What is Chris Matthews’ net worth and salary?

Chris Matthews, a former American political commentator and talk show host, has a net worth of $20 million dollars. He hosted his own weeknight talk show, “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” from 1994 to 2020, which aired on the America’s Talking network, CNBC, and MSNBC.

However, Matthews was accused of inappropriate behavior on the show, leading to his retirement announcement.

Chris Matthews’ Salary at “Hardball”

According to sources, Chris Matthews’ salary per year at “Hardball” was $5 million.

Early Life and Career

Chris Matthews was born in 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Herb and Mary. He attended La Salle College High School and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1967. Matthews did some graduate work in economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a visiting fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. He also served in the United States Peace Corps as a trade development adviser in Swaziland from 1968 to 1970.

Upon his arrival in Washington, DC, Matthews worked as an officer with the United States Capitol Police and later served on the staffs of four Democratic Members of Congress. He launched an unsuccessful campaign for Pennsylvania’s 4th congressional district seat in 1974, receiving around 24% of the vote in the primary. Matthews later became a presidential speechwriter under Jimmy Carter and served as Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill during the Reagan administration.

Matthews’ Career in Print Media

For 15 years, Matthews worked in print media. He served as the Washington, DC bureau chief for the San Francisco Examiner from 1987 to 2000, and spent two years as a nationally syndicated columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. During his tenure, he covered noteworthy events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, Northern Ireland’s Good Friday peace talks, and all presidential election campaigns between 1988 and 2000.

Chris Matthews’ Talk Show Career

Chris Matthews launched his talk show, “Politics with Chris Matthews,” in 1994 on America’s Talking cable channel. After the channel’s closure in 1996, the show moved to CNBC and then MSNBC, with a new name “Hardball with Chris Matthews.” The hour-long weeknight talk show covered current events and political issues, featuring political figures and a panel of analysts.

From 2002 to 2013, Matthews also hosted “The Chris Matthews Show” – a half-hour weekend political news roundtable show. The program featured Matthews as the moderator of a rotating group of four journalists, including Andrea Mitchell, Pete Williams, Kelly O’Donnell, John Heilemann, Michael Duffy, Clarence Page, and Major Garrett.

Controversies and Retirement from “Hardball”

Matthews’ tenure on “Hardball” was marked by numerous controversial encounters and remarks, both on and off air. At an off-air anniversary celebration in 2007, Matthews claimed that the Bush administration tried to silence him by pressuring MSNBC to stop him from criticizing the Iraq War. On air, he had heated confrontations with guests like Michelle Malkin, Zell Miller, and Kevin James. Matthews retired from “Hardball” in March 2020, after being accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate remarks by a female journalist. He also faced criticism for comments made on air, including comparing Bernie Sanders’ victory in the Nevada caucus to the fall of France to the Nazis. “Hardball” was replaced by rotating hosts and later by “The ReidOut” with Joy Reid.

Matthews’ Bestselling Books

Chris Matthews has written several bestselling books, including “Hardball: How Politics is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game” (1988), which later became the title of his talk show. He has also authored “Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry That Shaped Postwar America,” “Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think,” “American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions,” and “Life’s a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success.”

However, one of Matthews’ most successful works was “Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero” (2011), which spent 12 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and received praise from publications such as the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly. Matthews followed this success with “Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked” (2013) and “Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit” (2017).

Marriage, Children, and Honorary Degrees

Matthews has been married to Kathleen Matthews since 1980. Kathleen is a former news anchor and executive vice president of Marriott International. They have three children together: Thomas, Caroline, and Michael.

Matthews has been recognized for his achievements with over 30 honorary degrees, including ones from Fordham University, Temple University, and Washington University in St. Louis. He has also received numerous awards such as the Pennsylvania Society’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award, and the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. The Union League of Philadelphia has also honored Matthews with the Abraham Lincoln Award.

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