Randy Shaver Net Worth After 41 Years At KARE 11

Randy Shaver Net Worth explained through his 41 years at KARE 11, career highlights, retirement timing, and how he continues working in media.

Jan 20, 2026

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Randy Shaver was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is the son of Leland Fry Shaver and Sue Ann (née Kline) Shaver, and he grew up with a brother, Jeff, and a sister, Lisa.

Shaver attended Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. There he was a standout athlete, lettering five times in football and track, and in 1976 he earned First Team All-State honors as a defensive back. In an interview, Shaver recalled playing under Hall of Fame coach Jack Fisk during his high school years.

After high school he enrolled at Iowa State University, where he continued to compete in track and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He has credited his Iowa State journalism professor, Dennis Hart, with inspiring his interest in broadcasting.

Fact Category	Verified Information
Randy Shaver Net Worth	Estimated at $1–5 million; no official public disclosure.
Main Income Source	Long-term salary from KARE 11 broadcasting.
Career Duration	41 years on air at KARE 11 (1983–2024).
Education	BA in Journalism, Iowa State University.
Primary Role	News and sports anchor.
Notable Program	Co-host of Prep Sports Extra since 1984.
Major Awards	Edward R. Murrow and regional Emmy awards.
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 2001 and 2021.
Retirement Year	Retired from KARE 11 in 2024.
Current Activity	Active in podcasts and high school sports media.

Randy Shaver Career

Randy Shaver is a veteran American television news and sports anchor, best known for his 41-year tenure at KARE 11 (NBC) in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. He began at KARE 11 (then WTCN-TV) as a weekend sports anchor on January 1, 1983 and remained on the air continuously until his retirement in June 2024.

Over those four decades he anchored both sports and news broadcasts, becoming a familiar and trusted face on Twin Cities television. In the eyes of colleagues and viewers, Shaver was “KARE’s longtime, unflappable anchor” – a steady presence who rarely left the set once he started.

His career is marked by deep local ties, especially through high school sports coverage, and by a reputation for professional consistency and longevity.

Professional Journey In News & Sports Broadcasting

Shaver’s broadcasting career began in Iowa before he moved to Minnesota. As a student at Iowa State University, he worked at WHO radio in Des Moines in the late 1970s while earning his journalism degree.

After college he started his television career at KAAL-TV in Austin, Minnesota, where he was sports director in 1981 and became a news anchor in 1982.

In early 1983, at age 24, Shaver joined Minneapolis–Saint Paul’s KARE TV. On January 1, 1983 he debuted as the station’s weekend sports anchor.

Over the years he took on increasingly prominent roles at KARE: he was named sports director in 1994 and later transitioned to a full-time news anchor role in 2012.

Beyond television, Shaver also built a presence on local radio. In the early 1990s he joined KFAN radio in its formative years, and for more than 20 years he was a regular contributor on 93X-FM’s morning show. This blend of radio and TV experience helped him develop a broad skill set as a sports and news broadcaster.

41-Year Broadcasting Career At KARE 11

At KARE 11, Shaver became a cornerstone of the station’s sports and news coverage. Shortly after joining the station, in 1984 he co-created and began hosting “Prep Sports Extra,” a weekly highlight show focusing on Minnesota high school football (with occasional coverage of other sports).

This program became Shaver’s signature franchise; he hosted it on Friday nights for four decades, bringing metro-area high school sports to a wide audience.

In 1994 he was promoted to KARE’s sports director, overseeing the station’s athletics reporting. When he became a news anchor in 2012, Shaver still continued to present sports segments, effectively serving in both sports and general news capacities.

Throughout his career, Shaver was on air daily. He later summed it up by saying, “I have anchored some show, sports or news, from that day until now,” referring to his very first broadcast in 1983.

In addition to local prep sports, he covered Minnesota’s professional teams, including the Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves, for KARE 11.

He also anchored the station’s evening newscasts for many years, earning a reputation as a versatile anchor who could handle both major news stories and sports highlights.

By the time he retired in June 2024, Shaver was one of the longest-serving on-air talents in the region’s TV history, having reported and anchored high school, collegiate and professional sports and news for 41 years.

Expertise & Authority In Television Journalism

Randy Shaver’s extended career in Twin Cities media earned him a reputation for expertise and reliability. The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting describes Shaver as “one of the Twin Cities most trusted and versatile broadcasters,” emphasizing both his longevity and breadth of skills.

He was widely respected for his direct, unscripted delivery style. KSTP sports anchor Chris Long recalled that Shaver “wasn’t doing catch phrases or schtick that a lot of other sports people try to do,” noting that Shaver preferred a straightforward approach.

This authentic style – along with his deep preparation – helped build Shaver’s credibility. For example, Shaver often cultivated relationships across Minnesota sports by personally contacting every metro-area high school coach each summer to generate story ideas.

These strong community ties reinforced his authority in local sports journalism. Colleagues underline Shaver’s role as a steady mentor and leader. Veteran KARE meteorologist Belinda Jensen likened his departure to “losing your MVP player and coach in one fell swoop,” saying that Shaver was “an important force behind the scenes” at the station.

Similarly, 93X-FM program director Derek Madden described Shaver as a “cool uncle” whose on-air presence brings “gravitas” to any show.

In addition to sports, Shaver’s dual role as a news anchor demonstrated his versatility; he covered breaking news and community stories with the same calm professionalism that he showed in sports.

In short, Shaver’s decades of work earned him a level of authority and trust that few local broadcasters achieve.

Major Career Achievements & Recognition

Shaver’s journalistic excellence has been honored with multiple awards. In 2006 he earned both a regional and a national Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting.

He also won numerous regional Emmy Awards over the years for broadcasting excellence. In recognition of his impact on Minnesota high school football coverage, Shaver was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001.

This honor reflected his pioneering role in televising prep sports, chiefly through “Prep Sports Extra” which he co-developed in 1984. In 2021 the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting also inducted him into its Hall of Fame, citing his decades-long contributions to Minnesota television.

These accolades from peers and industry groups underscore the high regard in which Shaver’s professional work is held.

Retirement From Television & Career Legacy

Randy Shaver announced in 2024 that he would retire after 41 years at KARE 11, and he signed off from the station’s evening newscast for the final time in late June 2024.

His retirement was marked by on-air tributes and expressions of appreciation. Station colleagues celebrated Shaver’s career: meteorologist Belinda Jensen said losing him was like “losing your MVP player and coach in one fell swoop,” and news director Stacey Nogy observed that it was “tough to sum up 41 years” of his many accomplishments.

Viewers had grown up watching Shaver bring sports highlights and news to their homes, and local media noted that he had become a fixture on KARE’s nightly broadcasts for generations of Minnesotans.

In retirement announcements and social media, colleagues called Shaver a “cornerstone” of the station and highlighted the depth of his local sports coverage.

His legacy lies in the high standards he set for reliability and community engagement in broadcast journalism.

Current Professional Focus After Retirement

Even after leaving television news, Shaver has remained active in Minnesota sports media. Beginning in 2024 he launched the “Shaver Prep Football Podcast,” a weekly audio show (also on YouTube) dedicated to high school football discussions.

He also hosts “Game Night Live,” a live-streamed Friday-night pregame program that broadcasts from local high school football games around the state. In addition, Shaver joined the Star Tribune newspaper’s new high school sports platform.

The Star Tribune announced that he will host Strib Varsity Live with Randy Shaver, a weekly late-night show streaming on the newspaper’s site, debuting August 28, 2025. Shaver has also continued to contribute to local sports radio (he is a recurring guest on Minneapolis radio station 93X’s morning show).

Through these roles on podcast, video and radio platforms, Shaver is leveraging his expertise in Minnesota high school sports and extending his influence in local sports journalism even after retiring from television.