Following a contract extension last spring to stay on "Today," Matt Lauer is likely using the good pay to make a horse farm.
According to a couple reports, Lauer has a horse farm under construction, which will include two 34,000-square-foot outdoor riding rings, a 23,940-square-foot indoor riding ring, and a 17,455-square-foot barn to fit up to 36 horses.
The 30-acre horse farm in Water Mill, worth over $3 million, did face some opposition when it was proposed during the Town Planning Board of Southampton.
According to Sag Harbor Online, residents voiced concern:
"My concern is with the use of an [agricultural] reserve - [for which] the town purchased the development rights - for building a project of this size," said Water Mill resident Kim Covell, whose home is next door to the then-proposed horse farm. "This is something we should think long and hard about."
"We're not trying to draw people from all over," said Tim McCulley, lawyer for the Edge of Woods Horse Farm. "It can't be a riding academy."
For photos of the horse farm, click here.
Lauer has also been making headlines for allegedly having people scream at him at the steets of Manhattan over Ann Curry's dismissal from the NBC morning show.
Lauer has also deflected speculation that he'll be replaced by Willie Geist.
"Willie is absolutely being groomed to become Matt Lauer's replacement if the ratings don't improve. Willie has been filling in for Matt while he has been on vacation during the holidays and has been doing an phenomenal job," said a source to Radar Online.
"Today" Executive Producer Alexandra Wallace has stated, "There is absolutely no truth to this. There have been some recent outrageous claims regarding Matt and the "Today" show, and an awful lot of piling on from nameless, faceless sources. These stories are wrong and irresponsible."
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