TV Hosts DB Logo

Christopher Wallace

Chris Wallace is a veteran journalist with more than five decades of experience across NBC, ABC, Fox News, and CNN, best known for anchoring Fox News Sunday for 18 years. After departing CNN in November 2024, he transitioned off the air and joined RedBird Capital Partners as Senior Adviser for news and media investments. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of the Countdown history book series.

Overview

Christopher Wallace 's Profile

Christopher Wallace was born on October 12, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of legendary CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace. His parents divorced when he was just one year old, and he was raised largely apart from his father, though they later reconnected. Wallace attended Harvard University, where he reported for the student radio station WHRB, graduating in 1969. He began his television career at WBBM-TV in Chicago before progressing to CBS News and then NBC News.

His national profile rose sharply when NBC named him chief White House correspondent and moderator of Meet the Press. He then spent 14 years at ABC News as the chief correspondent for PrimeTime Thursday and substitute host of Nightline, before joining Fox News in 2003. For 18 years, he anchored Fox News Sunday, interviewing every U.S. president from Ronald Reagan and moderating three presidential debates.

Chris Wallace left Fox News in December 2021, citing discomfort with the direction of some of the network’s programming. He joined CNN, anchoring Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? on Max and The Chris Wallace Show. He then left the network in 2024, before joining RedBird Capital Partners in 2025 as Senior Adviser for news and media investments. 

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Christopher Wallace
  • Gender: Male
  • Date of Birth: 1947-10-12
  • Nationality: American
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Marital Status: Married
  • Career Start: 1969
  • Years Active: 56
  • Estimated Salary: $1 million — $4 million

2
Shows Hosted

0
Shows Currently Hosting

56
Years Active

11
Awards & Nominations

TV Shows​

A list of television shows hosted by this host, including current programs and previous presenting roles.

Fox News Sunday
Fox News Sunday
NBC's Meet the Press
Meet the Press

Networks

A list of Networks that this host has worked for.

No current networks found.

Personal Life

Family, relationships and background

  • Marriage Lorraine Martin Smothers from 1997 to (A cookbook author)
  • Marriage Elizabeth Jane Farrell from 1973 to 1997 (Wallace’s first wife)
  • Peter Wallace , a biological child with Elizabeth Jane Farrell, born in
  • Megan Wallace , a biological child with Elizabeth Jane Farrell, born in
  • Catherine Wallace, a biological child with Elizabeth Jane Farrell, born in
  • Andrew Wallace, a biological child with Elizabeth Jane Farrell, born in

Education

Educational background and qualifications

  • The Hotchkiss School
  • Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University

Net Worth & Income

Income sources, net worth, and properties.

  • Accumulated wealth through multi-million dollar annual contracts hosting prime programs for Fox News Channel and CNN.
  • Salary from his role as a RedBird Capital Partners Senior Adviser (August 2025 - present).
  • Royalties from his New York Times bestselling historical Countdown book series.
  • Owns high-value residential properties, including a waterfront home in Annapolis, Maryland, and a residence in Washington, D.C.

Awards

Awards & recognition

  • Peabody Award — Broadcast Journalism (1992)
  • George Polk Award — Foreign Television Reporting (1993)
  • Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award — Silver Baton (1994)
  • RTDNA Paul White Award — Lifetime Achievement in Journalism (2013)
  • ICFJ Founders Award — Excellence in Journalism (2017)
  • Poynter Medal — Lifetime Achievement in Journalism (2020)
  • Jefferson-Lincoln Award — Lifetime Achievement and Commitment to Democracy (2021)
  • National Press Foundation — The Award for Broadcast Excellence (2011)
  • National Press Foundation — The Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism (2012)
  • Congressional Medal of Honor Society — The "Tex" McCrary Journalism Award Honored (2018)
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame —Television Star at 6253 Hollywood Boulevard (2025)