What's Inside?
- Stephen Colbert to exit The Late Show in 2026 as CBS cancels the iconic program after a 33-year historic run.
- Colbert’s net worth hits $75 million in 2025, with annual income from CBS, production, royalties, and brand deals nearing $20 million.
- Colbert’s career journey spans Emmy-winning satire, bestselling books, and a legacy as the #1 late-night host for nine straight seasons.
CBS has announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, officially ending its 33-year reign on the network. The surprising decision will bring the long-running talk show to a close in May 2026, with no plans to replace it, marking the end of an era for CBS’s late-night programming. Here’s Colbert’s net worth as of 2025, his salary and more to know.
Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show to End in 2026
During Thursday night’s taping, Stephen Colbert shared the news with his live audience, revealing he had learned about the show’s fate just the night before. As boos filled the studio, Colbert said, “Yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of the show, it is the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”
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Clearly emotional, Colbert expressed heartfelt appreciation to his fans and the 200-strong crew who’ve worked behind the scenes. “Let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it. And it is a job I am looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”
Colbert took over The Late Show in 2015 from David Letterman, who helmed it for 22 years. His version of the show has dominated ratings, becoming the #1 late-night program for nine consecutive seasons. CBS praised Colbert and his team, saying, “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult.”
The announcement follows corporate shifts as CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, navigates a possible merger with Skydance. In the meantime, CBS assures viewers it will celebrate Colbert’s contributions over the coming months “alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
Stephen Colbert’s Net Worth, Salary, Career, and More
Stephen Colbert isn’t just a late-night host—he’s a cultural institution. From political satire to intellectual comedy, Colbert has spent decades reshaping American television. And with a net worth of $75 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com, his journey has been just as lucrative as it’s been influential.
Colbert’s fortune has been built largely on his commanding presence in television. While The Colbert Report helped cement his reputation with an annual salary of around $3 million, his role as host of The Late Show skyrocketed his earnings. With a contract through 2026 that ensures $75 million in total compensation, Colbert is now pulling in roughly $15 million each year from CBS. Add to that his production company, Spartina Productions, and you’re looking at annual gross earnings approaching $20 million.
But the money doesn’t stop at his nightly monologues. His income stream also includes around $1 million a year from select brand endorsements and another $2 million through royalties and syndication, thanks to reruns and digital streaming rights of The Colbert Report. Book royalties from his bestsellers, America Again and I Am America (And So Can You!), also provide consistent returns.
Born on May 13, 1964, in Washington, D.C., Colbert was the youngest of eleven children. His early life was marked by tragedy—the loss of his father and two brothers in a 1974 plane crash. Raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Colbert found solace in performance and storytelling.
His career took off with appearances on The Dana Carvey Show, Saturday Night Live, and Good Morning America. A key moment came in 1997 when The Daily Show producer Madeline Smithberg hired him. Soon after, his show Strangers with Candy was picked up by Comedy Central, and Colbert skillfully juggled both.
He gained national fame with The Daily Show, earning three Emmys between 2004 and 2006. That success paved the way for The Colbert Report, where he portrayed a satirical conservative pundit—a character that earned both Emmy and Peabody awards.
Since 2015, he has led The Late Show with a distinct political edge, inheriting the seat from David Letterman. Outside of work, Colbert is a devoted family man, married to Evelyn McGee-Colbert since 1993, with whom he shares three children. A practicing Catholic and a registered Democrat, he even holds ordination with the Universal Life Church Monastery.
Colbert’s journey from Charleston to CBS’s biggest stage tells not just about his comedic brilliance, but also about his smart business, deep resilience, and a voice that connects with millions.
