Where Is Matt Lauer Now? 5 Shocking Facts About His Private Life And 2025 Comeback Rumors

Eight years after his dramatic firing from NBC News, Matt Lauer remains one of the most talked-about figures in television history. The former Today Show co-host, once a fixture of American morning television, has largely retreated from public life following the sexual misconduct allegations that ended his career in 2017. As of December 2025, the 67-year-old is living a quiet, low-key life, but persistent rumors of a media comeback continue to swirl, raising curiosity about what the disgraced anchor is doing now and whether a return to the spotlight is truly possible. His current existence is a stark contrast to his high-profile, $25 million-a-year tenure at the network.

The latest updates, surfacing in late 2025, paint a picture of a man focused on his personal life, maintaining a long-term relationship, and enjoying the financial freedom of a lucrative career, yet still grappling with the shadow of his past. From his sprawling Hamptons estate to his controversial New Zealand ranch, here is an in-depth look at where Matt Lauer is today and the shocking details of his life away from the cameras.

Matt Lauer: Comprehensive Biographical Profile

Matthew Todd Lauer, born December 30, 1957, is an American television news personality who rose to become one of the highest-paid and most recognizable faces in the industry. His career spanned nearly four decades, culminating in a 20-year run as the co-host of NBC’s flagship morning show.

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• Full Name: Matthew Todd Lauer
• Date of Birth: December 30, 1957
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 67
• Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
• Education: Attended Ohio University (did not graduate)
• First Television Job: 1979, Producer of the noon news for WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia.
• NBC News Career Highlights:
  • 1992–1997: Fill-in anchor on Weekend Today and NBC News at Sunrise.
  • 1994–1997: News anchor on the Today Show.
  • 1997–2017: Co-host of the Today Show, succeeding Bryant Gumbel.
• Marital Status: Divorced from Annette Roque (2019).
• Children: Three children with Annette Roque: Jack, Romy, and Thijs.
• Current Partner: Shamin Abas (since 2019).
• Date of NBC Firing: November 29, 2017, due to "inappropriate sexual behavior."

The Hamptons Hermit: Lauer’s Private Life and Unrecognizable Appearance in 2025

Since his abrupt termination from NBC, Matt Lauer has maintained a deliberately low profile, largely choosing to stay out of the media spotlight. His primary residence is now his sprawling estate in the Hamptons, a luxurious enclave where he lives a life of relative seclusion.

Sources close to Lauer, speaking in late 2025, confirm that he is not actively working and has no financial need to return to a career. One insider noted that he "doesn't work and he doesn't have to," suggesting a comfortable retirement funded by his years of high earnings. His current activities appear to be centered around spending time with his family and his long-time girlfriend.

The Shamin Abas Relationship

Lauer has been in a serious relationship with publicist Shamin Abas since 2019. Abas, a luxury brand expert and CEO of Shamin Abas Associates, was a long-time friend of Lauer's before their relationship turned romantic following his divorce from Annette Roque. She has been described as a stabilizing presence in his life. The couple is often seen together around the Hamptons, and their relationship has endured for several years, becoming a central part of Lauer’s post-scandal life.

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An Unrecognizable Figure

In mid-2025, photos of Lauer surfaced that showed him looking significantly different from his polished television persona. Fans and observers commented that the former anchor, now 67, looked "unrecognizable," often spotted performing mundane tasks like running errands or picking up his own dry cleaning—a stark image for a man who once commanded a $25 million annual salary. This visual transformation reflects his complete withdrawal from the public, high-glamour world of morning television.

The Status of Lauer’s Controversial New Zealand Ranch

One of the most enduring entities associated with Matt Lauer's post-NBC life is his massive, 16,000-acre ranch in New Zealand. Located on the South Island, bordering the scenic Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, the property was purchased for over NZ$13 million (approximately $9.2 million USD) before his firing.

The purchase became a point of contention after his scandal broke. New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office (OIO) requires foreign buyers of sensitive land to be "of good character." Following the allegations, there was a public debate and a legal review into whether Lauer's character was compromised enough to force him to sell the property.

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Despite the controversy, Lauer was ultimately allowed to keep the ranch. Sources confirm that he continues to visit the remote property, which serves as a luxurious escape from his Hamptons life. The status of the ranch remains a symbol of the financial security and private world he built, largely untouched by the consequences of his professional downfall.

Will Matt Lauer Make a Media Comeback in 2026?

The question of a media return is the most active piece of news surrounding Matt Lauer in late 2025. Multiple reports have indicated that the former anchor is "eyeing a return to media" eight years after his firing.

The rumors suggest Lauer is testing the waters for a potential comeback, possibly leveraging his experience in journalism and high-profile interviewing. However, insiders also note significant hurdles and contradictions in his approach:

• The "Not Scrappy" Factor: One source indicated that while Lauer wants back in, he is "not scrappy" and does not want to engage with the "current cycle" of social media and the intense scrutiny that would come with a public return.
• The Financial Comfort: As he does not need the money, Lauer is reportedly hesitant to subject himself to the inevitable public backlash and media frenzy that a comeback would generate.
• The Public Opinion Hurdle: The allegations of sexual misconduct, which were detailed in Ronan Farrow’s book Catch and Kill and other reports, have created a permanent stain on his reputation, making any mainstream media return highly unlikely. The public’s perception and the current cultural climate surrounding the #MeToo movement remain the biggest obstacle.

While the whispers of a return persist, fueled by his long-standing passion for journalism, the consensus is that a full-scale return to a national news desk is improbable. His "comeback," if it happens at all, would likely be a highly niche, low-profile venture, far removed from the bright lights of the Today Show plaza he once commanded.

Lauer’s Legacy and The Future

Matt Lauer’s name is now inextricably linked to the seismic shift in media accountability that occurred in 2017. His firing was a pivotal moment in the #MeToo era, marking the end of a long and celebrated career that included interviews with presidents, global coverage of major events, and a reputation as a trusted voice in American news.

Today, Lauer lives a life defined by his immense wealth, his private relationships, and his geographical retreats in the Hamptons and New Zealand. The latest updates in 2025 confirm that he is financially secure and personally engaged, but the professional door to his past life remains firmly closed. The only question that remains is whether he will ever find a way to reconcile his journalistic ambition with the unforgiving reality of his public downfall.