Quick Info Lester Holt :
Name | Lester Don Holt Jr |
NickName | Lester Holt |
Date of Birth | March 8, 1959 |
Age (2024) | 65 Years |
Nationality | United States |
HomeTown | Hamilton Army Airfield |
Height | 6ft 2in |
Profession | American journalist and news anchor |
Education | California State University, Sacramento (no degree) |
Spouse | Carol Hagen (m. 1982) |
Childrens | Stefan Holt, Cameron Holt |
Parents | June Holt, Lester Holt Sr. |
Net Worth | 17-20 Million USD |
@lesterholtnbc |
Who is Lester Holt ?
Lester Don Holt Jr., born on March 8, 1959, is a prominent American journalist celebrated for his role as the anchor for the weekday edition of NBC Nightly News, NBC Nightly News Kids Edition, and Dateline NBC. Holt’s journey to the pinnacle of broadcast journalism has been marked by several milestones and accolades. He made history as the first Black male solo anchor for a major network newscast, following in the footsteps of trailblazers like Max Robinson.
Holt’s reputation for journalistic integrity and trustworthiness has earned him recognition as the most trusted TV news anchor in America, according to a 2018 poll. His commitment to factual reporting was notably demonstrated when he moderated the first presidential debate of 2016, earning praise for his adeptness in fact-checking false statements, a skill vital in today’s media landscape.
Born on Hamilton Air Force Base in Marin County, California, Holt’s multicultural background enriches his perspective. His maternal grandparents hailed from Jamaica, infusing his heritage with Anglo-Indian and Afro-Jamaican roots. Raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Holt was introduced to broadcasting by his older brother, sparking a lifelong passion for journalism.
Facts about Lester Holt :
- Lester Holt was born on March 8, 1959, on a military base in California.
- He is the first Black male solo anchor for a major network nightly newscast (NBC Nightly News).
- In a 2018 poll, he was ranked the most trusted TV news anchor in America.
- He moderated the first presidential debate of 2016 and was praised for fact-checking.
- His father was African American, and his mother had Jamaican and Anglo-Indian ancestry.
- Though he never graduated college, he has received several honorary degrees.
- His first on-air job was as a country music disc jockey.
- He spent 19 years working for CBS News before joining NBC.
- He has anchored shows like Weekend Today and Dateline NBC.
- He filled in for Brian Williams on Nightly News before permanently replacing him in 2015.
- He is known for signing off the news with “please take care of yourself, and each other.”
- He has made cameo appearances in movies and TV shows playing himself.
- He moderated a Republican primary debate in 2023.
- He interviewed President Donald Trump in 2017.
- He reported on the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
- He interviewed the president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, in 2023.
- He covered the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.
- He was once a sports reporter for the Olympics.
- He hosted a documentary about crystal skulls on the Sci-Fi Channel.
- He delivered a virtual commencement speech for Rutgers University in 2020.