Geraldo Rivera Biography

Geraldo Rivera is an American journalist, attorney, author, and television personality known for his long and often controversial career in broadcast journalism. He gained national fame for his investigative reporting and later for hosting talk shows and appearing as a political commentator on major networks like Fox News and NBC News.

Rivera first rose to prominence in the 1970s with groundbreaking investigative journalism that exposed social injustices, particularly in institutions for people with disabilities. Over the decades, he became known for his bold reporting style and willingness to tackle controversial topics.

Geraldo Rivera Age

Geraldo Rivera was born on July 4, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, United States.

As of 2026, he is 82 years old.

Geraldo Rivera's Early Life & Education

Geraldo Rivera was born to a Puerto Rican father and a Jewish mother, giving him a diverse cultural background.

He attended:

State University of New York Maritime College

University of Arizona

Brooklyn Law School (earned a law degree)

Before entering journalism, he worked as a lawyer and activist, particularly advocating for civil rights.

Geraldo Rivera Career

Investigative Journalism Breakthrough

Geraldo Rivera gained widespread attention with his 1972 report exposing the poor conditions at the Willowbrook State School, which led to major reforms in the treatment of people with disabilities. This work earned him a Peabody Award and established him as a serious investigative journalist.

Television Career

He later became a prominent television personality:

Hosted the talk show “Geraldo” (1987–1998)

Hosted the highly publicized TV special on Al Capone’s vault (1986)

Worked as a correspondent for ABC News and NBC News

Became a political commentator and host on Fox News

His career has spanned news reporting, talk shows, and opinion-based programming.

Geraldo Rivera Height

He stands at approximately 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall.

Geraldo Rivera's Wife

Geraldo Rivera has had a history of multiple marriages. His first marriage was to Linda Coblentz in 1965, but they divorced in 1969. He then married Edith Vonnegut on December 14, 1971, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1975. In 1976, he married Sherryl Raymond, and they had a son together before divorcing in 1984. On July 11, 1987, Rivera married his fourth wife, C.C. (Cynthia Cruickshank) Dyer. They had two daughters and experienced the loss of six children through miscarriage. They divorced in 2000.

Currently, Rivera is married to Erica Michelle Levy, and they have a daughter together. They tied the knot in 2003.

Geraldo Rivera Children|Kids

Geraldo Rivera has four children from his various marriages. His son, Gabriel Miguel, was born in July 1979 during his second marriage to Sherryl Raymond. From his fourth marriage to C.C. (Cynthia Cruickshank), he has two daughters named Isabella Holmes (born in 1992) and Simone Cruickshank (born in 1994). His youngest daughter, Sol Liliana, was born in 2005 from his fifth marriage to Michelle. On November 13, 2015, during a Fox News segment, Rivera revealed that his daughter Simone Cruickshank was present at the Stade de France when the terrorist attacks and explosions occurred. Thankfully, she survived the incident along with her friends and returned home safely.

Geraldo Rivera Photo

Geraldo Rivera, Fox News

He left CNBC in November 2001 – two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks – and became the Fox News war correspondent. During a Fox News broadcast, he started disclosing an upcoming operation, even going beyond to drawing a map in the sand for his audience. In 2005, he engaged in a feud with The New York Times over their claims that in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he pushed aside a member of a rescue team in order to be filmed helping a woman in a wheelchair down some steps in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Rivera, though objecting to her views on immigration, said, “Michelle Malkin is the vilest, racist person I’ve ever met in my life. She actually believes that neighbors will start spitting out friends, and we should deport people.” He added, “It’s good she’s in D.C., and I’m in New York. I’d spit on her if I saw her.”On January 3, 2012, he started hosting a weekday radio talk show on WABC in New York, N.Y. The show was scheduled in the two hours between Imus in the Morning and The Rush Limbaugh Show on WABC. On January 30, 2012, he also started hosting a weekday show on KABC in Los Angeles. He hosts the newsmagazine program, Geraldo, at Large and appears regularly on Fox News Channel.

Geraldo Rivera left Fox News in 2023 after more than two decades with the network. His departure followed reported disagreements with colleagues and changes in programming.

Geraldo Rivera's Net Worth

Geraldo Rivera has an estimated net worth of approximately $20 million, earned through decades in journalism, television hosting, and book publishing.

Geraldo Rivera's Illness

In July 2015, Geraldo Rivera was spotted leaving Manhattan Civil Court, where he was reportedly attending settlement talks for a medical malpractice lawsuit he had filed. The lawsuit was against the Hospital for Special Surgery located on East 70th Street. Rivera claimed that surgical errors committed by the defendant had resulted in severe disability.

According to his account, he had undergone back surgery at the healthcare facility in 2010. However, following the surgery, his right foot was left crippled, and he alleged that the medical problems he experienced were a result of surgical errors. Specific details regarding the lawsuit, such as the nature of the issues that arose during the surgery, how the foot disability occurred, and the alleged breach of the standard of care by the surgeon, have not been disclosed.

Geraldo Rivera Show

His daytime talk show aired from September 7, 1987, to June 12, 1998, in syndication. With the theme The Geraldo Rivera Show, the last two seasons broadcast. The show was an Investigative News Group created and distributed by Tribune Entertainment.

First episode date: 7 September 1987
Final episode date: 12 June 1998
Number of seasons: 11
Created by: Geraldo Rivera
Original network: Syndicated

Geraldo Rivera Books

He is also an accomplished author. Some of his notable books include:

Exposing Myself (memoir)
HisPanic
The Great Progression

His writings often reflect his experiences in journalism and his personal life.

Political Commentary & Media Presence

Since leaving Fox News, he has remained active as a political commentator, appearing on various platforms and social media to share his views on U.S. politics, immigration, and law enforcement issues.

Geraldo Rivera Current Affairs & Latest Updates (2024–2026)

Public Advocacy & Opinions

Rivera continues to be vocal on topics such as:

Criminal justice reform
Immigration policy
Media ethics

He often shares his opinions through interviews, guest appearances, and online platforms, maintaining his reputation as a bold and outspoken media figure.

Geraldo Rivera Legacy

Geraldo Rivera remains one of the most recognizable figures in American journalism. From groundbreaking investigative reports to controversial talk shows, his career has had a lasting impact on both news media and television entertainment.

He is remembered for pushing boundaries in journalism and shaping the evolution of televised news and talk programming.

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