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Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves

Julie Chen Moonves is an American television personality, news anchor, and producer best known as the host of the CBS reality competition series Big Brother since its debut in 2000. She was a longtime moderator and co-host of the daytime talk show The Talk and served as an anchor for The Early Show on CBS.

Overview

Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves's Profile

Julie Chen Moonves is an American TV host, producer, and news anchor best known for her work with CBS. Born on January 6, 1970, to Chinese immigrants, Chen attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism and English.  

She began her career in media while still in college, interning on CBS Morning News alongside Andy Cohen and working for ABC NewsOne as a desk assistant. She also worked as a news reporter at WDTN-TV before joining CBS News as an anchor for CBS Morning News, CBS This Morning, and, later, The Early Show.

In 2000, she transitioned into reality television as the host of the American version of Big Brother. She received harsh criticism for her hosting style during the first season, but went on become an indispensable part of the franchise. In addition to Big Brother, Chen helped to launch and moderate the daytime show The Talk, which won multiple Emmy Awards during her eight-season tenure. However, she stepped down from the program in 2018 following her husband’s ( former CBS CEO Les Moonves) departure from the network.

Julie Chen has been married to Les Moonves since 2004, and they have one son, Charlie. She publicly supported her husband after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 2018 and began using her married name “Julie Chen Moonves,” when signing off from Big Brother. Chen is also a Christian, having embraced the religion after attending a church service. She has also released an audiobook, But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery, which details her spiritual journey. 

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves
  • Gender: Female
  • Date of Birth: 1970-01-06
  • Nationality: American
  • Ethnicity: Asian, East Asian
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Marital Status: Married
  • Career Start: 1987
  • Current Network:
  • Years Active
  • Estimated Salary: $3,000,000–$4,000,000

2
TV Shows

0
Current Hosts

20
Years Active

50
Awards Won

TV Shows​

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

The Talk
The Talk
Big Brother (US)
Big Brother

Networks

A list of Networks that this host has worked for.

Personal Life

Family, relationships and background

  • Marriage Leslie "Les" Moonves from 2004 to (Former chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation)
  • Dating Gary Donahue from 1991 to 2000 (A television news editor. They met at ABC News.)
  • Charlie Moonves , a biological child with Les Moonves, born in 2009

Education

Educational background and qualifications

  • St. Francis Preparatory School, Fresh Meadows, Queens, New York
  • Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and English from the University of Southern California

Net Worth & Income

Income sources, net worth, and properties.

  • Earnings from her CBS hosting contract for Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother.
  • Prior roles as the co-anchor of The Early Show and a co-host of The Talk.
  • Book royalties from When I Grow Up (children's book, 2018) and audiobook memoir But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery (2023).
  • Julie Chen and her husband own a Malibu mansion purchased for $28,800,000 in 2014.

Awards

Awards & recognition

  • Daytime Emmy Award — Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host, The Talk, CBS; shared with Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, and Sheryl Underwood (2017)
  • Columbia du Pont Award — Anatomy of a Riot, ABC News Nightline team; a special examining the 1992 Los Angeles riots (1993)