Salary
Upon being promoted to host the morning show, CNN raised Kaitlan Collins’ salary from $1 million per year to $3.5 million per year.
Early Life and Education
BKaitlan Collins was born on April 7, 1992, in Prattville, Alabama. She attended the University of Alabama, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Journalism in 2014. While in college, she developed a strong interest in political reporting and media, laying the groundwork for a fast-moving career in Washington.
The Daily Caller
After graduating, Collins began her career at The Daily Caller, a conservative news and opinion site co-founded by Tucker Carlson. She was hired as an entertainment reporter in 2014, but her strong reporting quickly earned her a promotion to White House Correspondent in 2017. In that role, she covered the early years of the Trump administration and built a reputation for direct, persistent questioning during press briefings.
CNN
In 2017, Collins joined CNN as a White House Correspondent. Her tenure during the Trump administration made her a national media figure, known for her no-nonsense style and willingness to challenge the president and his spokespeople. She played a key role in covering major political stories, including the Mueller investigation, the impeachment inquiries, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, she was promoted to Chief White House Correspondent. Collins has also been the subject of controversy and support for press freedom. In July 2018, she was barred from a White House Rose Garden event after asking questions about Trump’s relationship with Michael Cohen. CNN and numerous media organizations publicly backed her, citing the importance of a free press and journalists’ right to hold public officials accountable.
Rise to Prominence
In September 2022, CNN launched a revamped morning show co-hosted by Collins, Don Lemon, and Poppy Harlow. The show struggled to find ratings traction, and internal tensions reportedly contributed to Don Lemon’s firing in April 2023. Collins remained a central figure at the network and was chosen to moderate a high-stakes CNN town hall with Donald Trump in May 2023, a moment that significantly raised her national profile. Shortly after, she was given her own primetime slot on CNN, taking over the 9 p.m. hour once occupied by Chris Cuomo. With this promotion, she became one of the youngest anchors in CNN’s history to hold a solo primetime position.
