Christiane Amanpour – Journalist – CNN’s Chief International Anchor

Christiane Maria Heideh Amanpour is a popular television host and a British-Iranian journalist. She is popularly recognized for being the Chief International Anchor for CNN as well as the host of CNN International’s nightly interview program “Amanpour”. Besides she also works as the host of Amanpour and Company on PBS.

Early life

Amanpour was born on 12th January 1958 to an Iranian Muslim father Mohammad Taghi and a Catholic mother Patricia Anne Amanpour in west London the suburb of Ealing. She has a sister named Lizzy Amanpour. Since her father belongs from Tehran Amanpour spent her childhood until she was 11. Then, she was sent to a boarding school in England. And after the completion of her primary school education in Iran. She studied in an all-girls school, Holy Cross Convention Buckingham shire. When Christiane reached 16, she attended a Roman Catholic school, New Hall School in Chelms ford, Essex. Christiane along with her family returned to England due to the Iran-Iraq war. As it was difficult to return to Iran, they had remained in England.

Amanpour emigrated to the US from New Hall to review journalism at the University of Rhode Island. She was employed as an electronic graphics designer for NBC affiliate WJAR. And also within the news department at WBRU-FM in Providence, Rhode Island. Later, Amanpour graduated with a B.A. degree in journalism from the University of Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1983.

Career

In 1983, Amanpour was assigned as an entry-level desk assistant on the foreign desk by CNN in Atlanta. During her tenure, she received her first major assignment to cover the Iran-Iraq war which resulted in her transfer to Eastern Europe to report on the fall of European communism in 1986. By 1990, she was performing duties as a correspondent for CNN’s New York bureau. Thereafter, she reported the Persian Gulf war, Bosnian war, and other conflict zones which helped her gain a reputation for being fearless. Also, Amanpour served as CNN’s chief international correspondent and the anchor of a daily CNN interview program, Amanpour starting from 1992 to 2010. She has conducted interviews with world leaders including presidents of Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, and also with the actors like Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Sheep.

From 1996 to 2005, Amanpour contributed to the CBS news magazine program 60minutes. Amanpour left CNN to join ABC News in 2010 where she served as the host of ABC’s politics show “This week”. However, in 2012, she left her post as anchor of “This Week” and returned to CNN continuing her position as a global affairs anchor at ABC news. In 2018, Amanpour’s new program, Amanpour and Company replaced Charlie Rose on PBS. Her program continues to be aired on television on PBS stations. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Amanpour has been conducting her program from her residence in England.

Networth

Christiane Amanpour’s net worth has been estimated to be around $18 million by 2022. As a reporter at CNN, she earns $5 million per annum. She owns a house in Marylebone, London.

Personal life

In 1998, Amanpour married American James Rubin who was a former US assistant secretary of state. He was also a spokesman for the US States Department. In 2000, they had a son named Darius John Rubin. In October 2013, Amanpour affirmed that she and her family would be moving back to London permanently. Amanpour and her husband Rubin announced that they were splitting in July 2018. By marriage, Amanpour had relations with General Nader Jahanbani who was a commander in the Imperial Iranian Air Force, and with his younger brother Khosrow. In June 2021, Amanpour announced that her medical reports confirmed ovarian cancer. After which she had done a major surgery to remove it. Now she would be undertaking chemotherapy for several months.

Facts

Christiane Amanpour is renowned as one of the leading war reporters of the late 20th century and early 21st century. She is honored with various awards including an Edward R. Murrow Award (2002) for outstanding achievement in Broadcast Journalism. Her fearless attitude, honest views, and impressive coverage of news have made her a legend in the world of Journalism.