Nicolle Wallace Bio, Age, Husband, Children, MS NOW Career & Net Worth

Who is Nicolle Wallace? | Biography

Nicolle Wallace is an American television journalist, political commentator, author, and former White House communications director. She is best known for hosting Deadline: White House on MS NOW, a weekday political news program examining American government, presidential administrations, and national elections.

Born Nicolle Devenish on February 4, 1972, in Orange County, California, she grew up in Orinda near San Francisco. Wallace attended Miramonte High School before studying mass communications at the University of California, Berkeley. She later received a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Wallace began her professional career in California politics before moving into national Republican campaign communications. She worked for President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign and subsequently served as White House Communications Director from January 2005 until July 2006. She also became a senior adviser to Senator John McCain during his unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign.

After leaving political communications, Wallace expanded her career into television and publishing. She co-hosted ABC’s The View during the 2014–2015 season before joining MSNBC’s political programming. In 2017, she began hosting Deadline: White House, which became one of the network’s established afternoon political broadcasts.

Wallace has written three political novels, including Eighteen Acres, It’s Classified, and Madam President. She also hosts The Best People with Nicolle Wallace, an interview podcast launched in 2025.

She married New York Times journalist Michael S. Schmidt in April 2022. Wallace has two children, including a son from her previous marriage and a daughter welcomed in November 2023.

Nicolle Wallace Age | How Old is Nicolle Wallace?

Nicolle Wallace is 54 years old. She was born on February 4, 1972, in Orange County, California, United States. She celebrated her 54th birthday in February 2026. Wallace spent much of her childhood in Orinda, a community in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from Miramonte High School in 1990 before completing her undergraduate and graduate education. Wallace was 32 when she worked on President George W. Bush’s successful 2004 reelection campaign. She became White House Communications Director at 32 and was 35 during John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. She was 45 when Deadline: White House premiered in 2017.

Nicolle Wallace Height | How Tall is Nicolle Wallace?

Nicolle Wallace’s exact height is not established through a reliable official measurement. She is an American television journalist whose professional career includes White House communications, presidential campaign strategy, political analysis, and national broadcasting. Wallace became widely recognized for her work with President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain before transitioning into television journalism. She later hosted Deadline: White House on MSNBC and continued presenting the program following the network’s transition to MS NOW. Her television career also includes hosting ABC’s The View and interviewing political figures, authors, and journalists. Her professional credentials are documented more extensively than her physical measurements.

Nicolle Wallace Ethnicity | Family Heritage

Nicolle Wallace is an American journalist of English and Greek family ancestry. She was born Nicolle Devenish in Orange County, California, to Clive Devenish and Veronica Zadis Devenish. Her father worked as an antiques dealer, while her mother worked in education. Wallace grew up in Orinda, California, alongside her younger siblings. Her family’s background includes English ancestry through her father’s side and Greek heritage through her mother’s family. Wallace was born and educated in the United States and has spent her professional career in American politics and broadcasting. Her ancestry should be distinguished from her nationality and former affiliation with the Republican Party.

Nicolle Wallace Education | Schools and University

Nicolle Wallace attended Miramonte High School in Orinda, California, graduating in 1990. She subsequently enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications in 1994. Wallace continued her education at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, completing a master’s degree in 1996. Her formal education included communication and journalism, which preceded her work in political messaging and government relations. After graduating, she entered California politics and eventually worked in national presidential campaigns. Her training in communication became particularly relevant during her service as White House Communications Director and her later television journalism career.

Nicolle Wallace Husband | Michael S. Schmidt

Nicolle Wallace is married to Michael S. Schmidt, an American investigative journalist who works for The New York Times. The couple married on April 2, 2022, following a relationship that became publicly known after Wallace’s earlier marriage ended. Schmidt has covered American politics, national security, and major government investigations. Wallace was previously married to Mark Wallace, an attorney, businessman, and former American diplomat. They married in 2005 and divorced in 2019. Nicolle and Mark have a son named Liam. Wallace and Schmidt welcomed a daughter through surrogacy in November 2023. Their marriage connects two professionals whose careers involve extensive coverage of American politics and government institutions.

Nicolle Wallace Children | Liam and Isabella

Nicolle Wallace has two children, a son named Liam and a daughter named Isabella. She welcomed Liam during her marriage to former diplomat Mark Wallace. He was born in 2011. In November 2023, Wallace announced that she and her husband, Michael S. Schmidt, had welcomed a daughter through surrogacy. Their daughter’s arrival was significant because Wallace had taken time away from her regular television program. She subsequently returned to Deadline: White House and continued her broadcasting responsibilities. Wallace generally limits public discussion of her children’s private lives, although she has occasionally spoken about motherhood and family responsibilities during interviews and television appearances.

Nicolle Wallace Family | Parents and Siblings

Nicolle Wallace was born to Clive Devenish and Veronica Zadis Devenish in Southern California. Her father worked in the antiques business, while her mother worked as a teacher’s assistant. Wallace grew up in Orinda, California, alongside three younger siblings, Zachary, Courtney, and Ashley. Her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area preceded her education at the University of California, Berkeley. She later moved into political communications and government service, establishing a career connected to national political institutions. Her family life now includes her husband Michael S. Schmidt, her son Liam, and her daughter Isabella. Wallace’s professional career has moved between Washington political institutions and national television broadcasting.

Nicolle Wallace Career | White House and Political Journalism

Nicolle Wallace began her professional career in California political communications after completing her graduate education. She later moved into national Republican politics and worked on George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential reelection campaign. Following Bush’s victory, Wallace became White House Communications Director in January 2005. She served until July 2006 and subsequently participated in John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. Her political responsibilities included communications strategy, message development, and handling interactions involving political leaders and journalists.

Wallace transitioned into broadcasting after leaving campaign communications. She joined ABC’s The View as a co-host in 2014 and remained through 2015. She subsequently developed a career as a political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News. In 2017, she began presenting Deadline: White House, which became a major afternoon political discussion program. Wallace also published three political novels drawing upon her experience inside government institutions. In 2025, she expanded her interview work through The Best People with Nicolle Wallace, a podcast featuring conversations with prominent public figures.

Nicolle Wallace Deadline: White House | MS NOW Host

Nicolle Wallace hosts Deadline: White House, a weekday political discussion program airing from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern Time on MS NOW. The show examines presidential administrations, congressional affairs, elections, national security, and major political controversies. Wallace frequently interviews former government officials, political journalists, legal specialists, and other public figures. Her experience working inside the White House provides a distinctive background for discussions about presidential decision-making and political communications. The program began in 2017 and continued following MSNBC’s rebranding as MS NOW. Wallace has also used the broadcast to examine threats to democratic institutions, election administration, and questions involving presidential accountability.

Nicolle Wallace Books | Political Novels

Nicolle Wallace has written three political novels exploring fictional presidential administrations, campaign challenges, and government institutions.

Her books include:

• Eighteen Acres (2010) — A political novel centered on women working inside a fictional White House.
• It’s Classified (2011) — Continues the political storyline with questions involving secrecy, governance, and presidential leadership.
• Madam President (2015) — Explores political crises and leadership challenges involving a fictional female president.

Wallace’s books draw upon her professional familiarity with White House operations and political campaigns. They are works of fiction rather than firsthand memoirs of the Bush administration.

Nicolle Wallace The Best People | Interview Podcast

Nicolle Wallace launched The Best People with Nicolle Wallace in 2025, expanding her work beyond weekday television. The podcast features extended conversations with politicians, journalists, authors, and other prominent guests. Its format allows Wallace to explore personal experiences, professional achievements, and questions surrounding public service. Unlike Deadline: White House, which focuses primarily on immediate political developments, the podcast gives individual guests more space to discuss their backgrounds and perspectives. The program operates under MS NOW and has released numerous episodes. It complements Wallace’s established political journalism career while introducing listeners to a broader range of public figures and professional experiences.

Nicolle Wallace MS NOW | Political Coverage and Programming

Nicolle Wallace retained her regular hosting position during MS NOW’s major programming changes in June 2026. Her program, Deadline: White House, continued airing weekdays from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern Time. The network’s restructuring introduced new shows hosted by Stephanie Ruhle, Katy Tur, Alicia Menendez, and Ali Velshi. Wallace’s existing afternoon program remained part of the revised lineup. Her show continued leading into The Beat with Ari Melber, which begins at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

The schedule preserved Wallace’s role as one of MS NOW’s established political anchors. Her program provides a transition between daytime political reporting and evening commentary. Wallace has also continued hosting The Best People, allowing her to produce interview content outside her regular television responsibilities. Her background in Republican presidential politics remains a notable element of her analysis, particularly when discussing political strategy and White House decision-making.

Nicolle Wallace Salary | Annual Earnings

Nicolle Wallace’s exact annual salary from MS NOW has not been publicly confirmed through reliable contractual disclosures. Her professional earnings are associated with television hosting, political commentary, book publishing, and podcast production. Wallace has presented Deadline: White House since 2017 and has worked in national political broadcasting for more than a decade. Before entering television, she held senior government communications positions rather than journalism roles. However, her previous public employment does not establish her present broadcasting compensation. Without verified contract terms or financial records, specific annual salary figures attributed to Wallace should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed earnings.

Nicolle Wallace Net Worth | Wealth and Assets

Nicolle Wallace’s exact net worth has not been independently established through comprehensive public financial records. Her career includes political communications, White House service, television broadcasting, book publishing, and podcast hosting. She has published three political novels and has presented Deadline: White House since 2017. These professional activities represent identifiable sources of employment and potential publishing revenue. However, the values of her private contracts, investments, properties, and outstanding liabilities are not sufficiently documented to establish a verified personal wealth figure. Her husband Michael S. Schmidt’s earnings should not be automatically combined with hers. Published online estimates remain unconfirmed without supporting documentation.

Nicolle Wallace Frequently Asked Questions

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