Lester Holt Biography
Lester Holt is a well-known American broadcast journalist, celebrated for his long-standing role as the anchor of NBC Nightly News and its Kids Edition. He’s currently at the helm of Dateline NBC. On June 18, 2015, Holt officially took over as the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News after Brian Williams stepped down due to controversy over his Iraq War reporting. With this appointment, Holt made history as the first Black man to solo-anchor a major network evening newscast in the U.S., following in the groundbreaking footsteps of Max Robinson.
Holt is widely respected for his calm demeanor and fair reporting style, earning him a strong level of public trust throughout his career. In fact, a national poll in 2018 even named him America’s most trusted television news anchor. He also gained significant attention when he moderated the first presidential debate in 2016 between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Reactions to his performance were mixed; while some applauded his real-time fact-checking, others pointed out the challenges he faced in managing interruptions and keeping the debate on track.
Despite NBC Nightly News dominating evening television ratings for years during the Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams eras, the program fell to second place in the ratings during Holt’s tenure, as competition in the television news landscape intensified. After nearly a decade leading NBC Nightly News, Holt stepped away from the broadcast on May 30, 2025. He then fully embraced his role at Dateline NBC, where he could focus on long-form investigative journalism and in-depth storytelling—an area he has always been passionate about.
In May 2025, Lester Holt bid farewell as the anchor of NBC Nightly News, moving into a full-time hosting position at Dateline NBC. During his heartfelt goodbye broadcast, Holt left viewers with a touching message: “Please take care of yourself, and each other — and I’ll do the same.”
Lester Holt Age
How old is Lester? He is 67 years old as of 2026. Lester was born on March 8, 1959, in Hamilton Air Force Base, California, in the United States of America. Besides, he commends his birthday on the 8th of March each year.
Lester Holt Education
He was enrolled and graduated from Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova where he earned his diploma. He, later on, attended the University of California State majoring in Government but never graduated.
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Lester Holt Nationality
Holt is of American nationality and citizenship. Besides, he was born and grew up in Hamilton, California, in the United States of America. In addition, Lester belongs to the white heritage.
Lester Holt Height | Measurements
Lester approximately stands at a height of 6 feet 2 inches ( Approx. 1.88 m) tall, as Lester is a man of above-average stature. Nevertheless, he has not revealed any details regarding his other body measurements in the public domain.
Lester Holt Family | Parents
Holt was born and grew up in California, United States under the loving care of his mother June, and his father Lester Don Holt Sr. Moreover, he is the youngest child of four. His grandparents originated from Jamaica. Nevertheless, he has not revealed more data regarding his siblings in public places. Hence, our team is still investigating this section and we will update this as soon as possible.
Lester Holt Wife | Children | Partner
He is happily married to his beautiful and lovely wife Carol Hagen. In addition, the couple is blessed with two sons known as Stefan and Cameron. His son, Stefan, graduated from the University of Pepperdine in the year 2009. Stefan also served as the morning news anchor at NBC operated and owned a network known as WMAQ television based in Chicago. Nevertheless, he is now reporting on the same floor as his father. Thus, Lester has not shared many details regarding his marital status.
Lester Holt Sons
Lester Holt is a proud dad of two sons, both of whom have carved out their own successful paths. He and his wife, Carol Hagen, often emphasize the significance of family, even with Holt’s busy schedule in broadcast journalism.
Stefan Holt
Their eldest son, Stefan Holt, has followed in his father’s footsteps and made a name for himself as a television journalist. He’s worked as a news anchor and reporter for several major NBC-affiliated stations across the country. Over the years, he’s gained recognition for his work anchoring local newscasts in cities like Chicago and New York.
Many viewers have pointed out the striking resemblance between Stefan and his dad, not just in looks but also in their calm on-air presence and professional reporting style. Stefan’s career in journalism has often caught attention, as he represents the next generation of the Holt family in the world of television news. Lester has shared how proud he feels watching his son thrive in the same industry, though he’s also joked about their friendly competition when it comes to ratings and broadcasts.
Cameron Holt
On the other hand, Holt’s younger son, Cameron Holt, chose a different route away from journalism. Cameron has made his mark in the financial sector and tends to stay out of the public eye compared to his father and brother. Unlike Stefan, Cameron leads a more private life, and there’s less information available about him. Still, Lester has mentioned both of his sons in interviews, often reflecting on family life and the balance between work and parenthood.
Lester Holt as a Father
Despite spending decades covering breaking news, elections, wars, and national tragedies, Lester Holt has always highlighted the importance of family. He frequently credits his wife and sons for keeping him grounded throughout his high-profile broadcasting career. The Holt family also shares a love for music. Lester, an accomplished bass guitarist, has occasionally jammed with musicians and has spoken about his enjoyment of music.
Lester Holt Salary
Holt mainly earns his income from his role as senior journalist and correspondent for Sunday Today. Therefore, he has an annual estimated salary of $110,000.
Lester Holt’s Net Worth
He has credited the largest percentage of his wealth to his journalism profession. Therefore, he has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
Lester Holt Nightly News
He worked for 19 years with CBS, as a columnist, international journalist, and anchor. He later became a reporter for WCBS television situated in New York. Lester then moved to WBBM television situated in Chicago and served for 14 years as a columnist for the nightly news. Lester not only worked at the anchor desk but also filled in as an anchor mainly from disturbed spots all over the globe such as Northern Ireland, Somalia, Haiti, Iraq, and El Salvador. In addition, he joined MSNBC News station in the year 2000. In the year 2003, Lester assumed full-time obligations at NBC News as a substitute journalist for the weekday edition.
Nevertheless, following the demise of previous co-anchor David Blossom, Holt became a full-time journalist for Weekend Today. In addition, he held the position until the year 2005. During that tenure, he broadcasted a two-hour daily report on the MSNBC News channel. Later on, he became the columnist for the weekend edition of NBC Evening News. Besides, he broadcasted the show for eight years prior to replacing Brian Williams as a permanent columnist of the weekday edition. At the moment, he is the host for NBC Dateline aside from his primary responsibilities at the NBC News station, Holt hosted a unique for The History Channel about the 9/11 fear-inspired notions.
In May 2025, Lester Holt bid farewell as the anchor of NBC Nightly News, moving into a full-time hosting position at Dateline NBC. During his heartfelt goodbye broadcast, Holt left viewers with a touching message: “Please take care of yourself, and each other — and I’ll do the same.”
Did Lester Holt Retire?
No, Lester Holt hasn’t completely retired from journalism. In May 2025, he stepped down from his long-standing role as the anchor of NBC Nightly News after nearly a decade at the helm. But instead of leaving the world of television behind, Holt took on a full-time position as the host of Dateline NBC, where he continues to dive into investigative reporting and tell compelling stories.
Lester Holt Retiring
While many fans viewed Holt’s exit from NBC Nightly News as a retirement, NBC made it clear that he was merely changing roles within the network. Over the years, Holt has covered everything from breaking news to presidential elections, wars, and significant global events. His transition to Dateline NBC represents a fresh chapter in his broadcasting journey rather than a complete exit from the screen.
What Happened to Lester Holt?
There’s nothing concerning about Lester Holt. After years of anchoring one of America’s most-watched evening newscasts, he decided to step away from the intense daily grind of NBC Nightly News. Holt expressed a desire to focus more on long-form journalism through Dateline NBC, a show he had been part of for years before taking on the role of full-time host.
Lester Holt Last Day
Holt’s last broadcast as the anchor of NBC Nightly News aired on May 30, 2025. The heartfelt sendoff included tributes from colleagues, memorable moments from his journalism career, and messages celebrating his decade-long leadership of the program. In his closing remarks, Holt told viewers, “Please take care of yourself, and each other — and I’ll do the same,” a farewell that struck a chord with audiences nationwide.
Lester Holt Replacement
As for who will take over for Holt, NBC News is ushering in a new chapter for NBC Nightly News, the show was taken over by Tom LLamas
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt truly became a staple of evening news during the 2010s and early 2020s. Holt was widely praised for his composed demeanor, professionalism, and reliable coverage during significant national events, from elections and the COVID-19 pandemic to natural disasters and international conflicts. He also had the honor of moderating the first presidential debate in 2016 between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Why Is Lester Holt Leaving NBC Nightly News?
So, why did Lester Holt decide to leave NBC Nightly News? He made the choice to focus entirely on Dateline NBC and its in-depth investigative storytelling. After years of managing the demanding schedule and pressures of nightly news, he wanted to channel more of his energy into deeper narratives and special reports. NBC characterized this move as a natural progression in Holt’s impressive career rather than a sudden exit.
Lester Holt Illness
When it comes to Lester Holt’s health, there haven’t been any credible reports suggesting that he stepped away from NBC Nightly News due to illness or any serious health issues. Sure, some rumors popped up online after he announced his departure, but NBC never hinted that health concerns were a factor in his decision. Holt has kept himself in the public eye by continuing to appear on Dateline NBC, reassuring fans that he’s still very much engaged in journalism.
