Greg Gutfeld Bio: Age, Height, Family, Career, and Life of the “King of Late Night” – From Magazine Editor to Fox News

Greg Gutfeld is an American television host, political commentator, comedian, and author who has become one of the most influential figures in conservative media. Known for his libertarian views and caustic humor, Gutfeld currently hosts Gutfeld!, the #1-rated late-night show on television, and co-hosts The Five, cable news’ highest-rated program. His journey from magazine editor to “King of Late Night” represents a unique trajectory in American media, blending political satire with unapologetic conservative commentary. In 2024, at age 60, Gutfeld surprised fans by becoming a first-time father, adding a new chapter to his already remarkable life story.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Gregory John Gutfeld was born on September 12, 1964, in San Mateo, California, to Alfred Jack Gutfeld and Jacqueline Bernice “Jackie” Cauhape. His father was of German Jewish descent on one side and German (Catholic) and Irish on the other, while his mother was of Irish, French, and Mexican ancestry. Gutfeld grew up in a Catholic household and attended the all-boys Roman Catholic Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo—interestingly, the same high school attended by NFL legend Tom Brady and baseball star Barry Bonds.

Gutfeld’s mother Jackie was a memorable presence in his early television career, appearing on Red Eye as the “FOX News Senior Correspondent” in the “Messages from Mom” segment before her death in 2014. His father passed away in 1984 when Greg was just 20 years old.

In 1987, Gutfeld graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. His time at Berkeley proved transformative for his political views. In a 2009 interview, he explained: “I became a conservative by being around liberals, and I became a libertarian by being around conservatives. You realize that there’s something distinctly in common between the two groups, the left and the right; the worst part of each of them is the moralizing.”

This libertarian philosophy—skeptical of both left-wing and right-wing moralizing—would become the hallmark of his commentary style throughout his career.

Career Journey

Early Journalism Career (1987–2000)

After college, Gutfeld began his career with an internship at The American Spectator, working as an assistant to conservative writer R. Emmett Tyrrell. He then worked as a staff writer at Prevention magazine and held various editorial positions at Rodale Press publications.

In 1995, Gutfeld joined Men’s Health magazine as a staff writer. His talent for edgy, provocative content quickly propelled him up the ranks, and by 1999, he was promoted to editor-in-chief. However, his tenure was short-lived—he was replaced in 2000 by David Zinczenko.

Magazine Editor Stardom (2000–2006)

Gutfeld’s next major role came as editor-in-chief of Stuff magazine, owned by British publisher Dennis Publishing. During his tenure, he increased circulation from 750,000 to 1.2 million and gained notoriety for creating controversy month after month.

His most infamous stunt came in 2003 when he hired several dwarfs to attend a Magazine Publishers of America conference on “buzz,” instructing them to be as loud and annoying as possible. The stunt generated significant publicity but led to his firing. He was subsequently moved to a “director of brand development” role at Dennis Publishing.

From 2004 to 2006, Gutfeld served as editor of Maxim magazine in the U.K. His contract was not renewed after the magazine experienced readership losses under his leadership.

Digital Media Pioneer (2005–2008)

Gutfeld was one of the first contributors to The Huffington Post when it launched in 2005. His “inspired, lunatic ridicule of his left-wing fellow Huffers” became legendary, with frequent targets including Deepak Chopra, Cenk Uygur, and Arianna Huffington herself. He continued writing for the site until October 2008.

Red Eye: The Cult Classic (2007–2015)

Gutfeld’s television career began on February 5, 2007, when he launched Red Eye on Fox News Channel. The show aired at 3:00 a.m. ET (later moved to 2:00 a.m.) and developed a devoted cult following among political junkies and insomniacs.

Red Eye was unlike anything else on cable news—irreverent, surreal, and unapologetically weird. The show featured running gags, absurdist humor, and Gutfeld’s signature half-sarcastic alarm at current events. Andy Levy served as the show’s “ombudsman,” delivering deadpan corrections during a “halftime report,” while Bill Schulz (Gutfeld’s former colleague at Stuff magazine) served as sidekick.

The New Yorker described Red Eye as “the funniest and most unpredictable program on cable news,” noting that Gutfeld had become “one of the most prominent faces on Fox News” despite—or perhaps because of—the show’s 3 a.m. time slot.

Gutfeld hosted Red Eye for eight years until February 28, 2015, when he announced his departure to develop a new weekend program. Tom Shillue replaced him as host, and the show was eventually canceled in April 2017.

The Five: Cable News Dominance (2011–Present)

On July 11, 2011, Gutfeld became a co-host and panelist on The Five, a political talk show airing weekdays at 5:00 p.m. ET. The show features five rotating hosts discussing the day’s top stories, pop culture, and politics.

Under Gutfeld’s participation, The Five has become cable news’ highest-rated program, making television history as the first non-primetime program to rank as the #1 show in viewers and the 25-54 demographic. The show’s success has been instrumental in cementing Gutfeld’s status as a leading conservative voice.

The Greg Gutfeld Show & Gutfeld! (2015–Present)

In May 2015, Gutfeld launched The Greg Gutfeld Show on Saturday nights. The program brought his comedic approach to weekend political commentary, featuring monologues, guest interviews, and panel discussions.

In March 2021, the show was moved to weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ET and rebranded as Gutfeld!. The move proved extraordinarily successful—Gutfeld! quickly became the #1 late-night show on television, topping all broadcast and cable competitors including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in both total viewers and the coveted A25-54 demographic.

Newsweek dubbed him the “King of Late Night,” while The Weekly Standard called him “the most dangerous man on television,” noting that “unlike other media darlings, Gutfeld’s stuff actually is subversive, a stink bomb hurled into every faculty lounge, mainstream newsroom, movie studio, and nonprofit boardroom in America.”

What Did I Miss? (2025)

In 2025, Gutfeld launched a new game show on Fox Nation called What Did I Miss? The show features contestants who have been isolated from the news for extended periods, challenging them to identify real versus fake headlines. The format plays on media literacy and Gutfeld’s signature humor about news consumption and information overload.

Personal Life

Marriage to Elena Moussa

Greg Gutfeld married Elena Moussa in May 2004, just five months after they met. Their whirlwind romance began in Portugal, where Gutfeld was serving as editor-in-chief of Maxim U.K. and Moussa was working as a photo editor for Maxim Russia.

Gutfeld has described their first meeting with characteristic humor: “I met her and I go, ‘Oh, that’s my wife.’ I just knew it. And then I spent three days in Portugal trying to talk to her.”

Elena, originally from Russia, moved to London to be with Greg after they began dating. When Gutfeld’s contract at Maxim ended in 2006, the couple relocated to New York City, where both their careers flourished.

Elena Moussa has built her own career in fashion, working as a stylist for magazines including Venice Magazine, Design Scene, and L’Officiel. She enrolled at Parsons School of Design in 2015 and graduated in 2017. She was recognized as one of The Cut‘s 21 best-dressed people at New York Fashion Week in 2015.

The couple has maintained a relatively private relationship, though they share a French Bulldog named Gus, adopted in October 2022. Gutfeld frequently shares photos of Gus on social media, and the dog has made several appearances on The Five and Gutfeld!

First Child at Age 60 (2024)

In December 2024, Gutfeld and Moussa surprised fans by announcing the birth of their first child, a daughter named Mira. Gutfeld, then 60 years old, had been absent from The Five for several weeks, sparking speculation about his status at Fox News. Co-host Dana Perino revealed the happy news by reading a statement from Gutfeld on air.

“It’s with great joy that my wife Elena and I have welcomed a baby girl into the world. Mira is healthy with a real set of healthy lungs,” Gutfeld wrote. “She has Elena’s beautiful eyes and my hard-rock abs.”

True to his comedic style, he added: “She’s already very observant and has asked if Jesse [Watters] wears a toupée. I told her that he definitely wears a wig.”

The couple had kept the pregnancy private, though Gutfeld had purchased a $10.5 million loft in SoHo, Manhattan in July 2024—apparently in preparation for their expanding family. The 3,560-square-foot property in a converted 1900s-era building features ample space for a growing family.

Family Tragedy and Resilience

In February 2022, during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moussa’s mother was stranded in Ukraine and had taken shelter in a hotel in Lviv. With help from Gutfeld’s Fox News colleagues, she was able to escape to Poland and reunite with her daughter. Gutfeld shared the emotional moment on The Five, playing a clip of Elena speaking about the ordeal: “Oh my God, it was awful. It was absolutely awful. But I’m so happy to have her here.”

Controversies

The 2003 Dwarf Stunt

Gutfeld’s most infamous pre-Fox controversy occurred in 2003 while he was editor of Stuff magazine. He hired several dwarfs to disrupt a Magazine Publishers of America conference, instructing them to be “as loud and annoying as possible.” The stunt generated publicity but cost him his editor position, though he remained with the company in a different role.

Canadian Military Remarks (2009)

In March 2009, Gutfeld and his Red Eye panelists made controversial remarks about the Canadian military. The comments sparked outrage in Canada and led to an on-air apology. The incident demonstrated both the risks and rewards of Gutfeld’s boundary-pushing comedic style.

Political Polarization

Gutfeld’s brand of libertarian-conservative humor has made him a hero to his fans and a villain to his critics. His willingness to mock both political sides—while clearly leaning right—has earned him accusations of being everything from a “dangerous” media figure to a “sellout” by various ideological camps. Gutfeld has embraced these criticisms, often using them as material for his shows.

Awards & Achievements

• #1 Late-Night Host: Gutfeld! consistently tops all broadcast and cable late-night programs in ratings
• Cable News Ratings Champion: The Five is the highest-rated program in cable news history for a non-primetime show
• New York Times Bestselling Author: Six of his books have reached the NYT bestseller list
• Mediaite Ranking: Named 12th most influential person in American media
• “King of Late Night”: Officially dubbed by Newsweek magazine

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“I became a conservative by being around liberals, and I became a libertarian by being around conservatives.”

“The U.N. might be the worst thing to contain the letters ‘u’ and ‘n’ since ‘untreated rabies’.”

“Learn more about contributing.”

“Trust me, you don’t want him setting his sights on your hypocrisy and public failings. Consider yourself warned.” – Andrew Breitbart on Gutfeld

“If hilarity were a telethon, I’d do him in front of a bunch of sick kids.” – Gutfeld introducing comedian Greg Proops on Red Eye

Favorites

Based on interviews and public appearances:

• Political Philosophy: Libertarianism (skeptical of both left and right moralizing)
• Comedy Style: Satirical, absurdist, boundary-pushing
• Professional Mentors: R. Emmett Tyrrell (early career)
• Pet: French Bulldog Gus
• Work Schedule: Night owl (fitting for a late-night host)

Earnings and Net Worth

Greg Gutfeld’s net worth is estimated between $13 million and $18 million as of 2026. His income sources include:

Annual Salary:

• Fox News contract: Estimated $2–4 million annually
• Book royalties: Significant additional income from six NYT bestsellers
• Speaking engagements: Premium fees for corporate and political events

Real Estate:

• SoHo Loft: $10.5 million (purchased July 2024)
• South Salem Lake House: Purchased 2018 (weekend retreat)
• Previous NYC Properties: Has owned multiple Manhattan properties over the years

Interesting Facts

1. Same High School as Tom Brady: Gutfeld attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California—the same school as NFL legend Tom Brady and baseball star Barry Bonds.
2. First Contributor to HuffPost: He was one of the original contributors to The Huffington Post when it launched in 2005.
3. Only Fingerprinted Once: Gutfeld has joked that despite his controversial career, he’s “only been fingerprinted once.”
4. Late-Night Revolution: Gutfeld! is the first conservative-leaning show to dominate the late-night ratings, traditionally a liberal stronghold.
5. Father at 60: Became a first-time father at age 60, joining a growing trend of older first-time parents in the public eye.
6. Multilingual Household: Gutfeld joked that he and Elena are teaching their daughter “three languages” from birth.
7. Dog Namesake: His French Bulldog Gus shares a name with Dana Perino’s dog, leading to playful confusion among Fox News viewers.

Did You Know?

• Gutfeld’s mother appeared regularly on Red Eye as the “FOX News Senior Correspondent” in the “Messages from Mom” segment.
• He has been described as “the most dangerous man on television” by The Weekly Standard for his subversive approach to political commentary.
• Gutfeld! regularly beats Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings—a feat unprecedented for a Fox News late-night program.
• His libertarian views often put him at odds with both traditional conservatives and liberals, making him a unique voice in cable news.
• The name “Gutfeld” is of German Jewish origin, though his ancestry includes multiple European ethnicities.

Social Media Links

• Official Website: GGutfeld.com
• Instagram: @ggutfeld
• Twitter/X: @greggutfeld
• Facebook: Greg Gutfeld
• Fox News Profile: FoxNews.com/person/g/greg-gutfeld
• The Gutter: Community website and blog

FAQs

Q: How old is Greg Gutfeld?
A: Greg Gutfeld was born on September 12, 1964, making him 61 years old as of 2026.

Q: Is Greg Gutfeld married?
A: Yes, Gutfeld has been married to Elena Moussa since May 2004. They met in Portugal while both were working for Maxim magazine.

Q: Does Greg Gutfeld have children?
A: Yes, Gutfeld and his wife Elena welcomed their first child, a daughter named Mira, in December 2024 when Gutfeld was 60 years old.

Q: What shows does Greg Gutfeld currently host?
A: As of 2026, Gutfeld hosts Gutfeld! (weeknights at 10 p.m. ET on Fox News) and co-hosts The Five (weekdays at 5 p.m. ET).

Q: What is Greg Gutfeld’s political affiliation?
A: Gutfeld identifies as a libertarian, though he is generally associated with conservative media through his Fox News platform.

Q: What is Greg Gutfeld’s net worth?
A: Greg Gutfeld’s net worth is estimated between $13 million and $18 million as of 2026.

Q: Where did Greg Gutfeld go to college?
A: Gutfeld graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1987 with a B.A. in English.

Q: What was Red Eye?
A: Red Eye was Gutfeld’s late-night show on Fox News that aired from 2007 to 2015, known for its irreverent humor and 3 a.m. time slot. It developed a cult following among political junkies.

Q: How did Greg Gutfeld become the “King of Late Night”?
A: Gutfeld’s show Gutfeld!, which moved to weeknights in 2021, consistently beats all broadcast and cable late-night competitors in ratings, earning him the title from Newsweek.

Q: What books has Greg Gutfeld written?
A: Gutfeld has authored ten books, including six New York Times bestsellers: The Joy of Hate, Not Cool, How to Be Right, The Gutfeld Monologues, The Plus, and The King of Late Night.

Conclusion

Greg Gutfeld’s biography illustrates the evolution of political commentary in American media. From his beginnings as a magazine editor creating controversy with dwarf-stunt publicity to becoming the “King of Late Night” on Fox News, Gutfeld has consistently pushed boundaries and defied expectations.

His libertarian philosophy—skeptical of both left-wing and right-wing moralizing—has allowed him to carve out a unique space in the crowded media landscape. While critics dismiss him as a provocateur, his ratings dominance proves that his brand of humor and commentary resonates with millions of Americans.

The 2024 birth of his daughter Mira at age 60 adds a new dimension to Gutfeld’s public persona, transforming him from the sarcastic bachelor commentator to a first-time father navigating parenthood in his sixth decade. As he continues to dominate late-night ratings and shape conservative media discourse, Gutfeld remains one of the most influential—and polarizing—voices in American television.