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Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto is leaving the network after 28 years, during which time he has amassed a ton of money to his name.

Why it matters

Cavuto’s final day is Thursday after the media veteran turned down a new contract with Fox News. According to reports from The Independent, the new contract offered Cavuto a lower salary.

He previously anchored Your world weekdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Cavuto: Coast to Coast weekdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Fox Business and Cavuto Live Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m

Before leaving, Cavuto, 66, was one of the few Fox anchors who had been with Fox since it began broadcasting in 1996.

How much is Neil Cavuto’s net worth?

Cavuto is reportedly worth around $25 million after his time at Fox. His annual salary at Fox was also reported to be $7 million.

What you should know

Cavuto’s reputation as a host shaped the brand’s “fair and balanced” mantra, although more conservative executives have taken over the network’s leadership in recent years.

The news anchor received a wave of criticism from viewers during the pandemic when he was vocal about his own health issues with the coronavirus.

“Let me be clear,” Cavuto said in 2022. “Doctors say if I hadn’t been vaccinated at all, I wouldn’t be here.”

Cavuto was also one of the few hosts who outwardly clashed with President-elect Donald Trump, despite Fox’s tendency to pander to conservative viewers.

Cavuto corrected many of Trump’s claims, whether they concerned Covid-19 or his economic stance on tariffs.

“I don’t work for you,” Cavuto once responded to Trump. “My job is to protect you, not to flatter you or tear you apart, but simply to cover you.”

Cavuto criticized Trump’s misinformation about the government’s response to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton as recently as October.

“This type of misinformation is coming out, and whether it is being spread by a politician or someone you think is someone of standing and authority, it is false and bullshit and cannot be tolerated,” Cavuto said at the time.

Cavuto also fact-checked Trump during a campaign event.

“We continue to monitor the president’s comments,” Cavuto said in February, referring to the 2020 election. “And I don’t want to offend him if some of you want to continue the hearing. But I have to say that while the former president is entitled to his opinion, he is not entitled to his own facts.”

What people say

Fox said in a statement: “Neil Cavuto’s illustrious career has been a masterclass in journalism and we are extremely proud of his incredible 28 years at Fox News Media. His programs have defined business news and set standards for the entire industry. We wish him from the bottom of our hearts.” Farewell and all the best for his next chapter.

Alex Beene, a financial literacy lecturer at the University of Tennessee at Martin, shared Newsweek: “Neil Cavuto has truly transformed Fox Business Network from a struggling business when it first became a major competitor to CNBC and other business news networks. He has been instrumental over the last 15 years in attracting top talent from the media world such as Don Imus and Maria Bartiromo, well-known personalities with built-in audiences that a new channel desperately needed, not to mention its own daily program moderated.”

Beene added: “It is also important to note that Cavuto had several run-ins with President Trump during his first political term, to the point that Trump actually complained about him at a rally. “He is of retirement age, has had a good career and…” will most likely not want to stay for the next presidential term.”

What’s next?

With Cavuto leaving Fox News, some fear the media company will become even more conservative, as Cavuto was one of the few Fox hosts who was considered more balanced in his political coverage.