Revealed: Les Moonves's Assets & Salary - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

Many fans are curious about Les Moonves's financial success in April 2026. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What Is Les Moonves' Net Worth and Salary?

In the mid-seventies, Moonves made a few minor appearances in the television shows "Barbary Coast," "Cannon," and "The Six Million Dollar Man." One of his early jobs in New York City was as an office assistant for casting director Caro Jones, who influenced or chose the casting for over 1,000 films during her career. As he attempted to get a foothold in the acting industry, Les found that he was better as a producer than an actor and started producing plays at small local venues. He moved to Los Angeles for a short time to produce a play. While living there, he produced the award-winning play "The Hasty Heart," which led to a job with Columbia Pictures.

Les Moonves was born Leslie Roy Moonves on October 6, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York. Both his parents were Jewish, and his mother worked as a nurse. His father owned and operated several gas stations in the area. Les grew up with his one sister and two brothers in Valley Stream, a town located in Nassau County, New York. He attended Valley Stream Central High School and then enrolled at Bucknell University with the intention of following a pre-med track. During his sophomore year, Moonves became bored with science and switched his major to Spanish. While at college, he developed an interest in acting and participated in several school theater productions.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

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In 1993, Moonves was promoted to president of Warner Bros. He oversaw the development of hit television shows such as "Friends" and "ER." In 1995, he left Warner Bros. to become president of entertainment at CBS Television, and in 1997, he was promoted to president of CBS Television.

Les Moonves is an American television and broadcasting executive who has a net worth of $400 million. Les Moonves was the chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation from 2003 until he resigned in September 2018. According to SEC filings made by CBS, over a 12-year period, Moonves' total compensation was $650.2 million. At the peak of his career, he earned roughly $70 million per year in salary.

On September 9, 2018, Les stepped down from his position as CEO of CBS after a second report was published by "The New Yorker" detailing sexual harassment and assault allegations. At the time of his firing, Les had around $180 million worth of compensation left in his contract. CBS said it would be withholding all financial exit packages pending an investigation into the charges. CBS and Moonves also jointly donated $20 million to various #metoo causes, money that will be deducted from any future exit compensation. As of this writing, CBS has not paid the remaining $160 million.

After graduating in 1971, Les moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. He enrolled at the Neighborhood Playhouse acting school, whose alumni includeJeff Goldblum,Grace Kelly,Burt Reynolds, andSteve McQueen. During this time, he lived in Greenwich Village and supported himself by bartending.

Moonves' career in the business side of film began in 1979 with a job in the development department of a film production company that was owned by Columbia Pictures. He left in 1981 to work in the development department for movies and miniseries at 21stCentury Fox. By 1984, he was head of creative affairs at Lorimar Television, and at the time it was sold to Warner Bros. in 1991, he had risen to become the president and CEO of the company. Les was able to retain his position after the sale.

In summary, the total wealth of Les Moonves reflects strategic moves.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.