oprah Connection: A 48-Year Friendship That Changed Everything
Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey met working at a Baltimore TV station in 1976 when Oprah was 22 and Gayle was 21. They eventually formed an unbreakable bond after being stuck in a snowstorm together. This chance encounter during a winter storm would become the foundation of one of the most famous friendships in media history.
In a 2010 interview with Barbara Walters, Winfrey said of King, “She is the mother I never had; she is the sister everybody would want; she is the friend everybody deserves; I don’t know a better person”. This public declaration cemented their relationship as a model of authentic friendship in the public eye.
Having the right friends proved priceless for both women’s careers. Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King became friends early in their media careers, and that friendship helped fuel their professional success over nearly five decades.
The business relationship extends beyond friendship. King maintains a long-standing business relationship with Oprah Winfrey, serving as editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine and Oprah Daily on digital and print platforms. She also helped launch Oprah’s Book Club.
Career Highlights at CBS News
On November 10, 2011, King secured a deal with CBS to co-anchor CBS This Morning, beginning on January 9, 2012. This marked her return to major network television and established her as a premier morning show host.
Her role at CBS expanded beyond traditional morning show duties. King interviews top newsmakers and delivers original reporting to CBS Mornings and all CBS News broadcasts and platforms. She also hosts “Gayle King in the House,” a live, weekly show.
The journalist has built a reputation for hard-hitting interviews and fearless reporting. She publicly called for CBS to have full transparency when it was learned CBS planned on keeping the findings of sexual abuse and harassment at the network private. This stance demonstrated her commitment to journalistic integrity over corporate loyalty.
Personal Life and Family
From 1982 to 1993, King was married to William Bumpus, an attorney and assistant attorney general in Connecticut. They share a daughter, Kirby, and a son, William Bumpus Jr. As the mother of two children, she currently resides in New York City.
Her role as a working mother has influenced her approach to journalism, bringing empathy and relatability to her interviews with newsmakers and everyday people alike.
Net Worth and Financial Success
King has an estimated net worth of $40 million. Her income is mainly attributed to her career as a television personality, broadcast journalist, and author. Her annual salary is estimated to be $5.5 million. However, more recent reports suggest her compensation has increased significantly.
Sources have reported that King earns approximately $10 million annually from CBS, though the network reportedly considers this salary difficult to justify given that “CBS Mornings” continues to struggle in ratings behind NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Her real estate portfolio reflects her success. She previously sold a property in Greenwich, Connecticut, for a reported $3 million. These investments demonstrate smart financial planning beyond her media earnings.
Historic Blue Origin Space Flight
On February 27, 2025, it was announced that King would be one of the passengers on Blue Origin’s eleventh flight to space under the New Shepard program. This announcement marked a significant moment in her career, transitioning from covering news to making news.
King revealed on CBS Mornings that she would be among the six passengers on Blue Origin’s history-making mission comprising all women. The crew included high-profile figures from entertainment, business, and advocacy.
Following her space flight, King described the experience as a “bona fide freakin’ flight” to space, saying “I can’t even believe what I saw” during her roughly 10-minute spaceflight. Her firsthand reporting from space provided unique content for CBS viewers.
Current Career Challenges and Future Prospects
Fed-up sources observed growing resentment towards King at CBS, with reports suggesting she faces a fight to have her $10 million contract renewed when it ends in September 2025. The combination of ratings struggles and her controversial space flight has created tension within the network.
Industry insiders suggest it will be difficult for King to justify her substantial salary given the morning show’s continued ratings challenges compared to competitors. These financial pressures reflect broader changes in the television news landscape.
Despite these challenges, King remains one of television’s most experienced and respected journalists. Her decades of experience, high-profile connections, and proven ability to secure exclusive interviews continue to make her a valuable media figure.
Professional Impact and Industry Recognition
King’s interviewing style combines preparation with genuine curiosity. She asks direct questions while maintaining warmth and accessibility that encourages subjects to open up. This approach has resulted in memorable interviews with celebrities, politicians, and newsmakers across various fields.
Her role extends beyond traditional journalism into media entrepreneurship. The combination of her CBS role, Oprah Daily position, and various hosting duties creates a multimedia presence that reaches different audiences through multiple platforms.
The journalist’s willingness to take risks, from challenging corporate policies to traveling to space, demonstrates an approach to career building that goes beyond conventional broadcasting. These choices keep her relevant and newsworthy, though they also create controversy.
Legacy and Influence in Media
King represents a generation of journalists who built careers through adaptability and relationship-building. Her friendship with Oprah showcases how personal relationships can enhance rather than compromise professional credibility when managed transparently.
Her success as an African American woman in television news provides representation and inspiration for aspiring journalists. She navigates the industry while maintaining authenticity and personal relationships, proving that professional success doesn’t require sacrificing personal connections.
The journalist’s career trajectory from local television to national prominence illustrates the importance of seizing opportunities and taking calculated risks. Her willingness to embrace new experiences, from space travel to digital media, shows adaptability in a changing industry.
FAQs
How much does Gayle King make at CBS?
Gayle King reportedly earns approximately $10 million annually from CBS, though network executives question whether this salary is justified given current ratings performance.
Are Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey really best friends?
Yes, King and Winfrey have been friends since 1976 when they worked together at a Baltimore TV station. Their friendship began after being stuck in a snowstorm together, and Oprah has called King “the friend everybody deserves.”
Did Gayle King actually go to space?
Yes, King traveled to space with Blue Origin’s all-women crew in April 2025, describing it as a “bona fide freakin’ flight” during approximately 10 minutes in space.
What is Gayle King’s educational background?
King graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in psychology and spent part of her childhood in Ankara, Turkey, before returning to the United States.
Is Gayle King married?
King was married to William Bumpus, an attorney and assistant attorney general in Connecticut, from 1982 to 1993. They have two children together: daughter Kirby and son William Bumpus Jr.
What shows does Gayle King host?
King co-hosts CBS Mornings, delivers reporting across CBS News platforms, and hosts “Gayle King in the House,” a live weekly show. She also serves as editor-at-large for Oprah Daily.
