Who Is Cenk Uygur? Age, Biography and Wiki
As of 2025, Cenk Uygur is 55 years old. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and emigrated to the United States with his family when he was a child. Uygur graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and later earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His career in media began in the late 1990s, and since then, he has become known for his progressive views and outspoken critiques of both Republicans and Democrats alike.
| Occupation | Journalist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 21, 1970 |
| Age | 55 Years |
| Birth Place | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | Turkey |
Popularity
Cenk Uygur's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Cenk Uygur stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall and weighs around 190 pounds (86 kg). His body measurements include a chest circumference of 42 inches, a waist circumference of 36 inches, and biceps measuring 15 inches. Uygur is known for his approachable appearance and charismatic presence on screen.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Cenk Uygur is married to his long-time partner, Wendy Uygur. The couple tied the knot in 2001 and has two children together. While Uygur keeps his family life relatively private, he occasionally shares glimpses of his family on social media. He is known for being a family-oriented man who values his relationships.
His mother's maiden name was Yavaşça, and his father, Doğan, started life as a rural olive and grape farmer in Kilis, a city in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, later winning a scholarship to a technical university in Istanbul, becoming a mechanical engineer, and starting a company.
The family emigrated to the United States when Cenk was eight years old, and there Doğan worked as a commercial real estate developer. He spent the remainder of his upbringing in East Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated from East Brunswick High School. Uygur was raised in a secular Muslim household, but became more religious during college.
He says that he then became agnostic, and is now a "stone-cold atheist, although he still identifies as a cultural Muslim.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Cenk Uygur's net worth is estimated to be approximately $10 million. His earnings primarily come from his work with The Young Turks and various other media ventures. Uygur's dedication to political commentary and media innovation has helped him carve a niche in the industry, contributing to his substantial financial success.
Uygur positioned himself as left-wing, supporting single-payer healthcare, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and overturning Citizens United v. FEC. In the wake of the 2019 Saugus High School shooting, he supported strict gun control laws. He criticized his Democratic opponent, Christy Smith, for her opposition to Medicare for All.
Uygur's primary issue was to get money out of politics. He also opposed war with Iran and supported passing the Green New Deal.
Career, Business and Investments
Cenk Uygur's career took off with the launch of The Young Turks in 2002, making it one of the earliest internet-based news outlets. Over the years, he has expanded his media presence through various projects, including hosting and producing other shows and podcasts. Uygur has also ventured into entrepreneurial endeavors, including co-founding the news and opinion platform TYT Network.
In 2020, he briefly ran for Congress in California's 25th congressional district, showcasing his commitment to progressive politics. Although he did not win, Uygur's run brought attention to issues close to his heart and highlighted his unwavering passion for social justice.
Representing the Turkish Students Association on the university's Student Activities Council, Uygur argued against a $228 allocation to the Armenian Club in the council budget; council members overwhelmingly voted against him, and uncharacteristically applauded after his defeat was announced.
In November 1991, he wrote an article in The Daily Pennsylvanian titled "Historical Fact or Falsehood?", in which he denied the Armenian genocide and asserted: "The claims of an Armenian genocide are not based on historical facts.
If the history of the period is examined it becomes evident that in fact no such genocide took place." He has since recanted these statements and reversed his position. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School.
Social Network
Cenk Uygur is quite active on social media, maintaining a strong presence on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. His Twitter handle (@cenkuygur) boasts hundreds of thousands of followers, where he shares his thoughts on daily news and interacts with fans. Uygur often uses these platforms to amplify progressive movements and social causes.
In 1999, he wrote for, produced, and appeared on a WAMI-TV news show, The Times in Miami, Florida. He then started The Young Turks (TYT) on Sirius Satellite Radio. That year, Uygur wrote on a blog post on the TYT website: "It seems like there is a sea of tits here, and I am drinking in tiny droplets. Obviously, the genes of women are flawed.
They are poorly designed creatures who do not want to have sex nearly as often as needed for the human race to get along peaceably and fruitfully." He also wrote, in a letter to the editor in Salon, that talk of an Armenian genocide was simply propaganda.
In the 2000s, Uygur maintained a weekly blog on The Huffington Post and wrote entries that were critical of the 2003 Iraq war.
Education
Cenk Uygur graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He later earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. His academic background has equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of politics and media.
Although a D in high school calculus almost kept Uygur out, he transferred into the undergraduate Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in management and graduated in 1992. There, he wrote a school paper column in 1991 in which he criticized affirmative action for blacks and other minorities.
He also criticized campus feminists for "making Anita Hill their patron saint" and made disparaging comments about women and said that the discussion about rape on campus was making men afraid.
