Anderson Cooper’s ‘Job Security’ at CNN in Jeopardy After CBS Exit: ‘A Lot of Back-biting’

Anderson Cooper has officially signed off from 60 Minutes, and now an insider says the clock’s ticking for the broadcast journalist at CNN, too.

Though Variety reported the Emmy winner renewed his contract with the news network late last year, “so much can change in the blink of an eye,” warns Globe‘s insider. “It may seem like Anderson has job security, but there’s been a lot of back-biting and division over the decision to give him that new deal.”

The Anderson Cooper 360 host, 58, often doesn’t even draw as big of an audience as some of his colleagues, noted Variety.

“He could still very easily get pushed out if ratings fall completely flat,” the insider tells Globe. “Bosses are watching him like a hawk.”

Prior to the 2025 negotiations, TheWrap indicated the silver fox was raking in upwards of $20 million a year from his CNN gig.

“The elephant in the room is his colossal salary,” says Globe‘s insider. “You don’t earn what he earns and not have to work your tail off to justify it, whoever you are. But the long hours and needing to prove himself to bosses day in, day out is getting tiresome to Anderson.”

After nearly 20 years as a 60 Minutes correspondent, the Vanderbilt author stepped down from his CBS role on Sunday, May 17.

His public reason for leaving was to spend more time with kids Wyatt, 6, and Sebastian, 4, per People.

“A lot of folks are convinced he bit the bullet and called time on 60 Minutes before they did it for him,” the insider says. “For Anderson, image is all-important. Only time will tell how long he’ll be able to keep things up at CNN.”