Megyn Kelly just jumped from Fox News to NBC News - here's her advice on negotiating contracts
In 2016, Kelly clashed publicly with President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters, shared her story of allegedly being sexually harassed by former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes (whom the network ousted in July), and moderated presidential debates, all while hosting her show "The Kelly File" five nights a week.
She signed on with NBC for an unspecified multiyear contract, the amount of which hasn't been made public yet. Kelly was reportedly making $10 million to $12 million a year at Fox, so she likely snagged a similar figure at NBC.
In her book "Settle for More," Kelly gives her advice for negotiating contracts, describing how she handled her first at Fox News in 2004.
She wrote that she hired an agent to negotiate for her, and told him how much money she wanted to get, but he "dismissively" told Kelly that her number was too high and she should take what Fox was offering her. She held her ground, explaining to him that she had nine years of experience as a lawyer and a stellar work ethic.
"Sure enough, Fox paid the number I requested," Kelly wrote. "It's not a bad lesson for young people starting out: trust your instincts. Sometimes even those who are supposed to be looking out for you can underestimate your value. Often you are your own best advocate."
She wrote that she fired that agent right after she started at Fox, and has negotiated every contract she's been offered there since.
"Settle for More" has been on the New York Times Best Sellers list since it debuted November 15. Kelly's final show on Fox News will air Friday, January 6 at 9 p.m. ET.