Scott Simon Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Daughters, NPR Career, Salary, Books & Facts

Scott Simon is the warm, erudite voice that has greeted millions of Americans every Saturday morning for four decades as the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday. A Chicago-born journalist who has reported from eight war zones, won every major broadcast award, and authored more than a dozen books, he has become one of the most trusted and versatile figures in American media. At 74, he continues to anchor NPR’s flagship weekend program, co-host the daily news podcast Up First, and publish new work—including a 2026 book on the bond between humans and animals—while raising two adopted daughters and bleeding, as he puts it, “Chicago Cubs blue.”

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Scott Simon was born on March 16, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, to comedian Ernie Simon and actress Patricia Lyons . He had a sister who died at a young age. Growing up, he lived in major cities across the United States and Canada—including Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Montreal, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C.—as his parents pursued show-business careers .

His father was Jewish and his mother was Irish Catholic. When Scott was 16, his father died, and his mother later married Ralph G. Newman, a former minor league baseball player who became a renowned Civil War scholar and ran the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop in Chicago .

Simon graduated from Nicholas Senn High School in 1970 and attended both the University of Chicago and McGill University in Montreal, though he left before completing a degree to pursue journalism. He has since received numerous honorary degrees .

As a teenager, Simon became a Quaker, drawn to the faith’s pacifist tradition and its role in the civil rights movement .

Career Journey

NPR Beginnings (1977–1985)

Simon joined NPR in 1977 as the network’s Chicago bureau chief . He quickly established himself as a versatile reporter, covering politics, culture, and breaking news from the Midwest. In 1985, NPR launched Weekend Edition Saturday, and Simon was tapped as its inaugural host—a role he has held ever since, with brief exceptions in 1992 and 1993 when Alex Chadwick filled in .

War Correspondent and Award-Winning Reporter

Over his career, Simon has reported from all 50 U.S. states and eight war zones, including El Salvador, the Balkans, and Iraq . He has won every major award in broadcasting, including the Peabody Award and the Emmy Award. In 2016, he received the Order of Lincoln from the State of Illinois, the state’s highest honor .

Television and Beyond

Simon’s media footprint extends well beyond radio. He guest-hosted BBC World News America, anchored NBC’s Weekend Today from 1992 to 1993, and hosted PBS’s Need to Know from 2011 to 2013 . He has also appeared as Mother Ginger in the Ballet Austin production of The Nutcracker and threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field (he admits it was “low and outside”) .

The Bill Cosby Interview (2014)

On November 15, 2014, Simon conducted a now-famous interview with Bill Cosby and his wife Camille about their African art collection. At the end of the segment, Simon offered Cosby the opportunity to address the growing sexual assault allegations against him. As Simon narrated on air, Cosby simply shook his head no and refused to comment . The moment became a landmark in broadcast journalism, capturing a pivotal cultural moment before the #MeToo movement exploded.

The Twitter Vigil (2013)

In July 2013, Simon captivated the internet by live-tweeting his mother’s final days from her hospital bedside. Messages like “I just realized: she once had to let me go into the big wide world. Now I have to let her go the same way” were retweeted thousands of times and drew coverage from major outlets worldwide. In 2015, he expanded those dispatches into the memoir Unforgettable: A Son, a Mother, and the Lessons of a Lifetime .

Authorship

Simon is the author of more than a dozen books spanning memoir, history, fiction, and social commentary:

• Home and Away: Memoir of a Fan (2000) — A Los Angeles Times nonfiction bestseller
• Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball (2002) — Barnes & Noble’s Sports Book of the Year
• Pretty Birds (2005) — Novel
• Windy City: A Novel of Politics (2008) — Novel
• Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other: In Praise of Adoption (2010) — About adopting his two daughters
• Unforgettable: A Son, a Mother, and the Lessons of a Lifetime (2015)
• My Cubs: A Love Story (2017) — His lifelong fandom and their 2016 World Series victory
• Swingtime for Hitler (2023) — Audiobook about Nazi propaganda jazz
• Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known (May 2026) — Illustrated book about human-animal kinship

He also co-wrote Just Getting Started with legendary singer Tony Bennett .

Career Stats & Milestones

• NPR Tenure: 48+ years (1977–present)
• Weekend Edition Saturday Host: 40+ years (1985–present)
• Wars Covered: 8
• U.S. States Reported From: All 50
• Books Published: 12+
• Major Awards: Peabody, Emmy, Order of Lincoln
• First Pitch at Wrigley Field: Yes (off-target, by his own admission)

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Simon married French documentary filmmaker Caroline Richard on September 3, 2000 . The couple adopted two daughters from China, Elise and Paulina (also referred to as Lina in some sources) . Simon became a father for the first time at age 50 .

The family considers themselves Jewish, honoring Simon’s paternal heritage, though his upbringing blended Jewish and Catholic traditions . They reside in Washington, D.C. .

Hobbies and Passions

Simon’s interests are as eclectic as his career. He lists books, theater, ballet, British comedy, Mexican cooking, and the Chicago Cubs as his primary passions . He is a lifelong Cubs fan who wrote an entire book about their historic 2016 World Series championship, and he notes that if you prick him, he will “bleed Chicago Cubs blue” .

The Litvinenko Incident (2006)

In 2006, Simon and his family were briefly caught up in the Alexander Litvinenko poisoning investigation in London. They had been staying at a hotel near the restaurant at the center of the incident and had bought food there for one of their daughters. Police contacted them as a precaution, but the family’s health was unaffected .

Controversies

Post-9/11 “War on Terror” Stance

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Simon published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled “Even Pacifists Must Support This War” and later wrote in the Quaker publication Friends Journal questioning nonviolence in the face of terrorism. The pieces provoked significant backlash from pacifist and progressive readers, generating angry letters to which Simon replied in a 2003 follow-up .

NPR Salary Scrutiny

As a senior NPR host, Simon’s compensation has drawn occasional public attention, particularly during debates over federal funding for public broadcasting. NPR’s Form 990 filings show his salary has risen steadily over the years, from roughly $359,000 in 2014 to $460,674 in fiscal year 2024 . Conservative critics have cited his earnings—among the highest at the nonprofit network—as evidence that NPR does not need taxpayer support, while defenders note his decades of service and the competitive media marketplace .

Awards & Achievements

• Peabody Award — Broadcast journalism’s highest honor
• Emmy Award — Television excellence
• Order of Lincoln (2016) — Illinois’ highest civilian honor
• Barnes & Noble Sports Book of the Year — Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball (2002)
• Los Angeles Times Nonfiction Bestseller — Home and Away (2000)
• Just For Laughs New Face — Not applicable (different Scott Simon)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“I just realized: she once had to let me go into the big wide world. Now I have to let her go the same way.”
— Twitter dispatch during his mother’s final days, July 2013

“If you prick me, I’ll bleed Chicago Cubs blue.”
— NPR biography

“I can be as mean-spirited and malevolent as anybody else in this profession.”
— Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross, 2000

Favorites

• Baseball Team: Chicago Cubs (lifelong fan; wrote My Cubs: A Love Story)
• College: University of Chicago
• Region: Chicago, Illinois (hometown); Washington, D.C. (current residence)
• Book Genre: Memoir, baseball history, political fiction
• Cuisine: Mexican cooking
• Entertainment: British comedy, theater, ballet
• Religious Tradition: Quakerism
• Godfather: Jack Brickhouse (Chicago broadcaster, 1916–1998)

Earnings

Scott Simon’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. However, NPR’s IRS Form 990 filings reveal his compensation in detail:

Source: NPR Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

With book royalties, speaking fees, and television income added to his NPR salary, industry estimates suggest his overall net worth could be in the $3–8 million range, though this is speculative.

Interesting Facts

• Simon’s father, Ernie Simon, was a comedian, and his mother, Patricia Lyons, was an actress—making him one of NPR’s few second-generation show-business personalities .
• He became a Quaker as a teenager, inspired by the faith’s pacifist activism during the civil rights movement .
• He has reported from eight war zones and all 50 U.S. states .
• His 2014 Bill Cosby interview is widely taught in journalism schools as a masterclass in offering a subject the chance to respond to allegations .
• He co-wrote a book with Tony Bennett .
• His godfather was legendary Chicago broadcaster Jack Brickhouse .
• He began his NPR career at age 25 as Chicago bureau chief .
• His 2026 book, Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known, is illustrated by Liana Finck and explores the unique kinship between humans and animals .

Did You Know Already?

• Simon’s viral Twitter thread about his mother’s death in 2013 was one of the earliest examples of a major journalist using social media to narrate a deeply personal, real-time story.
• He has hosted Weekend Edition Saturday for more than 40 years, making him one of the longest-tenured hosts in American broadcast history.
• He is a regular co-host of NPR’s daily morning news podcast Up First alongside other NPR anchors .
• His 2000 Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross remains one of the most candid portraits of his personality, including his admission that he is not “too nice” despite his warm on-air persona .

Social Media Links

• X (Twitter): @nprscottsimon
• Instagram: @scottsimonspeaks
• Substack: Scott Simon’s Open Book
• NPR Profile: Scott Simon | NPR
• Official Website: scottsimonbooks.com
• Wikipedia: Scott Simon

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Scott Simon?
Scott Simon was born on March 16, 1952, making him 74 years old as of 2026.

Who is Scott Simon’s wife?
He is married to Caroline Richard, a French documentary filmmaker. They wed on September 3, 2000 .

Does Scott Simon have children?
Yes. He and Caroline have two adopted daughters, Elise and Paulina, both adopted from China. Simon became a father for the first time at age 50 .

What is Scott Simon’s salary?
According to NPR’s Form 990 filings, his total compensation was approximately $460,674 in fiscal year 2024 .

What is Scott Simon known for?
He is best known as the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, his viral 2013 Twitter dispatches from his mother’s deathbed, and his bestselling books including Unforgettable, Home and Away, and My Cubs: A Love Story.

Where did Scott Simon go to college?
He attended the University of Chicago and McGill University, though he did not graduate from either. He has received multiple honorary degrees .

What religion is Scott Simon?
He was raised in a Jewish/Catholic household and converted to Quakerism as a teenager .

What is Scott Simon’s new book?
His latest book is Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known, published in May 2026 and illustrated by Liana Finck .

Conclusion

Scott Simon’s career is a singular achievement in American journalism: nearly half a century at NPR, a voice that has guided listeners through wars, elections, and Saturday mornings with equal measures of warmth and rigor. At 74, he remains as prolific as ever—hosting two shows, writing books, and engaging readers on Substack—while staying rooted in the Chicago values, Quaker convictions, and Cubs devotion that have defined his life. Whether he is interviewing a world leader or tweeting about his cats, Simon continues to prove that the best journalism is deeply human.

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