• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens

2

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

3

As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales

1

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens

2

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

3

As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
Arts & EntertainmentMatt Lauer

Matt Lauer Is Reportedly Seeking a $30 Million Golden Parachute

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 1, 2017, 1:13 PM ET

Matt Lauer’s lawyers are reportedly trying to ensure that the disgraced former Today show host walks away from his NBC gig with a hefty sum.

Attorneys for Lauer, who was fired by NBC on Tuesday amid a flood of sexual harassment complaints, are lobbying the longtime TV anchor’s former employers to pay the remainder of Lauer’s contract with the network, according to a report from Page Six. With Lauer reportedly earning well over $20 million per year on a contract that has about a year-and-a-half remaining, such a payout would eclipse $30 million, according to the report.

NBC News fired Lauer on Tuesday after receiving complaints about the Today host’s alleged “inappropriate sexual behavior,” according to a memo sent to network staff, while more details of Lauer’s alleged misconduct have been reported over the past few days.

While Page Six reports that Lauer’s legal team is arguing that NBC should continue paying Lauer through the remainder of his contract, the report also notes that any moral clause within that contract could very well have been triggered by the mounting claims against the TV anchor, which would likely bar Lauer from any rights to collect what is left of his huge salary. Of course, it goes without saying that NBC would prefer not to shell out tens of millions of dollars to a man the network just fired, especially as the network continues to look for a replacement on Today for Lauer, who was one of the most prominent names at NBC after more than two decades at the network.

Fortune contacted William Zabel, an attorney for Lauer, for comment, and we will update this article with any response.

Lauer could stand to lose out on a large sum of money if NBC denies him his remaining salary, and he’s not the only high-profile man in the entertainment world to find himself in such a situation, given the rising tide of harassment claims against figures such as Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., and Charlie Rose.

However, Fortune‘s Claire Zillman wrote in-depth on Thursday about the far greater number of women who have experienced harassment and abuse in the workplace and whose careers have suffered as a result outside of the headlines.

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Conan O'Brien holds up a Harvard sports sweater given to him after he delivered the commencement address at Harvard University
SuccessCareers
Conan O’Brien tells Harvard graduates to play down their $250K Ivy League degree—and instead embrace being humble and ‘bad at things’
By Preston ForeMay 29, 2026
5 hours ago
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier indicted on new bribery charges alleging he left games early to help gamblers cash in on more than $250,00
LawLawsuit
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier indicted on new bribery charges alleging he left games early to help gamblers cash in on more than $250,00
By Rebecca Boone and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
7 hours ago
National Spelling Bee champion Shrey Parikh spells 32 words correctly in 90 seconds to win in lightning round tie-breaker
Successteenagers
National Spelling Bee champion Shrey Parikh spells 32 words correctly in 90 seconds to win in lightning round tie-breaker
By The Associated Press and Ben NuckolsMay 29, 2026
8 hours ago
‘Boy, what a team,’ says Trump as Queens native scores an invite to see the New York Knicks in the NBA finals
Arts & EntertainmentDonald Trump
‘Boy, what a team,’ says Trump as Queens native scores an invite to see the New York Knicks in the NBA finals
By The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
9 hours ago
conan
North AmericaEducation
Conan O’Brien’s advice to Harvard grads is to forget Harvard as soon as they can
By Michael Casey and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
9 hours ago
bari
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
Bari Weiss replaces 30-year ’60 Minutes’ veteran with outsider Nick Bilton in major overhaul
By Jocelyn Noveck and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
9 hours ago

Most Popular

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens
Magazine
As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens
By Emma HinchliffeMay 27, 2026
3 days ago
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
8 days ago
As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
Success
As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
By Emma BurleighMay 28, 2026
1 day ago
The river that supplies 40 million Americans is down to 23% — and about to make a $25 million bet on one fish
Environment
The river that supplies 40 million Americans is down to 23% — and about to make a $25 million bet on one fish
By Dorany Pineda, Brittany Peterson and The Associated PressMay 27, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 28, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 28, 2026
1 day ago
Jamie Dimon said the American Dream was slipping away. JPMorgan just put $40 million on the table to fix it
Banking
Jamie Dimon said the American Dream was slipping away. JPMorgan just put $40 million on the table to fix it
By Nick LichtenbergMay 27, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.