Jake Tapper CNN, Bio, Age, Wife, Children, Salary, Net Worth
Jake Tapper Biography
Jake Tapper (born Jacob Paul Tapper on March 12, 1969) stands out as one of America’s influential journalists. Raised in Philadelphia, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1991 with a B.A. in History and Visual Studies.
Tapper began his media career in print. He contributed to Salon, the Washington City Paper, and created the political cartoon series Capitol Hell for Roll Call. He joined ABC News in 2003 and covered major events including presidential elections, Afghanistan, and Hurricane Katrina.
In late 2012, he moved to CNN. He now anchors The Lead with Jake Tapper, co-hosts State of the Union, and serves as chief Washington correspondent. Tapper has won multiple Emmy Awards, Merriman Smith Awards, and the Walter Cronkite Award for his reporting.
As an author, he writes both non-fiction and fiction. His books include The Outpost (2012), The Hellfire Club (2018), The Devil May Dance (2021), All the Demons Are Here (2023), and Original Sin (2025), co-written with Alex Thompson.
Tapper married Jennifer Marie Brown in 2006. They have two children. He continues to influence political journalism, known for probing interviews, sharp debate moderation, and insistence on facts.
Jake Tapper Age
How old is Jake Tapper?
Jake Tapper was born on March 12, 1969, making him 56 years old as of September 2025. He celebrates each birthday in mid-March. Tapper remains in his mid-50s while continuing to lead CNN’s Washington reporting and anchor his shows.
Jake Tapper’s Wife
Is Jake Tapper married?
Jennifer Marie Brown married Jake Tapper on September 3, 2006, near her hometown in Kansas City. They met in 2004 during the Iowa caucuses at a hotel bar. Jennifer worked as a regional field manager for Planned Parenthood. Later, she shifted to part-time advocacy with Upstream, focused on women’s health and birth control access.
The couple has two children, Alice and Jack, and they live in Washington, D.C. After their daughter Alice survived sepsis in 2021, they raised awareness of the condition. Jennifer also volunteers with AmeriCorps and supports literacy programs for young students. She values family time and strives to give her children a kind, purposeful upbringing.
Jake Tapper’s Role at CNN: Leadership and Key Shows
Is Jake Tapper still on CNN
Jake Tapper joined CNN in January 2013 as the network’s chief Washington correspondent and anchor. He hosts The Lead with Jake Tapper, a live, weekday news program broadcasting from 5:00-7:00 pm ET. Meanwhile, he also co-anchors State of the Union with Dana Bash on Sunday mornings.
Tapper earned several awards at CNN, including Emmy Awards in 2023 and 2024, for excellence in journalism. He moderates major political events. For example, he led Republican debates in 2015 and 2016, and supervised the June 2024 presidential debate.
Furthermore, CNN recently changed his Lead show schedule: it moved to the 5-7 pm slot in early 2025. Tapper’s influence continues to grow as CNN’s go-to anchor for breaking Washington news.
Jake Tapper’s Children: Alice and Jack Tapper
What happened to Jake Tapper‘s Daughter?
Jake Tapper and his wife, Jennifer Marie Brown, have two children named Alice and Jack.
Their daughter Alice Paul Tapper gained public attention early. At age 10, she wrote an op-ed in The New York Times encouraging girls to raise hands confidently. She published a children’s picture book titled Raise Your Hand at around age 11. In late 2021, she suffered a misdiagnosed appendicitis. She nearly died but recovered and later used that experience to advocate for better medical awareness.
Jack Tapper remains out of the public spotlight compared to his sister. However, Tapper sometimes mentions him in interviews about parenting, always emphasizing family values, balance, and attention.
Jake Tapper’s Political Affiliation: A Neutral Journalist with Past Democratic Ties
Jake Tapper identifies as a journalist first. He does not publicly align with a specific political party now. However, he worked in 1992 as press secretary for Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, a Democratic congressional candidate. He also once wrote for and represented advocacy organizations supporting stricter gun control.
Despite those earlier Democratic connections, Tapper maintains neutrality in his reporting. He interviews both Republicans and Democrats with equal scrutiny. In recent years, he critiques political figures across the spectrum. As such, many describe him as politically independent or non-partisan. He stresses integrity, facts, and journalistic balance in his coverage.
Jake Tapper & Lara Trump: Recent Controversy and Apology
Jake Tapper and Lara Trump clashed during a 2020 State of the Union interview. She claimed Joe Biden showed signs of cognitive decline. At the time, Tapper accused her of mocking Biden’s stutter and said she had no standing to diagnose him.
In 2025, Tapper released Original Sin, a book exploring Biden’s health issues. Before the book’s release, he called Lara Trump to apologize. He later publicly admitted she “was right” and he “was wrong.”
Lara Trump called Tapper’s admission “too late,” though she appreciated that he kept his word. This episode highlights media responsibility and shifting narratives in political journalism.
Jake Tapper and The Lead on CNN
The Lead with Jake Tapper premiered on CNN on March 18, 2013. The show airs weekdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET. Initially one hour, CNN expanded it to two hours in 2021.
Jake Tapper hosts the program from Washington, D.C. He covers top stories in politics, business, health, global news, and culture. The show also highlights under-reported issues through its “buried leads” segment.
The Lead reaches both U.S. and international viewers. It has also earned recognition for excellence in live reporting and breaking news coverage.
Jake Tapper’s Family: Roots and Parents
Jake Tapper grew up in a family committed to service and education. He is the son of Theodore Samuel “Ted” Tapper and Helen Anne Palmatier Tapper. His father practiced pediatrics and taught at Jefferson Medical College. His mother worked as a psychiatric nurse. Together, they raised Tapper in Philadelphia.
He married Jennifer Marie Brown in 2006. They live in Washington, D.C. with two children, Alice and Jack.
Alice Tapper made headlines after writing Raise Your Hand, a book encouraging confidence in girls. Jack Tapper keeps a lower profile. Meanwhile, the family co-leads outreach about sepsis awareness since Alice’s serious illness in 2021.
Jake Tapper’s Presence on X (Twitter)
Jake Tapper uses the handle @jaketapper on X. He identifies as a dad, husband, CNN anchor, and author in his profile. Recently, he posted a thread about diagnostic errors in medicine and partnered with a non-profit to improve them. Through his tweets, he shares political commentary, book updates, and personal family moments. Furthermore, he engages directly with followers while defending journalistic integrity and fact-checking claims.
Jake Tapper’s Salary at CNN
Jake Tapper reportedly earns about $7 million per year under his current CNN contract. That figure comes after his recent renewal of a three-year deal without a pay raise. Analysts believe Tapper ranks among CNN’s top-earning anchors. He continues hosting The Lead with Jake Tapper and co-hosting State of the Union.
Jake Tapper Net Worth
Jake Tapper has an estimated net worth of around $20 million. He reportedly earns about $7 million annually from CNN anchoring duties. His income also includes book sales, writing projects, and speaking engagements. Tapper ranks among the highest-paid journalists in American media today.
