Christiane Amanpour
Born 1958 · Age 67
British–Iranian journalist and television host; long-time international correspondent and Chief International Anchor for CNN; host of Amanpour (CNN Intl.), Amanpour & Company (PBS), former anchor of This Week (ABC).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Ealing, West London
Christiane Maria Heideh Amanpour born to Mohammad Taghi Amanpour (Iranian) and Anne Patricia Hill (British).
Sent to boarding school in England (Holy Cross Convent)
At age 11 Amanpour was sent from Tehran to the Convent of the Holy Cross, Chalfont Saint Peter, Buckinghamshire.
Attended New Hall School in Chelmsford
At 16 she moved to New Hall School, a Roman Catholic girls' school in Essex.
Family flees Iran after Islamic Revolution
Following the 1979 revolution, her father lost his job and fortune and the family moved to the United States.
Enrolled at University of Rhode Island
Began journalism studies at the University of Rhode Island after moving to the U.S.
Worked at WBRU-FM and WJAR (college-era jobs)
Worked in the news department at WBRU-FM and as an electronic graphics designer at NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence while at URI.
Graduated summa cum laude, BA in Journalism (University of Rhode Island)
Earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Hired by CNN as desk assistant
Joined CNN's foreign desk in Atlanta as an entry-level desk assistant, beginning her long career at the network.
First major assignment: Iran–Iraq War coverage
Given her first major assignment covering the Iran–Iraq War during her early years at CNN.
Transferred to Eastern Europe to report on fall of communism
Moved to Eastern Europe as part of CNN's coverage of democratic revolutions.
Assigned to Frankfurt, West Germany
Reported on the sweeping democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe from Frankfurt.
Served as correspondent in CNN's New York bureau
By 1990 Amanpour had a correspondent role in CNN's New York bureau.
Coverage of Iraq's occupation of Kuwait / Persian Gulf War
Reported widely and gained broad notice for her Persian Gulf War reporting (1990–1991).
Deployed to Bosnia to cover conflict
Went to Bosnia to cover what she described as her generation's war; reporting from siege of Sarajevo made her widely known.
Named CNN Chief International Correspondent (start)
Began serving as CNN's chief international correspondent (role lasted 1992–2010).
Interview with Serb general Ratko Mladić (Bosnian War reporting)
Conducted an interview with Ratko Mladić while reporting from Bosnia (date during 1992–1995 Bosnia coverage).
Wins multiple awards (Livingston, George Polk, Peabody)
Received the Livingston Award for Young Journalists, a George Polk Award for Television Reporting, and a George Foster Peabody Personal Award in 1993.
Role in two DuPont awards and multiple Emmy wins (career honors)
Played major role in DuPont awards given to CNN and has multiple Emmy news/documentary awards across career (references list nine Emmys overall).
Receives George Polk Award (second)
Awarded a George Polk Award for Television Reporting again in 1996.
Joins 60 Minutes as special contributor (1996–2005)
Contracted to file four to five in-depth international reports per year for 60 Minutes (Don Hewitt era), continuing through 2005.
Criticized for Bosnian War reporting (lack of neutrality accusations)
Faced public criticism (e.g., Stephen Kinzer, NYT excerpt 1994 and continuing) for alleged pro–Bosnian Muslim bias during Bosnia reporting.
Honorary degree from Emory University; Nymphe d'Honneur
Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Emory and Nymphe d'Honneur at Monte Carlo Television Festival.
Wins Peabody Award (1998)
Received a George Foster Peabody Personal Award for international reporting in 1998 (second Peabody).
Married Phillip James 'Jamie' Rubin
Married James (Jamie) Rubin in Bracciano, Italy; Rubin is a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State.
Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement
Received the Golden Plate Award for achievement.
Relocates residence to London (around 2000)
Having lived in London since 2000 (text notes she lived in London from 2000), established London as home base.
Birth of son
Her only son was born at Columbia Hospital for Women on 27 March 2000; Amanpour was 41 when she became pregnant and 42 at birth.
Edward R. Murrow and Goldsmith Career Awards
Received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Broadcast Journalism and the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism (Harvard).
Wins International Emmy
Received an International Emmy from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Publishes 'Where Have All the Parents Gone?' documentary (2006)
Documentary focused on Kenyan children orphaned by AIDS; part of her mid-2000s documentary work.
Named honorary citizen of Sarajevo; honorary doctorate (Univ. of Michigan)
Awarded honorary citizenship of Sarajevo and an honorary doctorate for contributions to journalism.
Publishes 'In the Footsteps of bin Laden' (2006)
Documentary examining al-Qaeda and bin Laden's legacy.
Publishes 'The War Within' report (2007)
Report on Islamic unrest in the United Kingdom.
Presents six-hour series 'God's Warriors' (2007)
A multi-part series dealing with defenders of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Receives Paul White Award (RTDNA)
Honored with the Paul White Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
Produced documentary series and feature reports (mid-2000s)
Produced notable documentaries: Where Have All the Parents Gone? (2006), In the Footsteps of bin Laden (2006), The War Within (2007), and the six-hour series God's Warriors (2007).
Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Appointed CBE for services to journalism (listed in 2007 Birthday Honours / London Gazette).
Anchors Amanpour on CNN (first run)
Became anchor of a daily CNN International interview program Amanpour (2009–2010).
Named Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences; multiple honorary degrees (2010)
Recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; received honorary degrees from Northwestern University and Georgia State University and was made an honorary member of Harvard College's graduating class of 2010.
Relocates to New York City (2010)
Moved to New York City in 2010 and rented an Upper West Side apartment while working at ABC/This Week.
Announces move to ABC News
Announced departure from CNN to join ABC News as anchor of This Week; left CNN after 27 years.
First broadcast as This Week anchor (ABC)
Hosted her first broadcast of This Week on 1 August 2010.
Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism (2011)
Received the Walter Cronkite Award from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Interviews Muammar Gaddafi and sons on ABC
Conducted a high-profile interview with Muammar Gaddafi and his sons Saif al-Islam and Al-Saadi Gaddafi on 28 February 2011.
Announces departure from This Week and return to CNN
ABC announced she would leave This Week on 8 Jan 2012 and return to CNN International while maintaining a reporting role at ABC.
Honorary doctorates from Amherst College and USC
Conferred honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees by Amherst College and the University of Southern California in 2012.
Amanpour interview show returns to CNN International
CNN International relaunched Amanpour in spring 2012; New York-produced 30-minute show began airing in April 2012.
Announces permanent return to London
In May 2013 and reiterated in October 2013, Amanpour and family announced return/relocation to London permanently.
Moves Amanpour production to London
Show and staff were moved to CNN International's London office on 9 September 2013, and the program began broadcasting from London.
Named TV Personality of the Year (Association for International Broadcasting)
Received TV Personality of the Year by the Association for International Broadcasting in 2015.
Named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression
Appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety in April 2015.
Announced as permanent replacement for Charlie Rose on PBS
In May 2018 PBS announced Amanpour would permanently replace Charlie Rose following his firing.
Announced divorce from Jamie Rubin
Amanpour and husband Jamie Rubin announced they were divorcing after about 20 years of marriage (announced July 2018).
Premiered Amanpour & Company on PBS
Amanpour & Company premiered on PBS on 10 September 2018 as a weekly/hour-long interview series (and aired on CNN Intl.).
Receives John Peter and Anna Catherine Zenger Award
Received the Zenger Award for press freedom from the University of Arizona School of Journalism (2019).
Presented Fulbright Prize to Angela Merkel
On 28 January 2019, Amanpour, Mary Ellen Schmider and Manfred Philipp presented the Fulbright Prize for International Understanding to Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Controversial Trump–Nazi comparison sparks calls for apology
On 12 November 2020 Amanpour compared the Trump administration to Nazis and Kristallnacht; Israeli officials and Jewish groups called for apology.
Announces ovarian cancer diagnosis and surgery
In June 2021 Amanpour disclosed an ovarian cancer diagnosis, successful major surgery to remove it, and plans for months of chemotherapy.
Refuses to wear headscarf; Iran interview cancelled
In September 2022 Amanpour terminated a scheduled interview with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi after being asked last-minute to wear a chador/headscarf in New York.
Receives Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Courageous Women in Journalism (2023)
Awarded in a Georgetown University ceremony along with other women for courageous journalism and peacebuilding.
Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage (2023)
Received the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage in 2023.
Apologizes for on-air misstatement about Israeli victims
In April 2023 Amanpour apologized personally and on-air after saying victims had been killed in a 'shootout' rather than a 'shooting'.
Continues high-profile hosting duties (CNN, PBS, Global)
Maintains roles: Chief International Anchor for CNN; host of Amanpour (CNN Intl.), The Amanpour Hour (Saturdays); Amanpour & Company (PBS); hosts Christiane Amanpour Presents The Ex-Files on Global.
Film/TV cameo: appears in 'Disclaimer' and other productions
Has made numerous media appearances over years: Gilmore Girls (2007), The Pink Panther 2 (2009), Iron Man 2 (2010), Cosmos (2014), Makers (2014), Desert Island Discs (radio, 2016), and appears in Disclaimer (2024).
Confronts CNN executives over Israel coverage (internal meeting)
In February 2024 CNN employees, including Amanpour, confronted network executives about alleged biased coverage of Israel's war in Gaza.
Estimated net worth (current estimate)
Estimated net worth based on long career as a leading international anchor, multiple network roles (CNN/ABC/PBS), endorsements/appearances and royalties from documentaries and books (if any).
Listed as recipient of Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2025)
Named among recipients for 2025 (listed in honors section).
Key Achievement Ages
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