Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Don Lemon is an American television journalist who’s most famous for being a lead news anchor and presenter for CNN.
Lemon kicked off his journalism career as a weekend news anchor for local television networks in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. He then had a stint as a correspondent for various NBC news programs, including ‘Today’ and ‘NBC Nightly News,’ before eventually joining CNN in 2006.
Lemon’s first designation at CNN was a news correspondent. He later took on the more prominent role of presenting the highly-acclaimed CNN news program ‘CNN Tonight’ in 2014.
In addition to his illustrious career as a news anchor and presenter, Don Lemon is also a television host and writer. Lemon has hosted his own show titled ‘Don Lemon Tonight.’ He has also authored two books.
Don Lemon Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Don Lemon |
| Popular Name: | Don Lemon |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | March 1, 1966 |
| Age: | 56 years |
| Parents: | Wilmon Lee Richardson and Katherine Marie Bouligney |
| Siblings: | L’Tanya “Leisa” Lemon Grimes (deceased) and Yma Lemon |
| Birth Place: | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Mixed (African-American and Creole) |
| Education: | Baker High School, Louisiana State University, and Brooklyn College |
| Marital Status: | Engaged to real estate agent Tim Malone (since April 2019) |
| Sexual Orientation: | Gay |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | None |
| Dating: | Tim Malone |
| Net Worth: | USD 12 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Journalism, Television Hosting, Writing, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 6′ 0″ (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 70 kg; In pounds: 154 lbs |
Early Life
Don Lemon was born on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, to Wilmon Lee Richardson and Katherine Marie Bouligney.
Lemon graduated from Baker High School. He later attended Louisiana State University and Brooklyn College, graduating from the latter with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Career Information
Don Lemon kicked off his journalism career while still attending Brooklyn College. He interned at WNYW while in college.
Earlier in his professional career, Lemon worked for several Fox affiliates in Chicago, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri for several years. He also corresponded for NBC affiliates in Chicago and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Lemon’s next big assignment was as a reporter for NBC News’ New York City operations. Some of his roles included working as a correspondent for NBC’s programs ‘Today’ and ‘NBC Nightly News.’ He also anchored ‘Weekend Today’ during the same period.
Don Lemon joined CNN in September 2006 as a news correspondent. In 2014, Lemon began presenting ‘CNN Tonight.’ He has also co-hosted the network’s program ‘New Year’s Eve Live,’ alongside Brooke Baldwin.
Don Lemon has also dabbled in television talk show hosting and writing in addition to his other journalistic engagements. Lemon hosted ‘Don Lemon Tonight’ in April 2022, although only two episodes of the talk show were released. He has since authored two books, namely ‘Transparent’ (published in 2011) and ‘This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism’ (published in 2021).
Awards and Recognitions
Don Lemon has received several awards in the course of his journalistic career. Examples include one Edward R. Murrow Award, one Native Son Award, and three Regional Emmy Awards.
Don Lemon’s Net Worth
Don Lemon has a net worth of $12 million, as of 2023. Lemon is one of the richest media personalities of African-American descent. He’s also one of the highest paid. The television presenter and host reportedly earns $4 million annually for his role on CNN alone.
Outside of television, Don Lemon’s earnings come from book royalties. Lemon has since authored two bestsellers.
Lessons from Don Lemon
1. Take pride in your identity
Don Lemon takes pride in the fact that he’s one of the most successful media personalities of African-American ethnicity. Lemon is also one of the most influential LGBTQ people on television.
2. Use your identity and experience to make a lasting impact
Lemon has leveraged his sexual orientation and racial identity to cause a lasting impact, not only in the media fraternity but worldwide. In 2009, Ebony magazine voted Lemon as one of the 150 most influential African-Americans. And in 2014, the news anchor featured on The Advocate magazine’s list of the 50 Most Influential LGBTQ People in Media.
3. Speak out your mind
Don Lemon is an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. Lemon has particularly accused Trump of being racist and supporting white supremacy. But the most interesting part about Don’s anti-trump rhetoric is that most of them were voiced during CNN’s programming. That only portrays Lemon as a liberal-minded journalist who says what he feels even if it means putting his career on the line.
Famous Quotes by Don Lemon
• African American history is really American history because African Americans really helped build this country.
• If I have my opinion about something, you have your opinion about something, we don’t have to fight over it. And we can have a conversation. We can also disagree without being disagreeable, and we can just disagree, which is fine. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like you, or you don’t like me. We just disagree.
• If you’re going to be in the business of news and telling people the truth… you’ve got to be honest. You’ve got to have the same rules for yourself as you do for everyone else.
• There’s a degree of deception in silence.
• The truth is the truth is the truth. And as long as you tell the truth, you’ll be okay in the end.
Summary
Whether Don Lemon became so incredibly famous in the media fraternity for his sexual orientation or racial identity, one thing is for sure. The outspoken news anchor takes no prisoners when it comes to calling out what he believes constitutes bad leadership and social injustice. And with a $12 million net worth, Lemon is easily one of the wealthiest African-Americans on CNN.
