Lester Holt: Wife, Net Worth, Ethnicity, Parents & More

Lester Holt is an American journalist and television news anchor best known for his long career with NBC News. He served as the weekday anchor of NBC Nightly News from 2015 until 2025 and continues to anchor Dateline NBC.

Over more than four decades in journalism, Holt has become one of the most trusted figures in American broadcast news, covering presidential elections, wars, natural disasters, and major breaking news events.

Quick Facts About Lester Holt

●      Full Name: Lester Don Holt Jr.

●      Date of Birth: March 8, 1959

●      Age: 67

●      Birthplace: Marin County, California, USA

●      Nationality: American

●      Wife: Carol Hagen

●      Children: Stefan Holt and Cameron Holt

●      Parents: Lester Don Holt Sr. and June DeRozario

●      Ethnicity: African American, Afro-Jamaican, Anglo-Indian, English, and Portuguese ancestry

●      Education: California State University, Sacramento (did not graduate)

●      Employer: NBC News

●      Known For: NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC

●      Estimated Net Worth: Approximately $35 million

Age

Lester Don Holt Jr. was born on March 8, 1959, at Hamilton Air Force Base in Marin County, California, United States. He is 67 years old.

Early Life and Education

Holt spent much of his childhood in Sacramento, California. His interest in broadcasting began while living in Alaska, where his older brother worked as a disc jockey at a local radio station.

He graduated from Cordova High School in 1977 before enrolling at California State University, Sacramento, where he studied government. However, he left college before graduating to pursue a career in broadcasting after receiving a job offer in radio.

Career

Early Broadcasting Career

Holt began his broadcasting career as a radio disc jockey before moving into television news. He joined CBS News in 1981 and spent nearly two decades working as a reporter and anchor in cities including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

NBC News

In 2000, Holt joined NBC News, where he served in several high-profile roles, including:

●      Weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News

●      Co-anchor of Weekend Today

●      Anchor of Dateline NBC

In June 2015, he succeeded Brian Williams as the weekday anchor of NBC Nightly News, becoming the first African American to solo anchor the flagship nightly newscast on a major U.S. broadcast network. In 2025, he stepped down from NBC Nightly News to focus full-time on Dateline NBC.

Wife

Lester Holt is married to Carol Hagen, a licensed real estate agent.

The couple married in 1982 and have remained together for more than four decades. Carol has largely stayed out of the public spotlight while supporting Holt throughout his broadcasting career.

Children

Lester Holt and Carol Hagen have two sons:

Stefan Holt

Stefan Holt is an award-winning television journalist who has worked as an anchor for NBC-owned television stations in Chicago and New York.

Cameron Holt

Their younger son, Cameron Holt, pursued a career in finance rather than journalism and has largely remained out of the public spotlight.

Net Worth

Lester Holt's estimated net worth is approximately $35 million, according to widely cited celebrity wealth estimates.

His wealth has been accumulated through:

●      More than 40 years in broadcast journalism

●      His long tenure with NBC News

●      Television hosting

●      Speaking engagements

●      Other media appearances

His annual NBC salary has been estimated at around $10 million, although NBC has not officially confirmed this figure.

Ethnicity

Lester Holt has a diverse ethnic background.

His father, Lester Don Holt Sr., was African American with family roots in Tennessee and Michigan.

His mother, June DeRozario, was born to Jamaican parents. Through his maternal family, Holt has Afro-Jamaican, Anglo-Indian, English, and Portuguese ancestry. His maternal grandfather, Canute DeRozario, was of Anglo-Indian heritage from Jamaica.

Parents

Father: Lester Don Holt Sr.

Lester Holt's father was Lester Don Holt Sr., an African American who served in the U.S. Air Force. His military service meant the family relocated several times during Holt's childhood.

Mother: June DeRozario

His mother, June DeRozario, came from a Jamaican family with Afro-Jamaican, Anglo-Indian, English, and Portuguese ancestry. Holt has often acknowledged his family's multicultural heritage as an important part of his identity.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his distinguished career, Holt has received numerous honors, including:

●      Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award

●      Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism

●      NABJ Journalist of the Year

●      Multiple Emmy Awards

●      Several honorary doctorate degrees

He has also moderated presidential debates and interviewed numerous world leaders and U.S. presidents.

Conclusion

Lester Holt has earned widespread respect for his calm, authoritative reporting and decades of service in American journalism. From his beginnings in local radio to becoming the face of NBC Nightly News, he has covered some of the most significant events in modern history.

Away from the newsroom, Holt is known for his enduring marriage to Carol Hagen, his close-knit family, and his rich multicultural heritage. Despite occasional online speculation about his health and weight, there is no credible evidence that he suffers from a serious illness, and he continues to play a prominent role at Dateline NBC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is Lester Holt quitting NBC?

Lester Holt is not leaving NBC entirely. He stepped down as anchor of NBC Nightly News on May 30, 2025, after nearly 10 years in the role to focus full-time on Dateline NBC, where he has served as an anchor since 2011. Holt said the move would allow him to devote more time to long-form investigative journalism and stories he cares deeply about.

2. What is Lester Holt's ethnic background?

Lester Holt is of African American, Jamaican, English, and Indo-Jamaican heritage. His father, Lester Don Holt Sr., was African American with roots in Tennessee. His mother, June DeRozario, was born in New York to Jamaican parents. His maternal grandfather was of Anglo-Indian descent, while his maternal grandmother was Afro-Jamaican.

3. What is going on with Lester Holt?

Lester Holt remains with NBC News but has transitioned to a new role. After leaving NBC Nightly News in 2025, he became the full-time anchor of Dateline NBC, expanding his work on investigative reports and in-depth storytelling. He continues to be one of NBC's leading journalists.

4. What is Lester Holt's salary?

NBC has not publicly disclosed Lester Holt's salary. However, multiple media outlets estimate that he earned around $10 million per year while anchoring NBC Nightly News. Because NBC has never confirmed the figure, it should be regarded as an estimate rather than an official salary.