Hoda Kotb.Photo:amie McCarthy/GettyHoda Kotbis recalling a time where she had to advocate for a raise.While discussing howVanna Whitewas able to secure an extendedWheel of Fortunecontract, the 59-year-old daytime broadcaster opened up about experiencingpay disparityearly in her career on Wednesday’s episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna.“I think it’s one of the hardest things for women to do,” she admitted of asking for a raise. “I know for years I was definitely making a fraction of what my male co-anchors were making. I actually never asked because I didn’t want to be difficult.“Hoda Kotb on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Helen Healey/NBC via GettyReferring to her time at NBC as a correspondent forDatelinefrom 1998 to 2007, Kotb claimed she might have been “the lowest paid correspondent,” adding that the pay inequality was “pretty clear at the time.”“I remember thinking to myself, ‘I can’t pay my bills here,'” she continued. “I couldn’t pay all my bills at the same time. So I was like, ‘I’ll pay this one, and then pay that one.'“Her co-hostJenna Bush Hagernoted the importance of teachingtheir daughters“to both be humble [and] to work hard” and to “not be afraid to ask for what they deserve.“Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty"Both things can be true. You can have grace and humility and still ask for what you deserve,” Kotb agreed. “Both of those things can happen at the same time.“On Tuesday,Wheel of Fortuneconfirmed that White, 66,reached a deal with the showto extend her contract for two additional years, meaning she will continue on the syndicated game show through the 2025–26 season. As a result, White will work alongsideRyan Seacrestwhen he takes over hosting duties fromPat Sajaknext fall.Wheel of Fortunekicked off its 41st season last week, with Sajak’s daughterMaggiereturning as the game show’s Social Media Correspondent.Vanna White.Christopher Willard/ABCA source with knowledge of White’s negotiations previously told PEOPLE that the mom of two — who became a co-host of the game show in 1982 — wasseeking pay paritywith the longtime host after earning approximately $3 million a year for the 18 past years without any pay increases.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“This is such great news,” Seacrest, 48,reacted to the reportin a preview of an upcoming"Sunday Sitdown"segment. “Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I have been very excited to work with her, but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations Vanna! I can’t wait.'”
Hoda Kotb.Photo:amie McCarthy/Getty
amie McCarthy/Getty
Hoda Kotbis recalling a time where she had to advocate for a raise.While discussing howVanna Whitewas able to secure an extendedWheel of Fortunecontract, the 59-year-old daytime broadcaster opened up about experiencingpay disparityearly in her career on Wednesday’s episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna.“I think it’s one of the hardest things for women to do,” she admitted of asking for a raise. “I know for years I was definitely making a fraction of what my male co-anchors were making. I actually never asked because I didn’t want to be difficult.“Hoda Kotb on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Helen Healey/NBC via GettyReferring to her time at NBC as a correspondent forDatelinefrom 1998 to 2007, Kotb claimed she might have been “the lowest paid correspondent,” adding that the pay inequality was “pretty clear at the time.”“I remember thinking to myself, ‘I can’t pay my bills here,'” she continued. “I couldn’t pay all my bills at the same time. So I was like, ‘I’ll pay this one, and then pay that one.'“Her co-hostJenna Bush Hagernoted the importance of teachingtheir daughters“to both be humble [and] to work hard” and to “not be afraid to ask for what they deserve.“Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty"Both things can be true. You can have grace and humility and still ask for what you deserve,” Kotb agreed. “Both of those things can happen at the same time.“On Tuesday,Wheel of Fortuneconfirmed that White, 66,reached a deal with the showto extend her contract for two additional years, meaning she will continue on the syndicated game show through the 2025–26 season. As a result, White will work alongsideRyan Seacrestwhen he takes over hosting duties fromPat Sajaknext fall.Wheel of Fortunekicked off its 41st season last week, with Sajak’s daughterMaggiereturning as the game show’s Social Media Correspondent.Vanna White.Christopher Willard/ABCA source with knowledge of White’s negotiations previously told PEOPLE that the mom of two — who became a co-host of the game show in 1982 — wasseeking pay paritywith the longtime host after earning approximately $3 million a year for the 18 past years without any pay increases.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“This is such great news,” Seacrest, 48,reacted to the reportin a preview of an upcoming"Sunday Sitdown"segment. “Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I have been very excited to work with her, but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations Vanna! I can’t wait.'”
Hoda Kotbis recalling a time where she had to advocate for a raise.
While discussing howVanna Whitewas able to secure an extendedWheel of Fortunecontract, the 59-year-old daytime broadcaster opened up about experiencingpay disparityearly in her career on Wednesday’s episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna.
“I think it’s one of the hardest things for women to do,” she admitted of asking for a raise. “I know for years I was definitely making a fraction of what my male co-anchors were making. I actually never asked because I didn’t want to be difficult.”
Hoda Kotb on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Helen Healey/NBC via Getty
Referring to her time at NBC as a correspondent forDatelinefrom 1998 to 2007, Kotb claimed she might have been “the lowest paid correspondent,” adding that the pay inequality was “pretty clear at the time.”
“I remember thinking to myself, ‘I can’t pay my bills here,'” she continued. “I couldn’t pay all my bills at the same time. So I was like, ‘I’ll pay this one, and then pay that one.'”
Her co-hostJenna Bush Hagernoted the importance of teachingtheir daughters“to both be humble [and] to work hard” and to “not be afraid to ask for what they deserve.”
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
“Both things can be true. You can have grace and humility and still ask for what you deserve,” Kotb agreed. “Both of those things can happen at the same time.”
On Tuesday,Wheel of Fortuneconfirmed that White, 66,reached a deal with the showto extend her contract for two additional years, meaning she will continue on the syndicated game show through the 2025–26 season. As a result, White will work alongsideRyan Seacrestwhen he takes over hosting duties fromPat Sajaknext fall.
Wheel of Fortunekicked off its 41st season last week, with Sajak’s daughterMaggiereturning as the game show’s Social Media Correspondent.
Vanna White.Christopher Willard/ABC
Christopher Willard/ABC
A source with knowledge of White’s negotiations previously told PEOPLE that the mom of two — who became a co-host of the game show in 1982 — wasseeking pay paritywith the longtime host after earning approximately $3 million a year for the 18 past years without any pay increases.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“This is such great news,” Seacrest, 48,reacted to the reportin a preview of an upcoming"Sunday Sitdown"segment. “Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I have been very excited to work with her, but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations Vanna! I can’t wait.'”
source: people.com
