Laura Jarrett NBC News, Bio, Age, Husband, Salary & Net Worth

Who Is Laura Jarrett? | Biography

Laura Jarrett is an American journalist, lawyer, and NBC News correspondent known for her legal reporting. She joined NBC News in January 2023 after spending about six years at CNN.

Jarrett built her career around law before moving into television journalism. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College and later received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. Before journalism, Jarrett worked as an attorney.

However, she eventually pursued television because she wanted to combine her legal background with news reporting. She joined CNN in 2016 and covered the Justice Department and major legal developments. Her assignments included significant cases and federal investigations during the Trump administration.

She also became co-anchor of Early Start in 2020. After leaving CNN, Jarrett joined NBC News as a Senior Legal Correspondent. Her work has included coverage of the Justice Department, Supreme Court, law enforcement, and major breaking news.

In September 2023, NBC named Jarrett co-anchor of Saturday TODAY alongside Peter Alexander. She has also appeared across NBC News programs and covered major national stories. Beyond journalism, Jarrett is the daughter of Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama.

She married attorney Tony Balkissoon in 2012, and they have two children. As of 2026, Jarrett continues working as NBC News’ Senior Legal Correspondent and Saturday TODAY co-anchor.

Laura Jarrett Age | How Old Is Laura Jarrett?

Laura Jarrett is 42 years old as of September 2026. She was born on October 29, 1983, in Chicago, Illinois. Jarrett celebrates her birthday each year in October. Besides her age, she has built a successful career as an American journalist and lawyer. She currently works for NBC News as a senior legal correspondent and co-anchor of Saturday TODAY. Her legal education and journalism experience have shaped her work covering major national legal stories. Over the years, Jarrett has gained recognition for explaining complex legal developments in a clear and accessible way.

Laura Jarrett Height | How Tall Is Laura Jarrett?

Laura Jarrett stands around 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters) tall. Her estimated height places her at approximately 64 inches. Jarrett has a petite stature that contributes to her polished television appearance. She generally appears shorter than some of her NBC News colleagues during on-air broadcasts. Her professional work focuses on major legal developments and national news. Her work at NBC News includes legal reporting and her role as a Saturday TODAY co-anchor.

Laura Jarrett Ethnicity

Laura Jarrett has a multiracial ethnic background, with African American and European ancestry. Her father, William Jarrett, was African American, while her mother, Valerie Jarrett, has African, European, and Native American ancestry. Laura’s family also has documented Jewish heritage through her maternal family. Therefore, her ethnicity reflects a diverse combination of African American, European, Native American, and Jewish roots. Her family has deep African American history, particularly through her maternal grandparents and earlier generations. Additionally, Laura grew up in Chicago and comes from a family with a strong professional and cultural legacy. Her diverse heritage forms an important part of her family background.

Laura Jarrett Education

Laura Jarrett has a strong academic background that combines liberal arts education and law. She attended Amherst College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After completing her undergraduate studies, Jarrett continued her education at Harvard Law School. She earned a Juris Doctor degree, preparing her for a career in law and legal journalism. Her legal education later became an important foundation for her work as a journalist. Before entering television news, Jarrett practiced law and handled legal matters.

Therefore, her background gives her specialized knowledge when covering complex legal stories. She later used that expertise while reporting on the Justice Department, Supreme Court, and major national legal cases. Her education remains an important part of her professional biography.

Laura Jarrett Husband | Is Laura Jarrett married?

Laura Jarrett’s husband is Tony Balkissoon, a Canadian attorney with a background in civil rights law. The couple first met while studying at Harvard Law School in 2008. After dating for several years, Laura and Tony married in June 2012 in Chicago. Their wedding attracted attention because of Laura’s connection to the Obama family. Tony has built his own legal career while Laura has established herself as an NBC News journalist. He has worked on civil rights and wrongful-conviction cases throughout his career. Meanwhile, Laura serves as NBC News’ senior legal correspondent and co-anchor of Saturday TODAY.The couple also have two children, James and June. Their son was born in 2019, while their daughter arrived in 2022.

Laura Jarrett Children

Laura Jarrett and her husband, Tony Balkissoon, have two children, a son and a daughter. Their first child, James Anthony Balkissoon, was born in July 2019. Laura has shared that James enjoys puzzles, Sudoku, and spending time with his younger sister. The couple welcomed their second child, June Tahay Balkissoon, on July 17, 2022. Her name carries special family meaning. “June” comes from Laura’s mother, Valerie June Jarrett, while “Tahay” honors Tony’s mother.

Laura has occasionally discussed motherhood while balancing her demanding NBC News career. She has described her children as an important part of her daily life. Additionally, Laura and Tony have chosen to keep many details about their children private. The family currently lives away from extensive public attention.

Laura Jarrett Family | Parents and Siblings

Laura Jarrett comes from a prominent Chicago family with strong connections to journalism, law, and public service. Her mother, Valerie Jarrett, worked as a lawyer, business executive, and senior adviser to former President Barack Obama. Her father, Dr. William Robert Jarrett, worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist at Jackson Park Hospital. Sadly, William died from cardiac arrest in 1993, when Laura was still young. Laura’s parents married in 1983 and later divorced.

Her paternal grandfather, Vernon Jarrett, was a respected Chicago journalist and columnist. On her mother’s side, Laura’s grandmother was Barbara T. Bowman, an early childhood education expert and author. Laura has no publicly documented siblings, making her the only child of Valerie and William. Her family background has strongly influenced her professional path.

Laura Jarrett Career | Her Journey From Lawyer to NBC News Journalist

Laura Jarrett built her career by combining her legal training with broadcast journalism. Before entering television, she worked as a lawyer and clerked for two federal judges. She later decided to pursue legal journalism and began approaching local television stations. Her breakthrough came when CNN hired her as a legal correspondent. During her six years at CNN, she covered the Department of Justice and major legal developments.

She also co-anchored Early Start and reported on major national stories. In January 2023, Jarrett joined NBC News as a senior legal correspondent. She initially covered the Department of Justice and Supreme Court while analyzing major legal issues. Her reporting also appeared across TODAY, NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press, MSNBC, and NBC News NOW.

In September 2023, NBC named Jarrett co-anchor of Saturday TODAY alongside Peter Alexander. She continues covering legal affairs while contributing to NBC News platforms. By 2026, Jarrett remains active as NBC News’ senior legal correspondent and Saturday TODAY co-anchor. Her recent reporting continues to cover major legal and criminal justice stories.

Laura Jarrett Salary | What Is Laura Jarrett’s Salary?

Laura Jarrett earns an estimated annual salary between $100,000–$200,000 annually . Her income comes primarily from her work as a senior legal correspondent and Saturday TODAY co-anchor. Jarrett joined NBC News in 2023 after building a successful career at CNN. Her extensive legal background and national television experience contribute to her professional standing. Additionally, her NBC News responsibilities include covering major legal developments and appearing across the network’s platforms. Therefore, her estimated earnings reflect her senior position within the organization.

Laura Jarrett Net Worth

Laura Jarrett’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million to $2 million in 2026. Her wealth mainly comes from her long-standing journalism career and television work. Laura serves as NBC News’ senior legal correspondent and Saturday TODAY co-anchor. She joined NBC News in 2023 after spending several years at CNN. Before journalism, Laura built a strong academic foundation through Amherst College and Harvard Law School. Her legal education also helped shape her specialty in covering major legal and political stories. Over the years, her roles at major television networks have contributed to her professional earnings.

Biography summary