George Stephanopoulos is an acclaimed American television journalist and anchor. Back in the 1990s, George worked closely with President Bill Clinton, first as his communications guy and then as a senior advisor. Later, he switched to being on TV and became a big name at ABC News. If you’ve ever watched “Good Morning America” or “This Week” on Sundays, you’ve probably seen him as he’s interviewed a lot of famous people and covered big news stories over the years.
Besides reporting news, he’s also known for giving his own take on politics, probably because of his past work in the White House. Throughout his career, Stephanopoulos has been recognized with several awards for his contributions to journalism.
Facts About George Stephanopoulos
| Nationality | American |
| Estimate Net Worth | $40 million |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | Fall River, Massachusetts |
| Birthday | February 10, 1961 |
George Stephanopoulos’s Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 5 in |
| Weight | 62 kg |
| Hair Color | Gray-Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Average |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
George Stephanopoulos’s Net Worth
As of 2023, George Stephanopoulos’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million. Stephanopoulos makes most of his money as a TV news reporter, but he also used to be the communications director and then as a senior advisor for policy and strategy to President Bill Clinton.
After working at the White House, he joined ABC News. He’s been on shows like “This Week” on Sunday mornings, the evening news “World News Tonight,” and the morning show “Good Morning America,” among others.
George Stephanopoulos’s Personal Life
George Stephanopoulos and actress Ali Wentworth got married in 2001 in New York. They have two daughters, born in 2002 and 2005. Wentworth is best known for her appearances in the following films and tv shows such as her debut on the Fox sketch comedy series “In Living Color,” “Meeting Daddy,” “Call Me Claus,” “It’s Complicated,” and “Nightcap.”
Recently, George and Ali are preparing for their younger daughter, Harper, 17, to go to college. With their older daughter, Elliott, already away at college since 2021, they’ll soon have an empty house.
George Stephanopoulos’s Early Life
George Robert Stephanopoulos, famously known as just George Stephanopoulos, was born on February 10, 1961, in Fall River, Massachusetts. George is the son of Robert and Nikki Stephanopoulos. His family has strong Greek roots: his dad was a big-name Greek Orthodox priest in New York and later in Cleveland, and his mom worked for the Greek Orthodox church’s news service.
Growing up, George moved from New York to Cleveland and finished high school in Pepper Pike in 1978. He then went to Columbia University in New York, where he did really well in his political science studies, even getting some prestigious awards and doing sports radio on the side.
After Columbia, he attended the University of Oxford in England on a Rhodes Scholarship and got a master’s degree in Theology in 1984. Years later, in 2007, St. John’s University in New York gave him an honorary law degree.
George Stephanopoulos’s Career
Bill Clinton Administration
George Stephanopoulos played a significant role in Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. He was in a documentary called “The War Room” (1993). When Clinton became president, Stephanopoulos was one of his top advisors. He worked on laws about crime, jobs, and health care. Even though there was an official person to talk to the media (Dee Dee Myers), Stephanopoulos often did it instead. With that, People saw him as one of Clinton’s closest buddies.
In 1994, a woman named Paula Jones said Bill Clinton had done wrong things to her. Stephanopoulos and another guy, James Carville, said she was probably lying to get money. Stephanopoulos also made sure many TV stations didn’t show her press conference. That same year, Stephanopoulos talked with others about an investigation related to what later became the Whitewater controversy.
In 1995, he hit a parked car while driving in Washington, D.C. He got in trouble for driving away and having an old driver’s license. But the president told him it would be okay. Later, Stephanopoulos left Clinton’s team in 1996. He wrote a book in 1999 about his time with Clinton called “All Too Human: A Political Education.” It became very popular. In it, he talked about how hard his job was and how it sometimes made him sad or stressed. Bill Clinton later said he might have been too hard on Stephanopoulos. The book tells about his experiences from 1991 to 1996. He said Clinton was a mix of amazing and frustrating.
However, his ties with Clinton didn’t end there as another woman in 1999, Gennifer Flowers, took Stephanopoulos to court. She had said she was with Bill Clinton, and Stephanopoulos said she made it up. The court later said he didn’t do anything wrong.
TV News Reporter
After working in the White House during Bill Clinton’s time, George Stephanopoulos joined ABC News. He had various roles like being on “This Week,” “World News Tonight,” and “Good Morning America.” In 2002, he became the primary host of “This Week.” By 2005, ABC titled him the “Chief Washington Correspondent.” They even added his name to the show.
Before George, news reporters like Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts hosted it after replacing the original host, David Brinkley. ABC even considered having Ted Koppel, the “Nightline” guy, host in 2005 because the show wasn’t doing great in ratings. But George’s interview with Barack Obama in 2009 boosted the show.
In 2008, George co-hosted a significant debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, some people didn’t like how it went. They said George and his co-host spent too much time on minor issues and not enough on big ones. Also, during the 2008 election, George started his blog called “George’s Bottom Line.”
In late 2009, George started co-hosting “Good Morning America,” a big morning show. He left “This Week” for a bit but returned in 2011 after the show struggled without him. He got a big deal with ABC that kept him there until 2021 and earned him a lot of money. In 2012, George hosted another debate and asked Mitt Romney a question about privacy and contraception, which Romney found strange.
From 2014 to 2020, after Diane Sawyer left her position, George became ABC’s main news guy, or “Chief Anchor.” Besides his regular shows, he’s worked on some special projects for Disney’s online stuff and hosts ABC specials.
George Stephanopoulos’s Controversies
Real Estate Loan
In 1994, writer Jack Anderson pointed out a big real estate deal by George Stephanopoulos. George bought a two-story place with a glasses store for $835,000. The remarkable thing was that he got a super good loan deal from a bank led by Hugh McColl, who President Clinton really liked. Banks usually give these excellent deals to rich people, but George wasn’t in that group. Even his real estate agent said that with George’s $125,000 salary, he could only afford the place because of the rent from the glasses store.
Jack Anderson suggested the deal might have been too good, hinting it was special treatment because George worked in the White House. NationsBank, the bank involved, hit back, saying that the loan was normal and anyone could have gotten it. However, George’s realtor said he only got the loan because of the store’s rent. And some bank documents seemed to show that loans like George’s were rare.
One of the rules was that the person getting the loan had to own the business on the property, but George didn’t. There’s also a bit about Eugene Ludwig, a top bank official who went to school with President Clinton. Some congressmen wanted him to look into the bank’s business.
Charity Donations
George Stephanopoulos gave $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation over three years. He didn’t tell his boss, ABC News, or viewers about it. Things got tricky in 2015 when he interviewed Peter Schweizer, who wrote a book saying donations like these might’ve influenced Hillary Clinton’s decisions as Secretary of State.
After a news site called Politico revealed the donations, George admitted his mistake and said sorry. Another news outlet, The Washington Free Beacon, was the first to ask questions. George thought it was okay since the Clinton Foundation had reported the donation. ABC News called it “an honest mistake.”
Because of this, many in the Republican party didn’t trust him. They said he shouldn’t host the 2016 Presidential debates because it might be biased. George agreed and stepped back from a debate in 2016. Earlier, he had mentioned on The Daily Show that donating to the Clinton Foundation could lead to expectations.
Jeffrey Epstein
In 2010, Stephanopoulos went to a dinner at Jeffrey Epstein’s house, who later became a convicted sex offender. Other guests included Chelsea Handler, Woody Allen, Katie Couric, Prince Andrew, Charlie Rose, and Eva Andersson-Dubin. When Epstein got arrested in 2019, people criticized everyone at that dinner. Stephanopoulos said he wasn’t friends with Epstein and only met him once at that dinner. He told The New York Times that going to the dinner was a mistake and should have been more careful.
Net Worth of Other Notable TV News Reporters
Anderson Cooper’s Net Worth
Anderson Cooper is an esteemed American journalist, television host, and author, most recognized for his role as a CNN news anchor. Throughout his distinguished career, Cooper has reported from perilous war zones, the intense political arenas of elections, and scenes of devastating natural disasters. His commitment to presenting stories of importance has earned him widespread accolades and cemented his reputation as a journalist of great integrity. Known for his composed demeanor, sharp interviewing capabilities, and dedication to impartial reporting, Cooper’s contributions to journalism have made him a trusted figure in the field. With a diverse range of achievements, from anchoring CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360°” to authoring best-selling books, Anderson Cooper’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million as of 2023.
Robin Roberts’s Net Worth
Robin Roberts, an iconic American TV presenter, gained prominence as a leading host on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1960, Roberts’s initial foray into the professional world was in sports reporting, earning significant acclaim at ESPN during the 1990s. By 2005, she transitioned to co-hosting “Good Morning America,” where her candid interviews, approachable demeanor, and resilience in the face of personal health challenges endeared her to millions. Apart from her on-screen prowess, Robin’s personal life gained attention when she openly discussed her relationship with Amber Laign and their journey through cancer battles. Over the years, Roberts’s commitment to journalism and entertainment has seen her involved in various projects, from special reporting assignments to guest-hosting “Jeopardy!”. Reflecting her impressive career trajectory and myriad achievements, Robin Roberts’s net worth stands at an estimated $55 million.