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What Is Melissa Lee Net Worth
Melissa Lee is a prominent Chinese-American journalist and news anchor, widely recognized for her work on CNBC. Her career encompasses roles as a reporter, journalist, and host across various financial news programs. She has built a solid reputation in the financial news industry over the years. As of recent estimates, Melissa Lee’s net worth is approximately $5 million to $6 million.
Melissa Lee Net Worth and Career Beginnings
Melissa Lee was born in Great Neck, New York, and her early life significantly shaped her career trajectory. Her grandfather immigrated from rural China to Buffalo, New York. Her father graduated from Columbia University and moved to Great Neck, New York. Lee’s initial exposure to journalism came from her hometown newspaper, the Great Neck Record, where she began her career. She graduated from Harvard College in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government, also serving as the Assistant Managing Editor of The Harvard Crimson, demonstrating her early commitment to journalism and strong academic background. Before transitioning to television, Lee worked as a consultant at Mercer Management Consulting, focusing on the banking and credit card sectors. This experience provided her with a foundational understanding of finance, which she later leveraged in her broadcasting career.
CNBC Career and Programs Hosted by Melissa Lee
Lee joined CNBC in 2004 and has become a familiar face on the network. Her roles have included hosting several key programs. She hosts CNBC’s “Fast Money,” which airs weeknights and originates from the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. “Fast Money” aims to provide viewers with actionable news and trading information. Since January 2009, she occasionally hosted “Closing Bell” when the anchor was unavailable. She also hosts “Options Action,” a weekly program dedicated to explaining options trading. Additionally, Lee is a member of the ensemble cast of CNBC’s “Power Lunch”, which airs on weekdays. Previously, Lee was co-anchor of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” and hosted “Money in Motion: Currency Trading” and “Options Action”. These roles have solidified her presence and influence within CNBC and the broader financial news landscape. In 2023, she was the host of CNBC’s “Fast Money”. Melissa Lee took over as host of CNBC’s 5pm ET daily show, Fast Money when Dylan Ratigan left CNBC for companion network MSNBC on March 27, 2009. She was the interim host after Ratigan’s departure, until April of the same year when she was appointed permanent host.
Documentaries and Recognition
Beyond her regular hosting duties, Melissa Lee has also anchored several documentaries for CNBC. These documentaries cover a range of topics, including “Made in China: The People’s Republic of Profit,” filmed in Beijing and Shanghai. She has also hosted documentaries such as “Porn: Business of Pleasure,” “Code Wars: America’s Cyber Threat,” “Bitcoin: Boom or Bust,” “Coca-Cola: The Real Story Behind the Real Thing,” and “The $50M Con.” Lee’s contributions to financial journalism have earned her multiple accolades. She received a 2010 Gracie Award for Outstanding Host-News and a Gerald Loeb Award nomination in 2009 for her co-anchoring of a CNBC Special Report, “Is Your Money Safe? The Fall of Lehman Brothers.” She has also received two Emmy Award nominations for Business News. In 2007, she was recognized for her report, “The $50M Con,” about a college student-turned scammer who ran a fake hedge fund and was ultimately caught by the FBI. And in 2003, she was nominated for her reporting on the proxy voting of mutual funds.
Personal Life
Melissa Lee is married to Ben Kallo, a financial analyst. They have twins, born in 2019. She grew up idolizing New York news anchor Kaity Tong, who inspired Lee to become a reporter. Lee’s parents weren’t happy when she dropped pre-med to pursue other passions. When she graduated college and worked as a consultant, her parents offered her a proposition: go back to school for business and they’ll pay for it. After transitioning to studying journalism in college, Lee was struggling to find work. “After I did all these internships in newspapers in college, and when I graduated or when I was about to graduate, I couldn’t get a job.” She remembers a family trip to China, where they had finished climbing the Great Wall of China. At the base, there was a vendor selling shirts that read “I just climbed the Great Wall of China” and Lee’s mother wanted to buy one for every family member.
Salary Details
While specific contract details are not publicly available, it’s estimated that Melissa Lee earns an annual salary exceeding $500,000 from her position at CNBC. Some sources estimate her salary to be around $1 million annually. Her consistent presence and key roles in multiple programs contribute to her overall compensation. Her primary role as the host of “Fast Money” and her involvement in other shows like “Options Action” and “Power Lunch” play a significant part in her earnings.
