Tucker Carlson Sells Stake in Daily Caller, Leaving Publication

Tucker Carlson is leaving the Daily Caller, the site he co-founded, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“I’m just too absorbed in what I’m doing,” Carlson explained. “I wasn’t helping in any way, because I’ve got an hour to do every night” on Fox News.

Daily Caller co-founder Neil Patel bought Carlson's roughly one-third stake in the site. Patel now owns a controlling stake in the website; the rest is owned by Republican donor Foster Friess and other small investors.

Patel said the site's internal analytics put traffic between 15 and 20 million unique visitors a month. The Daily Caller makes most of its money from advertising and has a staff of about 80.

The Daily Caller has become one of the most influential conservative websites. Carlson, meanwhile, is near the top of the media's most powerful voices. His Fox News primetime show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, is one of cable's highest-rated shows. Carlson's viewership is on par with Sean Hannity, who follows him nightly. Monday, the latest date recorded, Carlson led all cable news with 4.1 million viewers.