Don Lemon and CNN reached a settlement, according to Forbes, which reported that former CNN executive Allison Gollust confirmed the deal. But the often-cited $24.5 million figure remains unconfirmed: it came from unnamed sources in a report CNN called “incorrect.” The settlement’s amount and terms have not been disclosed in the cited reporting.
Did Don Lemon get $24.5 million from CNN?
It has not been established that Lemon received $24.5 million. TheWrap reported on February 26, 2024, that the separation deal was worth approximately that amount, citing unnamed sources. The outlet said its figure represented full pay for the 3.5 years it reported remained on Lemon’s contract after his departure. Neither the amount nor that contract calculation was publicly confirmed in the cited accounts.
CNN responded to TheWrap: “While we never comment on specifics of any employee contract, this story is incorrect.” The statement disputed the report but did not identify which detail was wrong. The Washington Examiner reported the same response on February 27, 2024, and likewise noted that CNN did not specify the error.
What is confirmed about the settlement?
On February 28, 2024, Forbes reported that Allison Gollust, a former CNN executive who responded on Lemon’s behalf, confirmed that Lemon and CNN had settled. Forbes said she did not confirm details. The available reporting therefore supports the existence of a settlement, but not its value, payment structure, or conditions.
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Why the $24.5 million figure is uncertain
TheWrap’s February 26 report attributed the approximate $24.5 million figure to unnamed sources. CNN then called the story incorrect without clarifying whether it disputed the amount, the reported contract term, or another detail. Forbes subsequently described the number as TheWrap’s report and said Gollust had not confirmed any details.
That leaves a clear distinction: settlement existence was confirmed in Forbes’ account, while the reported amount and terms were not. The cited reporting does not establish that Lemon received $24.5 million in cash, that his net worth increased by that amount, or that a court ordered CNN to pay him. The 3.5 years of remaining contract time was also part of TheWrap’s account, not a separately confirmed settlement term.
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Context for Lemon’s departure
Forbes reported that CNN fired Lemon in April 2023, after nearly two decades at the network. He had spent about five months co-hosting CNN This Morning after losing his prime-time show. TheWrap reported that tensions during the morning-show period included Lemon’s comments about then-presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s age. That background does not establish the settlement amount or resolve the competing accounts about the reported deal.
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What the reporting does—and does not—show
- Settlement: Forbes reported that Gollust confirmed Lemon and CNN settled.
- Reported figure: TheWrap put the deal at approximately $24.5 million, citing unnamed sources.
- Dispute: CNN called TheWrap’s story incorrect but did not say which detail it disputed.
- Undisclosed terms: The cited reporting does not establish the actual amount, payment arrangement, conditions, or Lemon’s net-worth change.
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