Don Lemon Is $24.5 Million Richer After Securing Huge Settlement From CNN

Highlights

• Don Lemon's departure from CNN resulted in a $24 million settlement, tripling his net worth.
• Lemon criticized CNN's direction, preferring to avoid platforming liars and bigots.
• Lemon now enjoys creative freedom with his own show after leaving CNN.

Don Lemon has reached a settlement from CNN after being pushed out by the network last year, and he’s officially $24 million richer.

Lemon, who co-hosted the morning show alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow, attracted attention for his televised comment about Nikki Haley being past "her prime" last year, which drew criticism from various quarters, including his colleagues. Subsequently, CNN removed him from the airwaves, ultimately leading to his departure from the network.

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In response to Lemon's exit, CNN issued a statement expressing gratitude for his 17 years of service and acknowledging his enduring connection to the CNN family. They conveyed their best wishes for his future endeavors and pledged their support for his forthcoming pursuits.

However, Don made it clear he wasn’t parting from the network on amicable terms. This led to Lemon and the network getting into heated negotiations about his payout.

“I have a responsibility as an American — not only as a journalist — to tell the truth and abide by the promises of the Constitution,” Lemon told ABC24 Memphis . “Because the Constitution says a more perfect union – not a perfect union. I’m not perfect. No one is.”

“I don’t believe in platforming liars and bigots, insurrectionists and election deniers and putting them on the same footing as people who are telling the truth; people who are fighting for what’s right, people who are abiding by the Constitution," Don went on, implying that CNN’s former CEO Chris Licht was pushing to have more controversial and conservative hosts on its platform.

Now, reports confirm that Lemon, 57, has reached an agreement for a separation deal valued at approximately $24.5 million, representing the full compensation from his final contract with CNN. With a net worth of approximately $12 million before the new settlement, Lemon will apparently triple his personal fortune thanks to the agreement.

The television personality has also raved about the freedom he’s experienced since saying goodbye to CNN, as it’s allowed him to focus on his own show, which Don sees as a huge silver lining.

“I am used to being in a studio system where you have producers [to] take care of you,” he said last April of starting The Don Lemon Show. “Now I am the owner. I am the entrepreneur. I have to do payroll. Who is going to do my graphics? I have to hire a writer. I have to hire the producer. I have to do all these things.”

“It’s a lot of work, so I really enjoy doing it — but it is a little bit unnerving because it is new, but exciting,” he continued. “I am going to be the same — but more. Just wait, I don’t have to worry about getting in trouble. Freedom it’s the best feeling, freedom.”

Clearly, Don’s departure from CNN gave him more financial as well as creative freedom.

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