Bill O’Reilly, who was ousted Wednesday from his top-rated TV show on Fox News over allegations of sexual harassment, will receive almost $25 million for agreeing to leave the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.
O’Reilly was one of the highest-paid TV show anchors, and this year struck a new deal that paid him between $20 million to $25 million, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. The new contract limited any payout to one year’s salary rather than the total due for the full term, the person said.
The payout is less than the $40 million 21st Century Fox Inc. had to pay Fox News co-founder Roger Ailes to depart last year after he was accused of sexual harassment.
With one of the the most loyal audiences in TV, Fox News has maintained its lead in the ratings race despite an internal crisis that began last year when Ailes was accused of sexual harassment, leading to his ouster from the network he helped create. The network has pummeled CNN and MSNBC in the ratings since the presidential election in November.
O’Reilly, 67, has been the most recognizable face of Fox News for much of its 21 years, meaning his exit will test viewer loyalty.
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