Elex Michaelson Biography and Wiki
Elex Michaelson is an American television journalist and news anchor best known for hosting The Story Is with Elex Michaelson on CNN and CNN International. He previously worked at FOX 11 Los Angeles, where he anchored evening newscasts and created and hosted The Issue Is, a statewide political talk show. Over the years, he has interviewed prominent political figures, covered major elections, and earned multiple journalism awards.
Elex Michaelson Age and Birthday
Born on October 18, 1986, in Agoura Hills, California, Elex Michaelson is 40 years old. His zodiac sign is Libra. He grew up in Southern California, where his interest in broadcasting and politics developed at an early age.
Elex Michaelson Height
Elex Michaelson is quite tall. He stands at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m).
Elex Michaelson Political Party
Elex Michaelson’s political party affiliation has not been reliably confirmed in publicly available sources. As a journalist, he has interviewed politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties and covered major elections throughout his career. He previously hosted The Issue Is on FOX 11 Los Angeles, a political program featuring candidates, elected officials, and political commentators from across the political spectrum.
Education
Michaelson attended Agoura High School in California, where he served as student body president and played on the school’s basketball team. He later enrolled at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, a leading global center for education, scholarship, and practice in communication, journalism, public diplomacy, and public relations.
He graduated in 2008 with dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. The Journalist finished first in his class and earned summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. His academic background helped prepare him for a career combining political reporting, public affairs, and television news.
Elex Michaelson Religion
Elex Michaelson is Jewish, according to his own public reference to himself as a Jew during a CNN discussion in July 2026. Although he frequently covers political and social issues, he generally keeps his personal religious life separate from his work as a television journalist.
Elex Michaelson Parents and Family
The CNN journalist was born to David and Crystal Michaelson. His mother, Crystal, is an artist known for her painting and mixed media, and she also became known among viewers of his former political show for making homemade cookies and brownies for studio guests.
Michaelson has a sister named Danielle. His family has remained a meaningful part of his life, and the homemade treats his mother supplied to guests became a memorable tradition during his years hosting The Issue Is.
Elex Michaelson Partner | Wife
Elex Michaelson was previously in a relationship with Alexandra Lippin. Their relationship was publicly acknowledged on Instagram in February 2021, when Michaelson shared a Valentine’s Day message to Alexandra, writing, “Lucky to have you in my life.”
However, the relationship appears to have ended since then. Alexandra has since shared posts indicating a relationship with another man, whom she refers to as Dousey. In September 2023, she celebrated their anniversary with an Instagram caption expressing her love and looking forward to many more years together.
As of 2026, Elex Michaelson’s current relationship status and whether he has a new partner have not been confirmed publicly. He continues to maintain a prominent public profile through his work as a CNN anchor while keeping his personal life largely out of the spotlight.
Elex Michaelson Career
Michaelson began pursuing a career in journalism while studying at the University of Southern California. He secured an internship at FOX 11 Los Angeles after approaching the station’s executive producer in person. He also gained experience through internships in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
His first professional broadcasting roles included working as a weeknight reporter and weekend morning anchor at XETV in San Diego. He subsequently joined KABC-TV in Los Angeles, where he worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor from 2010 to 2017.
Return to FOX
In 2017, Michaelson returned to FOX 11 Los Angeles, initially joining its morning news team before moving into prominent evening anchoring roles. He became a familiar face to Southern California viewers, co-anchoring newscasts and covering major breaking news stories, elections, and political developments.
One of his most significant contributions at FOX 11 was creating and hosting The Issue Is with Elex Michaelson. The weekly program brought politicians, campaign strategists, journalists, and public figures together to discuss California politics and national issues. He also organized and co-moderated televised debates for races involving the California governor, the U.S. Senate, Los Angeles mayor, and other public offices.
During his time at the station, Michaelson interviewed influential figures across American politics, including Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Gavin Newsom, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. His reporting earned him multiple Emmy Awards, Golden Mike Awards, and recognition from the Los Angeles Press Club, including its TV Journalist of the Year honor in 2023.
Move to CNN
In August 2025, Michaelson announced that he was leaving FOX 11 to pursue a new opportunity. CNN subsequently announced his appointment as a Los Angeles-based anchor. His new program, The Story Is with Elex Michaelson, premiered on October 27, 2025, airing weeknights on CNN and CNN International.
At CNN, Michaelson presents a two-hour live program covering major developments in politics, world affairs, technology, entertainment, sports, and other news. The role marks a major step in his broadcasting career, expanding his audience beyond Southern California to viewers across the United States and internationally.
Elex Michaelson Salary
Elex Michaelson’s exact CNN salary has not been publicly confirmed. Given his experience, award-winning reporting background, and role hosting a two-hour program on a major international news network, his annual compensation could reasonably be estimated at $200,000 to $400,000.
Elex Michaelson Net Worth
Elex Michaelson’s net worth is estimated at $1 million to $3 million. His primary source of income is his career in television journalism, including his work at CNN and his previous positions at FOX 11 Los Angeles and KABC-TV. His long broadcasting career, senior anchoring responsibilities, and political reporting experience have contributed to his professional earning potential.
Leave a Reply