Matt Lauer Had Another Year Left on His $20 Million ‘Today’ Contract Before Firing (REPORT)

Now that Matt Lauer has been fired from Today following sexual harassment allegations, fans are wondering how much time the TV star had left on his contract in the first place. And so it turns out, Matt was allegedly supposed to be on the network for another year.

The journalist reportedly signed a massive contract with Today last November, leaving him on board the popular morning talk show at $20 million per year for two years, Page Six reported at the time. “The new deal will take him well into 2018,” an insider told the news outlet.

Matt, 59, first joined Today in 1994 as a news anchor and later became a co-anchor in 1997. For the past few years, he co-hosted alongside Savannah Guthrie, who spent the end of last year on maternity leave with baby No. 2. NBC’s choice to fire Matt comes at the same time Megyn Kelly is facing sinking ratings on the 9 a.m. hour, Billy Bush made an abrupt exit, and Tamron Hall decided to quit.

Before his termination, there wasn’t any word on a future contract for Matt once the one he was in expired, however, Matt and Megyn were allegedly butting heads behind the scenes. NBC even warned Matt to mend things with her or he could be fired. “[He was] told it was time to get on board with Megyn’s show or he could find another place to work,” a source shared.

Apparently, Matt had been dissing Megyn Kelly Today often. “He said if someone overheard his comments, oh well,” the insider revealed. “There is no heir apparent to take over for him, or even someone being groomed for his position for down the road.” But rather than Matt’s negative attitude, his sexual miscoduct in the workplace cost him his future on Today.