What Happened to Maria Bartiromo?

Maria Bartiromo's career began in the late 1980s, establishing herself as a groundbreaking financial journalist. After graduating from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and economics in 1989, she spent five years as a producer and assignment editor at CNN Business News. Her pivotal move came in 1993 when she joined CNBC, where she quickly rose to prominence. In 1995, Bartiromo made history as the first journalist to deliver live television reports daily from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, earning her the nickname "Money Honey" and significant recognition within the financial industry.

During her two decades at CNBC, Bartiromo anchored several key programs, including "Closing Bell" and "On the Money with Maria Bartiromo," and was instrumental in launching "Squawk Box." Her work earned her multiple accolades, including two Emmy Awards for her coverage of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and a documentary on Google. The Financial Times recognized her as one of "50 Faces That Shaped the Decade" in 2009, and she was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame in 2011.

A significant turning point in Bartiromo's career occurred in November 2013 when she announced her departure from CNBC to join Fox Business Network (FBN) and Fox News Channel (FNC), officially starting in January 2014 as Global Markets Editor. This move allowed her to expand her journalistic scope beyond pure finance to include broader public policy and political discussions. At Fox, she launched "Mornings with Maria" on FBN, "Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo" on FNC, and later "Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street" on FBN.

Her tenure at Fox, particularly during the first presidency of Donald Trump, saw a notable shift in her on-air persona, becoming a vocal advocate for the Trump administration and conducting frequent, often unchallenging, interviews with the former president. This period led to controversy, especially following the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Bartiromo was among the Fox Corporation program hosts named in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic in March 2021, alleging the spread of unproven conspiracy theories about the election. Court documents released in November 2025 as part of the lawsuit revealed her compensation from Fox since 2014 to be over $70 million.

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Bartiromo remains a prominent figure in broadcast journalism. As of May 2026, she continues to anchor her three flagship programs on Fox Business and Fox News, regularly interviewing political and economic leaders and discussing current events such as inflation and the Federal Reserve. In January 2026, she was recognized for her life achievements and inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, receiving the prestigious Horatio Alger Award. Her career exemplifies a pioneering spirit in financial news, followed by a transition into a more politically charged media landscape.