Chris Cuomo remains one of America’s most talked-about journalists, blending impressive career achievements with headline-grabbing controversies. From his early days as a political correspondent to his current role at NewsNation, Cuomo’s career in broadcast journalism has been anything but ordinary.
Biography
Born Christopher Charles Cuomo on 9th August 1970 in Queens, New York, he’s the youngest of five children in a politically influential family. His father, Mario Cuomo, served as New York’s governor for three terms (1983-1994), whilst his mother, Matilda Raffa Cuomo, earned recognition in the National Women’s Hall of Fame for her humanitarian work. Both parents were of Italian descent, with his paternal grandparents hailing from Nocera Inferiore and Tramonti in the Campania region, and his maternal grandparents from Sicily.
Cuomo’s education began at Immaculate Conception School in Jamaica, Queens, before attending The Albany Academy, a prestigious private preparatory school in Albany, New York. He then pursued his undergraduate studies at Yale University, earning a degree in political science, which laid the foundation for his understanding of American politics. Following his passion for law and justice, he continued at Fordham University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1995 and became a licensed attorney.
Career
Cuomo’s early career in journalism began with appearances on CNBC, MSNBC, and CNN, before landing his first significant role as a correspondent and political analyst for Fox News. He covered controversial social issues on Fox Files, earning a reputation for his fearless approach to journalism. His dedication caught the attention of Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, who praised him as “fearless” in his reporting style.
The transition to ABC News in 1999 marked a turning point in Cuomo’s career. He co-anchored the prime-time news magazine “20/20” whilst serving as the network’s chief law and justice correspondent. His year-long investigation into heroin addiction revealed the devastating impact on suburban families, leading to significant policy changes. During this period, he also covered major international events including the Haiti earthquake, child custody battles, bullying cases, and issues affecting homeless teenagers.
From September 2006 to December 2009, Cuomo became the news anchor for “Good Morning America,” where he established himself as the primary reporter on breaking news stories across the globe. His coverage spanned the war on terrorism, with multiple embedded assignments in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where his convoy was struck by an IED. Domestically, he reported on tragic events including the Virginia Tech shooting, the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, and the Pennsylvania Amish school shootings. Even under pressure, Cuomo delivered live coverage of natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Sago Mine collapse, and the Minneapolis bridge collapse in 2007.
The move to CNN in February 2013 represented the next phase of Cuomo’s evolution as a broadcaster. He made his debut as a field anchor covering the February 2013 North American blizzard, before co-hosting the morning show “New Day.” His profile continued to rise, culminating in the launch of “Cuomo Prime Time” in June 2018, which became the network’s highest-rated show during the pandemic. During this period, he also expanded his reach by hosting “Let’s Get After It,” a weekday radio show on SiriusXM’s P.O.T.U.S. channel, and produced the documentary “The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show.”
Following his departure from CNN in December 2021, Cuomo joined Nexstar Media Group’s NewsNation in October 2022, hosting a new show simply called “Cuomo.” This transition marked a fresh chapter in his career, with a focus on more neutral, less partisan reporting. He simultaneously launched “The Chris Cuomo Project” podcast, continuing his engagement with audiences across multiple platforms.
Controversies
The most significant controversy in Cuomo’s career involved his role in his brother Andrew’s sexual harassment scandal in 2021. When multiple women accused the former New York governor of inappropriate behaviour, Chris Cuomo used his media sources to gather information about his brother’s accusers and helped formulate defence statements. CNN initially defended him, stating he would not cover his brother’s scandal on “Cuomo Prime Time.” However, after the New York attorney general’s office released documents revealing the extent of his involvement, CNN suspended him indefinitely on 30th November 2021, before terminating his employment on 4th December following an internal investigation.
Sexual misconduct allegations further complicated his departure from CNN. His former ABC boss Shelley Ross accused him of sexual harassment in a New York Times op-ed in September 2021. Cuomo admitted to the incident but described it as “not sexual in nature,” stating he had apologised at the time. Additionally, attorney Debra Katz informed CNN that another former colleague had accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct, allegedly inviting her to his office for lunch and assaulting her after she rejected his advances. These allegations reportedly influenced CNN’s decision to terminate his contract.
During the “Fredo” incident in August 2019, Cuomo expressed a volatile temperament when a heckler at a Shelter Island bar called him by the name of the weak Godfather character. Cuomo threatened to throw the man downstairs and compared the insult to a racial slur for Italian-Americans, sparking widespread social media debate. He later acknowledged he “should be better than what he opposes.”
During his own COVID-19 battle in 2020, Cuomo faced criticism for breaching quarantine rules. Despite claiming to be isolated in his basement to protect his family, he was spotted outside his Long Island home by a cyclist who confronted him. Cuomo eventually admitted he had left home before receiving medical clearance and apologised for his actions, though he also engaged in a heated argument with the cyclist on his radio show.
Awards and Recognition
Despite the controversies that have marked his later career, Cuomo’s journalism has earned numerous prestigious accolades throughout his decades in broadcasting. His Good Morning America profile of 12-year-old poet Mattie Stepanek earned him a News Emmy Award in 2007, making him one of the youngest correspondents to receive this honour. The piece captured both his journalistic excellence and his ability to connect with human stories that resonate with audiences.
His team’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the Elian Gonzalez international custody case earned both the Polk Award and the Peabody Award in February 2009, recognizing comprehensive reporting during two of the most significant news events of their respective eras. The Edward R. Murrow Award followed in October 2014 for his exceptional coverage of the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect.
More recently, the Gracie Award was presented to him in June 2018 for his documentary “The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show,” which explored the historic significance of the week Harry Belafonte broke television barriers as a guest host. The documentary went beyond mere historical recounting, serving as an exploration of cultural milestones and racial barriers during a transformative era in American media.
His work has also been recognised in specialised reporting areas, earning the Gerald Loeb Award for Television Business Reporting in 2005 for “Money for Nothing?” and the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award for investigating juvenile justice. These accolades reflect the breadth of his expertise in reporting across breaking news, business affairs, and legal journalism. Notably, he was also featured in People Magazine’s “50 Sexiest People” list in 1997, highlighting his appeal beyond traditional journalism circles.
Personal Life
Cuomo married Cristina Greeven, former editor of Gotham Magazine, in 2001. The couple resides in Manhattan with their three children: Bella, Carolina Regina, and Mario Cuomo.
Health concerns:
- Contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, documented his recovery on-air
- Continues to experience long COVID symptoms since 2020
- Has spoken openly about battling anger issues and depression, seeking professional help.
Net Worth
Chris Cuomo’s current net worth stands at an impressive £16 million in 2025, earned from his decades-long career in top-tier journalism. This represents steady growth from £12 million in 2019, despite the setbacks following his CNN departure. His finance is that of a high-profile broadcast journalism, with his previous CNN salary reaching £6 million annually during his prime time slot, whilst his current NewsNation position provides over £1 million per year.
Beyond his broadcasting salary, Cuomo has diversified income through various revenue streams, including podcast earnings, speaking engagements, and real estate investments. Most notably the purchase of a five-bedroom Southampton mansion for £1.3 million, which he later sold for £2.9 million.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Cuomo serves as chief financial officer for Continental Farmers Group PLC, overseeing agricultural operations in Ukraine and Poland.
