Lester Holt Biography And Wiki

Lester Holt, born on March 8, 1959, in Marin County, California, is a renowned American broadcast journalist and news anchor. He started his career in broadcasting as a disc jockey at a local radio station in Anchorage, Alaska, where his older brother introduced him to the field. Holt attended California State University, Sacramento, though he did not complete his degree. Later, he received honorary degrees from Rutgers University in 2020 and Villanova University in 2023. In 1981, he joined CBS News, where he worked as a reporter and anchor for various CBS stations, including WCBS-TV in New York City and KNXT in Los Angeles.

Age And Birthday

Lester Holt was born on March 8, 1959, making him 65 years old in 2024.

Height And Weight

Lester Holt is 6 feet 2 inches (189 cm) tall and weighs 78 kg (167.5 lbs).

Education Background

Lester Holt graduated from Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California, in 1977. He then attended California State University, Sacramento, where he studied government, but left in 1979 to pursue a career in broadcasting. Despite not completing his degree, Holt has received several honorary degrees in recognition of his journalistic contributions, including honorary degrees from California State University, Sacramento in 2015, from Rutgers University in 2020, and from Villanova University in 2023.

Nationality And Ethnicity

Lester Holt is an American with a multiracial background. His father is African American, and his mother is of Jamaican descent, with African, English, Portuguese Indian, and distant Scottish ancestry.

Milestones, Significant Contributions, And Notable Works

Milestones
Lester Holt made history in June 2015 when he became the first Black male solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast, taking over NBC Nightly News. He has been anchoring the show since then. Additionally, Holt has been the principal anchor of Dateline NBC since 2011.

Significant Contributions
Holt moderated the first presidential debate of 2016, earning recognition for his fact-checking of the candidates. He has also reported from major global events, including the Olympics and presidential summits. Holt conducted a notable interview with President Trump in 2017, where Trump linked the firing of FBI Director James Comey to the Russia investigation.

Notable Works
As the anchor of NBC Nightly News, Holt has led the broadcast during key news events and breaking stories. He has also anchored numerous high-profile episodes of Dateline NBC, covering investigative and human interest stories, and has led NBC’s special reports and primetime political coverage.

Wife and Children

Lester Holt is married to Carol Hagen, whom he met when she was a flight attendant and he was a radio reporter in California. They married in 1982 and have two sons, Stefan and Cameron. Stefan follows in his father’s footsteps as a journalist for NBC, while Cameron has chosen a different career. Lester frequently mentions how supportive Carol has been throughout his career, and they share a strong relationship.

Family, Siblings, Parents

Lester Holt was born to June DeRozario, a regional planner, and Lester Don Holt Sr., a sergeant in the Air Force who served in Da Nang during the Vietnam War. He is the youngest of four children, with three older siblings. His maternal grandparents were Jamaican, and his grandfather was of mixed English and Indian descent. Lester’s older half-brother, Michael “Swani” Swanigan, is eight years older than him.

Career

Lester Holt began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey at a local radio station in Anchorage, Alaska. His older brother helped him land this opportunity, which marked the start of his journey in the media world.

In 1981, Holt joined CBS News and worked as a reporter and anchor at various CBS stations. His roles included positions at WCBS-TV in New York City and KNXT in Los Angeles, where he gained valuable experience and built his reputation in journalism.

Holt moved to NBC News in 2000, further establishing himself as a prominent figure in the industry. From 2003 to 2015, he co-anchored the weekend editions of “Today,” solidifying his place in the network. He also became the principal anchor of “Dateline NBC” in 2011, where he led investigative reports and human-interest stories.

In June 2015, Holt made history when he became the anchor of “NBC Nightly News.” He became the first Black male solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast, a significant milestone in broadcast journalism.

Hobbies And Personal Challenges

Lester Holt enjoys a few hobbies outside his busy career. He is passionate about aviation and has a collection of model airplanes in his office. He also loves music and plays in a band called the Rough Cuts, keeping two electric guitars in his office. Additionally, Holt enjoys cooking and often makes meals for his family and friends.

Throughout his career, Holt has faced several challenges. As a news anchor, he has worked in a time of political division and declining trust in the media, making it important for him to maintain credibility and unbiased reporting. Balancing the demands of his job with family life has also been tough, as the job requires long hours and being on call. Holt has also addressed sensitive social issues like racism and police brutality, which can be emotionally difficult.

Salary and Net Worth

Lester Holt earns an estimated $10 million annually, with a net worth of around $40 million. His successful journalism career, including his roles on NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC, has greatly contributed to his substantial earnings.

Major Achievements

Holt has achieved several major milestones in his career. In June 2015, he became the first Black male solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast when he took over NBC Nightly News, a position he still holds. He has also been the main anchor of Dateline NBC since 2011. Holt gained attention as the moderator for the first presidential debate in 2016, where he was praised for fact-checking the candidates. In 2018, he was ranked as the most trusted TV news anchor in America. In 2019, he received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

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