Major Garrett Net Worth 2026: Income & Career

Major Garrett Net Worth insights for 2026, including his CBS salary, books, and career milestones shaping his financial profile.

Mar 18, 2026

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Major Elliott Garrett was born on August 24, 1962, in San Diego, California. He was raised in the San Diego area, where he spent his childhood. Garrett pursued higher education at the University of Missouri, where he completed his studies in 1984. He earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. During his time at the university, he was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Fact	Details
Full Name	Major Elliott Garrett
Born	August 24, 1962
Age (2026)	63
Birthplace	San Diego, California, USA
Education	University of Missouri (Journalism & Political Science)
Profession	Political journalist, author, anchor
Current Role	Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News
Net Worth (2026)	Not publicly disclosed
Income Sources	CBS salary, books, media hosting
Key Work	America Decides, The Takeout

Major Garrett Career

Major Garrett is an award-winning political journalist who currently serves as the Chief Washington Correspondent for CBS News and is the host of The Takeout with Major Garrett, a weekly streaming interview show on CBS News 24/7 (CBSN).

A veteran of White House and Capitol Hill reporting, he has been with CBS News since 2012 and was named Chief Washington Correspondent in December 2018.

Garrett previously held senior correspondent roles at National Journal and Fox News, and his work has covered multiple presidential administrations and historic policy debates.

He has also authored five books on American politics and government, including Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride (2018) and The Big Truth (2022), underscoring his reputation as a knowledgeable political analyst.

Early Journalism Career And Professional Background

Garrett launched his journalism career in print news. In the 1980s and early 1990s he was a reporter for regional newspapers, including the Houston Post, Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News.

He went on to spend seven years at The Washington Times, where he was a congressional reporter (1990 95) and then deputy national editor (1995 97). In the late 1990s he joined U.S. News & World Report as a senior editor and congressional correspondent, covering Capitol Hill and the impeachment of President Clinton.

Garrett later joined CNN as a White House correspondent during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, gaining national exposure covering the Clinton and Bush administrations. These early roles built Garrett’s deep expertise in Washington politics and prepared him for national television reporting.

Role At Fox News As Senior White House Correspondent

In 2002 Garrett moved to Fox News Channel from CNN and quickly became a prominent national correspondent. At Fox, he was initially a congressional correspondent and covered the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, as well as the war in Iraq and other major national issues.

In January 2009 Fox News elevated Garrett to Chief White House Correspondent, a position he held until 2010. During his eight years at Fox, he traveled with the president on international trips and reported extensively on both domestic and international policy.

Fox News executives praised him as “a fact-finding machine” and noted that he had been given “every opportunity to grow as a reporter and broadcaster” during his tenure. Under his leadership on the White House beat, Garrett built a reputation for on-the-ground coverage of live political events and tough questioning.

Career At National Journal And Political Reporting

In August 2010 Garrett left Fox News to join National Journal, initially as a Congressional correspondent and later as chief White House correspondent for the publication.

His hiring was announced in a National Journal press release, which praised Garrett as “the embodiment of the new team we’re building” and “one of the hardest-working journalists in the business.”

At National Journal he covered Congress and the Obama White House, contributing analysis across the Journal’s various publications. Garrett also co-hosted CBS News’s coverage of the 2011 South Carolina Republican Primary debate alongside Scott Pelley.

During the 2012 election cycle he served as National Journal’s chief White House correspondent and led much of National Journal’s campaign reporting. Throughout this period he continued writing his widely-read political commentary and books.

Chief Washington Correspondent At CBS News

In late 2012 Garrett joined CBS News full-time as its Chief White House Correspondent, an appointment made effective November 25, 2012. In that role he reported across all CBS News broadcasts on the Obama administration’s domestic and foreign policy agenda.

He covered major stories such as the rollout of the Affordable Care Act website, the U.S.-European response to Ukraine, nuclear talks with Iran and efforts to combat ISIS and Ebola.

Garrett traveled extensively with the president on international trips and routinely reported live from the White House. He also became a familiar face on CBS’s political coverage, breaking news on cabinet appointments during the 2016 Trump transition and providing analysis for all the 2016 debates.

In 2015 2016 he spent 16 months on the campaign trail covering every GOP debate and convention, demonstrating his stamina and versatility as a correspondent. In December 2018 Garrett was promoted to Chief Washington Correspondent for CBS News.

In this position he reports on Capitol Hill and national politics for CBS’s radio, television and digital platforms. He appears frequently on CBS Evening News, Face the Nation and other CBS programs, often anchoring political coverage and special events.

As Chief Washington Correspondent he also began hosting new CBS News multimedia projects, including the investigative podcast Agent of Betrayal The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.

Hosting The Takeout And Media Influence

Garrett has also developed a strong presence as a host and interviewer. In October 2017 CBS News Radio launched The Takeout, a weekly hour-long program about politics, policy and pop culture co-hosted by Major Garrett and Steve Chaggaris.

The Takeout focused on politics, policy and pop culture in a relaxed roundtable format recorded over a meal. Garrett opened each episode by calling it “the very best part of my broadcast week,” emphasizing the casual, in-depth nature of the conversations.

The show featured diverse guests from senators and cabinet members to authors and commentators who discussed recent news without soundbites or interruptions. CBS described The Takeout as breaking the mold of news talk programming by giving listeners a seat at the table with two journalists.

The Takeout ran from 2017 through January 2025, during which Garrett interviewed hundreds of newsmakers and cultivated a reputation for substantive, fact-based interviews.

Garrett’s success with The Takeout and his on-camera work have solidified his influence in political media. Colleagues and editors often praise Garrett’s work ethic and credibility. Garrett himself emphasizes a straight ahead style.

In interviews he describes his approach as “just the facts,” meticulously attributing every quote. As he has explained, he quotes everyone by name to ensure accuracy and is known for rigorous fact-checking. This reputation for credible, detail oriented reporting has earned him respect in Washington.

Awards, Achievements, And Career Milestones

Major Garrett’s career includes several notable milestones. He co-hosted nationally televised debates and has broken major political stories. In addition to journalism recognition, he is a published author of five political books. His writing includes collaborations with policymakers and analyses of political themes that underscore his thought leadership.

One significant recognition came in 2018, when CBS News coverage of the October 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, on which Garrett was a correspondent, earned a News and Documentary Emmy nomination for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a Newscast. This nomination highlights Garrett’s role in a high-impact news team.

Current Work, Media Presence, And Recent Activities

In recent years Garrett has continued to expand his media presence while maintaining his reporting duties. He hosts America Decides, the afternoon political news show on CBS News 24/7.

Having contributed to America Decides since its launch in May 2023, Garrett became its full-time anchor in 2025, interviewing experts and breaking down daily political developments.

He remains CBS News’s chief Washington correspondent, splitting time between his anchoring role and continuing live reporting. Garrett also diversifies through podcasts and radio. Besides The Takeout, he launched The Debrief with Major Garrett in 2020, a weekly CBS News podcast that focuses on policy issues and long-form analysis.

He continues to host investigative audio projects and occasionally serves as a stand-in anchor on CBS broadcasts such as Face the Nation. After The Takeout’s final episode in January 2025, he indicated that future projects would continue his work in political journalism. In his ongoing role, Garrett covers breaking news and policy issues for CBS through 2026 and beyond, with a strong presence on television, radio, streaming, and podcasts.