Chris Wallace Biography

Chris Wallace (born Christopher Wallace) is an American reporter, journalist, and former television news anchor best known for his work on the Fox News program “Fox News Sunday.” He is renowned for his tough and wide-ranging interviews, often drawing comparisons to his father, 60 Minutes journalist Mike Wallace. When he was a teenager, Chris began his career in journalism as an assistant to Walter Cronkite during the 1964 Republican National Convention.

After graduating from Harvard University, Wallace worked as a national reporter for The Boston Globe, where he was described as an “aggressive and ambitious reporter.” He then transitioned to broadcast news, starting at NBC (1975–1988), where he served as a White House correspondent alongside CBS’s Lesley Stahl and ABC’s Sam Donaldson. Wallace also anchored NBC Nightly News and hosted Meet the Press before moving to ABC, where he anchored Primetime Thursday and Nightline (1989–2003).

Age

Chris Wallace was born on October 12, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He celebrates his birthday on October 12 every year. He was 76 years old in 2024.

Height

Chris Wallace stands at a height of 5 feet, 8 inches (1.78 m). He has brown hair and a slim build.

Educational Background

Chris Wallace attended the Hotchkiss School and Harvard College. While at Harvard, he notably covered the 1969 student occupation of University Hall and was detained by Cambridge police, using his one phone call to sign off a report from Cambridge City Jail with, “This is Chris Wallace from WHRB News reporting from Middlesex County Jail in custody.”

Family

Chris Wallace is the son of Norma Kaphan and Mike Wallace, an American journalist, game show host, and media personality. Both of his parents are Jewish, and he was named Christopher because he was born on Columbus Day. His parents divorced when he was one year old, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Bill Leonard, President of CBS News. Leonard’s influence gave Chris early exposure to political journalism, including hiring him as an assistant to Walter Cronkite at the 1964 Republican National Convention. Chris did not develop a relationship with his father, Mike, until he was 14. He had an older brother, Peter, who died in 1962 while climbing a mountain in Greece.

Wife and children

Chris Wallace has been married twice. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Farrell in 1973, with whom he has four children: Peter (father of William, Caroline, and James), Megan (mother of Sabine and Livia), Andrew (father of Jack), and Catherine. He later married Lorraine Smothers, who had two children from her previous marriage: Sarah Smothers and Remick Smothers.

Career Transition

Departure from Fox News

In December 2021, Chris Wallace announced his departure from Fox News to join CNN. “It is the last time, and I say this with real sadness; we will meet like this,” Wallace said, describing his time at Fox as a “great ride” and expressing his readiness for a new adventure. He joined CNN+ to host a weekday show featuring interviews with newsmakers across politics, business, sports, and culture. Wallace expressed excitement about exploring the world of streaming and the new freedom it affords in interviewing major figures and storytelling.

Jeff Zucker, then CNN Worldwide president, praised Wallace’s appointment as a significant commitment to journalism and CNN+. Wallace’s departure disappointed many at Fox, with chief political anchor Bret Baier expressing his sadness and praising Wallace’s run on “Fox News Sunday.” Fox announced that it would rotate hosts on “Fox News Sunday” until a permanent moderator was named, acknowledging Wallace’s contribution over 18 years.

Net worth and salary

Chris Wallace’s annual salary ranges between $45,000 and $120,000. His estimated net worth is over $1 million, thanks to his successful career as a journalist.