Ana Cabrera Net Worth: From Local News to CNN Money Milestones

Ana Cabrera has built a remarkable fortune of $3.6 million through her rise from local news to becoming a national news anchor. Her financial success tells an inspiring story of dedication and talent in television journalism.

Born into a Mexican-American family in Denver, she turned her modest beginnings into a stellar career across major networks. Her annual earnings range between $56,896 and $106,000. Top television anchors at major networks often earn six-figure salaries, which suggests her CNN and MSNBC compensation lands at the higher end. Her work with the American Cancer Society has helped boost her professional reputation beyond her broadcasting career.

This piece will show how Ana Cabrera built her wealth. We'll track her path from local stations to CNN and MSNBC, and see what her success reveals about making money in television journalism today.

Ana Cabrera Net Worth: The Numbers and What They Mean

Ana Cabrera's financial status tells a story of steady career growth and success in broadcast journalism. Her wealth comes from her work as a journalist rather than entertainment ventures, which sets her apart from many TV personalities.

Estimated net worth: $3–4 million

Ana Cabrera's wealth stands at approximately $3.60 million. She ranks among CNN's financially successful personalities, yet she hasn't reached the level of top cable news anchors who boast eight-figure net worths. Her wealth grew steadily as she climbed the broadcast journalism ladder over a decade.

How her salary evolved from local news to CNN

Her financial growth matches her career path. She started with modest salaries at local stations like KHQ-TV and KMGH-TV in Denver. The big break came with her CNN move. Reports show her CNN earnings ranged between $56,896 and $106,000 per year. Her role as "CNN Newsroom" anchor likely pushed her earnings to the higher end of this range as she became more prominent at the network.

MSNBC salary expectations and comparisons

Her 2023 move to MSNBC brought new financial opportunities. The network hasn't disclosed her exact pay, but industry trends suggest she got an attractive offer to leave CNN. Entry-level production staff on "Ana Cabrera Reports" earn between $29.08 and $30.00 per hour. As the show's anchor, her earnings are much higher. Network switches often come with 20-30% salary bumps.

Other income sources and speaking engagements

TV salary isn't her only income source. National TV exposure opens doors to paid speaking gigs, though these numbers stay private. She can earn from industry events, potential book deals, and social media partnerships – common revenue streams for journalists at her level.

Her Mexican-American background and expertise in diversity coverage create opportunities for premium speaking engagements at corporate and educational events.

From Denver Roots to National Spotlight

Ana Cabrera built her multi-million dollar net worth after starting her experience in Denver, Colorado, where she was born on May 13, 1982. Her background shaped her journalistic point of view and financial path naturally.

Early life in a Mexican-American family

Ana grew up with four siblings in a middle-class Mexican-American household in Denver. Her father came from Mexican immigrants, while her mother's family worked as farmers. Both parents taught their children to value education and hard work.

"I had a couple of opportunities in high school to do some recordings, and it was fun," Ana remembers about her early interest in journalism. Her family celebrated diversity, which created a strong base for her future career covering stories from different points of view.

Education at Washington State University

Ana's college years at Washington State University combined athletic achievement with academic excellence. She earned an athletic scholarship that became her "ticket to higher education" and excelled on the university's track and field team. She studied at the Edward R.

Murrow College of Communication and graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Communication and Foreign Languages and Cultures. She built industry connections and finished two internships before her final year, which set the stage for her career ahead.

First steps in journalism: KHQ-TV and KMGH-TV

Ana started with internships at Denver's CBS affiliate KCNC and KMGH. She worked as an anchor and reporter at NBC affiliate KHQ-TV and FOX affiliate KAYU-TV in Spokane, Washington from January 2005 to July 2009.

She then returned to Denver to anchor the top-ranked daily morning news program at KMGH-TV Channel 7 News.

Her work at KMGH included coverage of the Aurora movie theater shooting and the 2012 Denver Presidential Debate. She won an Emmy Award for her reporting on the High Park fire in 2012—an early recognition that showed her potential for success at national networks.

CNN Years: Breaking News and Career Milestones

Ana Cabrera's career changed dramatically in 2013 when she joined CNN as a correspondent in Denver. This move from local television to a national network boosted her earning potential and laid the groundwork for her future multi-million dollar net worth.

Joining CNN as a Denver correspondent

CNN hired Cabrera for their investigative team, and she quickly became a valuable team member. Her role as a Denver-based correspondent let her utilize her local expertise while building her national profile. The position came with a much higher salary than her previous local news earnings, which helped grow her financial portfolio.

Anchoring CNN Newsroom and major coverage

Cabrera took over from Poppy Harlow as anchor of CNN's weekend edition of CNN Newsroom in March 2017. This promotion showed her growing value to the network. She moved up again in May 2021, securing a one-hour weekday afternoon slot.

Her achievements included hosting two presidential town halls and landing exclusive interviews. She became the first journalist to interview former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley after a historic North Korea sanctions vote.

Notable stories: Ferguson, Charlottesville, London Bridge

Cabrera's journalism made waves through her coverage of major national and international events. She dove deep into the Ferguson unrest after Michael Brown's shooting and secured exclusive interviews with the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney during grand jury hearings.

On top of that, she reported on the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, the 2017 London Bridge attack, and marijuana legalization. Her investigation into pot pesticides led to thousands of product recalls in Colorado.

Awards and recognitions during CNN tenure

Cabrera's professional value kept growing at CNN. She won the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award in 2019, adding to her Emmy award collection. Her final CNN broadcast aired on December 22, 2022, after nearly a decade with the network. She announced she was "learning about a new professional chapter" – which led to her MSNBC position and likely another salary increase.

The MSNBC Chapter and Expanding Influence

Ana Cabrera's move to MSNBC in early 2023 marked a pivotal moment in her career after spending ten years at CNN. This career shift likely increased her net worth through a competitive salary package.

Why she left CNN

Cabrera announced her departure from CNN in December 2022, calling it "a personal decision to explore a new professional chapter". She clarified that her exit had no connection to CNN's budget cuts under new CEO Chris Licht. Her decision to leave after nearly a decade since 2013 created opportunities to expand both her journalistic reach and financial prospects.

New role at MSNBC and show format

MSNBC welcomed Cabrera in April 2023 as the anchor of "Ana Cabrera Reports," which airs weekdays at 10 a.m. ET. The network designed her show to deliver breaking news and expert field reporting. She conducts interviews and leads discussions with newsmakers and experts.

Her addition aligned with MSNBC's strategy to transform its daytime programming toward straight-news reporting rather than opinion and analysis.

Public reception and media industry impact

MSNBC showed strong performance against CNN when Cabrera joined the network. The network outperformed CNN in total viewers during 2023's first quarter, securing its ninth consecutive quarterly viewership victory. MSNBC stood out as the only major cable news network to grow its weekday audience compared to the previous year, while FOX News and CNN saw double-digit drops in viewership.

Her evolving journalistic voice

Cabrera adapted well to MSNBC's format while keeping her reputation for solid reporting. She brought valuable experience from hosting two presidential town halls at CNN. MSNBC demonstrated its commitment to quality journalism by bringing her aboard.

Her coverage of major events like Ferguson and the Canadian parliament shooting gave her the credibility needed for this new career chapter.

Conclusion

Ana Cabrera has built an impressive $3.6 million net worth through her two-decade trip in broadcast journalism. Her financial success mirrors her professional achievements, from her early work at local Denver stations to her rise to national spotlight at CNN and MSNBC.

Cabrera's story shows how far talent can take you in television journalism. She started with modest pay at regional networks like KHQ-TV and KMGH-TV. Her reputation and income grew through smart career moves. Her Emmy-winning reporting and coverage of major news events boosted her market value before she headed over to CNN in 2013.

Her ten years at CNN reshaped her career and financial outlook. She climbed from correspondent to weekend anchor and then to weekday programming, with her pay growing at each step. Her coverage of major events like Ferguson, Charlottesville, and the London Bridge attack made her even more valuable to the industry.

Her 2023 move to MSNBC marks another smart step in her career path, with financial benefits that added to her net worth. This switch shows how experienced journalists can utilize their expertise and viewer appeal to negotiate better positions at rival networks.

Cabrera's Mexican-American background and her focus on diverse storytelling opened more doors in TV journalism's competitive world. Her path shows that dedication to excellent journalism combined with smart career choices can lead to substantial financial rewards in broadcast media.

Ana Cabrera's wealth reflects her journalistic integrity, connection with viewers, and versatility across different networks and formats. The evolving media landscape and her career path teach us how journalists can build wealth while staying true to quality reporting.

FAQs

Q1. What is Ana Cabrera's estimated net worth?

Ana Cabrera's net worth is estimated to be around $3.6 million, reflecting her successful career progression from local news to national networks like CNN and MSNBC.

Q2. What is Ana Cabrera's educational background?

Ana Cabrera graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication with degrees in Communication and Foreign Languages and Cultures.

Q3. How did Ana Cabrera start her career in journalism?

Ana Cabrera began her journalism career with internships at Denver's CBS affiliate KCNC and KMGH, followed by roles as an anchor and reporter at NBC affiliate KHQ-TV and FOX affiliate KAYU-TV in Spokane, Washington.

Q4. What major news events has Ana Cabrera covered?

Ana Cabrera has covered significant events such as the Ferguson unrest, the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, the 2017 London Bridge attack, and issues surrounding marijuana legalization.

Q5. Why did Ana Cabrera move from CNN to MSNBC?

Ana Cabrera left CNN in December 2022 to explore a new professional chapter. She joined MSNBC in early 2023 to anchor "Ana Cabrera Reports," as part of the network's strategy to focus on straight-news reporting in its daytime lineup.