Norah O'Donnell: The Face Behind The News

Norah O'Donnell's Net Worth and Salary: A Closer Look

Hey there! Let’s dive into the world of Norah O’Donnell, the accomplished American journalist who has built a career that’s both impactful and lucrative. Norah has a net worth of a cool $22 million, thanks in large part to her impressive work at CBS. As the anchor of the CBS Evening News and a contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes, she pulls in an annual salary of $8 million. That’s not too shabby, right? And when she’s not anchoring the evening news, Norah also steps in as a substitute host for CBS's Sunday morning show, Face the Nation.

Early Life: Roots and Beginnings

Growing up, Norah Morahan O’Donnell was surrounded by a rich tapestry of family history. Born on January 23, 1974, in Washington, D.C., Norah is the daughter of Noreen Bernadette O’Kane and Francis Lawrence O’Donnell, a doctor and U.S. Army officer. Both her parents are of Irish descent, with roots stretching back to Derry, Belfast, and Donegal—meaning Norah’s heritage crosses both sides of the Irish border. Her grandparents were Irish immigrants, and her grandmother even lived in the U.S. without proper documentation for 16 years before gaining legal status.

When Norah was just three years old, her family moved to San Antonio, Texas. From there, they embarked on an international journey, spending two years in Seoul, South Korea, where her father was stationed. They also lived in Germany for a time. At the tender age of 10, Norah got her first taste of broadcasting by recording English language lessons for the Korean Educational Development Institute. After her father completed his assignment in Korea, the family returned to San Antonio. Norah graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1991 and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy (1995) and a Master of Arts in liberal studies (2003) from the prestigious Georgetown University.

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A Career in Journalism: From Congress to CBS

Norah’s career in journalism began with a role as a staff writer covering Congress for the newspaper Roll Call. From there, she spent the next 12 years climbing the ranks at NBC. She became a regular commentator on Today, served as the Chief Washington Correspondent for MSNBC, and reported from the White House for NBC News. Along the way, she anchored segments on MSNBC Live and filled in as a news anchor on Weekend Today. Her reports were broadcast on NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, and MSNBC. Norah even stepped in for Chris Matthews on Hardball with Chris Matthews and has co-hosted the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on WNBC since 2007.

In 2011, Norah made the move to CBS, starting by filling in for Scott Pelley on the CBS Evening News. She quickly became the network’s Chief White House Correspondent in 2011 and 2012. By the fall of 2012, Norah was named a co-anchor of CBS This Morning. Then, in May 2019, Susan Zrinsky, the president of CBS News, announced that Norah had been chosen as the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. She also took on the role of lead anchor for political events and became a contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes. Her final broadcast of CBS This Morning aired on May 16, 2019. With this appointment, Norah became only the third woman, after Connie Chung and Katie Couric, to anchor the weekday edition of CBS Evening News.

Accolades: Recognizing Excellence

Norah’s dedication to journalism has earned her numerous accolades over the years. In 2008, she won an Emmy as part of the NBC News Election Night coverage team for Outstanding Live Coverage of a Breaking News Story–Long Form. Then, in 2018, she took home another Emmy in the category of Outstanding Investigative Report in a Newscast for her report on "Sexual Assault in the Air Force Academy" on CBS This Morning. This report was the result of six months of painstaking investigation. Later that same year, the story received an honorable mention for the Edgar Allen Poe Award from the White House Correspondents’ Association.

In addition to these honors, Norah was named one of Washington’s 100 most powerful women by Washingtonian Magazine and has been recognized by Irish American Magazine as one of the Top 100 Irish Americans. She also received the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Breaking News Coverage for her coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks with her story "D.C. In Crisis," which aired on Dateline NBC.

Personal Life: Balancing Work and Family

When she’s not in front of the camera, Norah enjoys spending time with her family. She’s married to D.C. restaurateur Geoff Tracy, whom she met during their freshman year at Georgetown University. The couple tied the knot in June 2001 and has three children: twins Grace and Henry, and a daughter named Riley. The family splits their time between homes in Washington, D.C., and the Upper West Side in New York City. In 2010, Norah and Geoff co-authored a cookbook for parents titled Baby Love: Healthy, Easy, Delicious Meals for Your Baby and Toddler, offering practical tips for feeding young children nutritious meals.