Scott Wapner Biography
Scott Wapner is an American financial journalist, television anchor, and author best known as the host of CNBC’s Fast Money Halftime Report. He leads the weekday midday program from the New York Stock Exchange, where he interviews prominent investors, analyzes stocks and sectors, and guides viewers through major market developments. He also hosts Closing Bell on CNBC, which airs weekdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
Before becoming one of CNBC’s best-known market anchors, Wapner worked as a business reporter in Dallas and as a reporter for Associated Press Television News in New York. He joined CNBC in 2001 and has spent more than two decades covering financial markets, including reporting from the New York Stock Exchange during the May 2010 flash crash.
Scott Wapner Age and Birthday
Scott Wapner was born on February 13, 1969, in Laurel, Maryland, United States. He is 57 years old as of 2026. His birth sign is Aquarius.
Scott Wapner Height and Weight
The TV show host is reported to be approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. His weight is estimated at around 165 pounds (75 kg).
Education
Wapner attended the University of South Florida, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History. His academic background in history provided a foundation for the research, analysis, and storytelling skills that later became central to his career in business journalism.
Scott Wapner Parents and Family
Scott Wapner was born and raised in the Laurel, Maryland, area. Details about his parents and wider family background have remained largely outside his professional public profile.
Scott Wapner Wife and Children
Scott Wapner is married and has a son. He generally keeps his family life away from the spotlight, while his public career has focused primarily on financial journalism and his work at CNBC.
Career
Scott Wapner began his journalism career with a strong interest in both news and sports broadcasting. In an interview, he recalled that he originally hoped to become a sportscaster before his early work in business journalism redirected his career. He got his first major opportunity with a syndicated business program in Washington, D.C., before moving to New York to work as a reporter for a business news feed.
He later moved to Dallas, Texas, where he became the franchise business reporter for KDFW-TV. At the time, Dallas was home to numerous major corporations, allowing Wapner to develop his expertise in corporate and financial reporting. He subsequently worked with Associated Press Television News in New York and reported for “On the Money” (formerly known as The Wall Street Journal Report)
CNBC
Wapner joined CNBC in 2001, initially working as a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal Report. He later became a general assignment reporter and reported extensively from the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq MarketSite. His coverage included major market events and breaking financial news, including the May 2010 flash crash.
His CNBC career expanded beyond daily market reporting. Wapner has hosted and reported several documentaries for the network, including Ultimate Fighting: From Blood Sport to Big Time, which earned an Emmy nomination, and One Nation, Overweight. In 2011, his work on One Nation, Overweight earned recognition from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Wapner became particularly well known as the host of Fast Money Halftime Report, CNBC’s midday market program. The show airs weekdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET and brings together prominent market commentators and investors to discuss stocks, sectors, economic developments, and trading activity.
He has also moderated major financial conferences and interviewed some of the most influential investors and business leaders on Wall Street. His interviewing style and familiarity with market-moving personalities have made him a prominent figure in financial television.
In addition to television, Wapner is an author. He wrote When the Wolves Bite: Two Billionaires, One Company, and an Epic Wall Street Battle, a book about the high-profile conflict between billionaire investors Bill Ackman and Carl Icahn surrounding Herbalife.
As of 2026, Wapner continues to serve as a CNBC anchor, hosting Fast Money Halftime Report and Closing Bell while covering major developments across the financial markets.
Scott Wapner Salary
Scott Wapner earns an estimated $750,000 per year from his career at CNBC, where he hosts Fast Money Halftime Report and Closing Bell.
Is Scott Wapner Related to Judge Wapner?
Scott Wapner is not related to Judge Joseph Wapner, the late television judge who became famous as the original judge on The People’s Court. Despite sharing the surname, the two have no known family relationship.
Scott Wapner Net Worth
Wapner’s net worth is estimated at around $6 million, accumulated over more than two decades in financial journalism, his CNBC career, television appearances, and book earnings.
Social Media and Sources
Instagram – No official Instagram page
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