Who Is Brian Williams? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Brian Williams was born on May 5, 1959, making him 66 years old in 2025. He is a prominent American journalist and television news anchor best known for his past role as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. Over the decades, Williams has garnered a reputation for his engaging storytelling and in-depth reporting on significant events around the world.
With a career spanning over three decades, Williams has established himself as a trusted voice in American journalism, providing audiences with crucial news coverage during pivotal moments in history. His journey through the news industry has been marked by both accolades and controversies, which have further shaped his public persona.
| Occupation | News Anchor |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 5, 1959 |
| Age | 66 Years |
| Birth Place | Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | Jersey |
Popularity
Brian Williams's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Brian Williams stands approximately 6 feet tall (183 cm) and weighs around 175 pounds (79 kg). Although these metrics are relatively standard for someone of his height, Williams's common appeal comes not only from his appearance but his charismatic on-screen presence and articulate delivery.
Williams regularly appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where he slow jams the news of the previous week as Fallon sings and reiterates what Williams says, with The Roots providing the musical backing. A mash-up video created by Fallon, where Williams appears to rap to hip-hop instrumentals, became popular within a few hours.
Williams has also made numerous appearances on Late Show with David Letterman. During an appearance on July 26, 2011, he demonstrated a skilled vocal impersonation of TV personality Regis Philbin. He has also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, where he took part in numerous skits and interviews.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Brian Williams is a family-oriented individual. He has been married to Jane Stoddard Williams since 1986, and together they have two daughters. While Brian's private life has been somewhat shielded from public scrutiny, the couple has appeared together at various public events, emphasizing their strong partnership. There have been no public confirmations of any extramarital relationships, making his marital status a consistently stable aspect of his life.
Williams married Jane Gillan Stoddard, at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, Connecticut, on June 7, 1986. They have two children: Allison, an actress, and Doug, the WCBS-TV reporter and anchor and former late-night anchor of Geico SportsNite on SportsNet New York.
Williams and his wife live in New Canaan, and own a beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey and a pied-à-terre in Midtown Manhattan.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Brian Williams's net worth is estimated to be around $50 million, thanks to his extensive career in journalism and television. While specific salary figures can fluctuate, it is reported that Williams earned an annual wage in the range of $10 million while he anchored NBC Nightly News. His lucrative salary and successful investments have positioned him among the wealthiest journalists in the United States.
On February 4, 2015, Williams apologized for and recanted his then-disproven Iraq War story, which he had told on a Nightly News broadcast on January 30, 2015. He claimed that while he was flying in a military helicopter it had been "forced down after being hit by an RPG".
Soon after it aired, Williams' story was criticized by Lance Reynolds, a flight engineer on board one of the three Chinook helicopters that had been attacked. Reynolds and other crew members said Williams had been aboard a separate group of helicopters from the helicopter that had been fired upon.
Williams' helicopter was flying about half an hour behind and was forced to make an emergency landing because of a sandstorm rather than an attack.
In a February 5, 2015 during interview on CNN, the pilot of the Chinook in which Williams was traveling said that while the aircraft did not sustain RPG fire, it did indeed sustain small-arms fire and that the door gunners returned fire. Williams then claimed that several rounds missed him "by inches", which the Chinook crew chief denied.
On February 10, 2015, NBC News President Deborah Turness suspended Williams without pay for six months from his position as Managing Editor and Anchor of the Nightly News broadcast for lying and for having misrepresented the Iraq incident. On June 18, 2015, he was demoted to breaking news anchor for MSNBC.
At the time, his salary was $10 million a year, with a five-year contract signed in December 2014.
Career, Business, and Investments
Brian Williams's career began in local news, where he honed his craft as a reporter. He progressed quickly through the ranks to national prominence at NBC News, where he covered significant events such as the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina. In recent years, Williams transitioned into a more flexible role, including hosting "The 11th Hour" on MSNBC, where he continues to analyze current events with insight and brevity.
Beyond journalism, Williams has invested in various media projects and has engaged in philanthropy through several charitable organizations focused on education and support for journalism. His savvy business sense complements his screen career, allowing him to sustain financial stability even beyond traditional news roles.
Brian Douglas Williams (born May 5, 1959) is an American journalist and television news anchor. He was a correspondent for NBC Nightly News starting in 1993, before his promotion to anchor and managing editor of the broadcast in 2004.
Social Network
As a public figure, Brian Williams maintains an active presence on social media. He can be found on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, where he shares insights into his work and personal interests. With a passionate following, Williams interacts with fans and followers, often discussing current events, media, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the journalism world.
His coverage of Hurricane Katrina was widely praised, particularly "for venting his anger and frustration over the government's failure to act quickly to help the victims." The network was awarded a Peabody, the committee concluding that "Williams, and the entire staff of NBC Nightly News exemplified the highest levels of journalistic excellence."
Williams accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
NBC Nightly News also earned the George Polk Award and the duPont-Columbia University Award for its Katrina coverage. Vanity Fair called Williams' work on Katrina "Murrow-worthy" and reported that during the hurricane, he became "a nation's anchor". The New York Times characterized Williams' reporting of the hurricane as "a defining moment".
However, Williams' statements about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath were received with scrutiny. For example, Williams referred inconsistently to a suicide inside the New Orleans Superdome after Katrina.
CNN reported in a 2005 television documentary that Williams said he was not a witness to the suicide: "We heard the story of a man killing himself, falling from the upper deck."
Education
Brian Williams graduated from the George Washington University with a bachelor's degree in political science. His academic background laid a strong foundation for his career in journalism, enhancing his understanding of relevant socioeconomic and political issues that influence news reporting. Williams’s unwavering commitment to his profession continues to inspire aspiring journalists and news enthusiasts alike.
Following high school, Williams attended Brookdale Community College before transferring to the Catholic University of America and then George Washington University. He did not earn a degree, ultimately interning in the White House Press office during the administration of President Jimmy Carter. He later called leaving college one of his "great regrets".
