George Robert Stephanopoulos is a reputed American journalist who was formerly a political advisor. Stephanopoulos currently serves as the chief political correspondent and advisor for ABC News. He is also a co-anchor on Good Morning America. Stephanopoulos also hosts ‘Sunday Morning This Week’ on the ABC network and regularly acts as a substitute anchor on the show ABC World News Tonight.
Before working as a journalist full time, Stephanopoulos served as an advisor for the Democratic Party. He gained popularity for his role as the communications director during the presidential campaign of 1992, in which he supported former U.S. President Bill Clinton and went on to become a communications director at the White House. He was later named the senior advisor for strategies and policies until his departure in the end of 1996. Stephanopoulos is a three time Emmy Winner.
Early Life and Education
Stephanopoulos was born on 10 February 1961 in Fall River, Massachusetts to Robert George Stephanopoulos and Nickolitsa Gloria Chafos. His family practices the Greek Orthodox faith and he is of Greek descent on both his parents’ side. Owing to his father’s role as the dean emeritus and priest at New York City’s Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Stephanopoulos considered a career in priesthood for the longest time.
Stephanopoulos attended the Orange High School in the eastern suburb of Pepper Pike, Ohio. He graduated summa cum laude in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Columbia University, New York. He also received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship at the university and served as a sports broadcaster for the university’s in house radio station, WKCR-FM. In 1984, Stephanopoulos earned a Masters of Arts Degree in Theology from Balliol College, University of Oxford in England.
Career Rise
Stephanopoulos moved to Wahington D.C. where he started his career as an aide to Ed Feighan, an Ohio Congressman. He was later appointed the chief of staff for Feighan until he left to work as a presidential campaigner for Michael Dukakis, a liberal Democrat of Greek-American origin during his unsuccessful run in 1998. In 1989, Stephanopoulos moved back to Washington and in 1991, he signed up as a deputy campaign communications manager for the Democratic presidential campaign of the then Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton. After Clinton was elected President in 1992, Stephanopoulos was named the senior advisor for policy and strategy to the President and remained his trusted aide during Clinton’s first term as President.
After Clinton was re-elected in 1996, Stephanopoulos decided to resign from the administration and moved to New York City. After serving as a professor at Columbia University for a few years, he started his career in journalism and was named the host of ‘This Week’, a political program on the ABC network. He held the position until the year 2010 and returned again in 2012. He also co- hosts ‘Good Morning America’ on the same network and has also served as a key correspondent.
Personal Life
In 2001, Stephanopoulos married Alexandra Wentworth who is an actress and writer at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York. Together, they have two children, daughters Harper Andrea Stephanopoulos and Elliott Anastasia Stephanopoulos. The family lives together in Manhattan, New York.
Stephanopoulos is a founding member of a leadership program named ‘The Next Generation Initiative’, along with a few other notable Greek Americans. The program aims to encourage student involvement in public affairs.
George Stephanopoulos – Net Worth and Salary
Stephanopoulos draws an annual salary of approximately $15 Million and is among the top 10 highest paid news anchors in the US. His estimated net worth of approximately $35 million.
