Bill Whitaker Biography
Bill Whitaker is an American television journalist and a correspondent for CBS News’ long-running newsmagazine, 60 Minutes. Over a career spanning several decades, he has reported on major events in the United States and abroad, from political shifts and natural disasters to humanitarian crises and social issues.
Whitaker began his journalism career in 1979 at KQED, a public television station in San Francisco. In 1982, he joined WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a correspondent. He later moved to Atlanta, where he covered politics from 1985 to 1989. He joined CBS News as a reporter in November 1984 and went on to serve as the network’s Tokyo correspondent from 1989 to 1992. In November 1992, he moved to Los Angeles to continue reporting for CBS News.
Over the years, Whitaker has covered major international events and humanitarian crises, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, and the war in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on developments in Kabul. He has also reported extensively on racial inequality and policing in American cities such as Cleveland, Chicago, and Tulsa.
Among his notable assignments was an interview with Betty Jo Shelby, a former Tulsa police officer accused of fatally shooting Terence Crutcher, an unarmed Black man. The interview drew attention amid a broader national debate over policing and racial justice.
In March 2014, CBS News announced that Whitaker would join 60 Minutes as a correspondent. He began contributing to the program in the fall of that year, reporting on investigative stories, prominent public figures, and major developments in the United States and around the world.
After longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek died in 2021, Whitaker was one of several guest hosts chosen to fill in on the popular quiz show. His 10-episode run aired from May 3 to May 14, bringing him to the attention of viewers beyond his usual television journalism audience.
Bill Whitaker Age
How old is Bill Whitaker? Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 1951, Bill Whitaker is 75 years old as of 2026. His birthday falls on August 26, and his zodiac sign is Virgo.
He grew up in Media, Pennsylvania, attending local schools before going on to college. Whitaker has built a distinguished journalism career spanning more than four decades, much of it with CBS News.
Bill Whitaker Education
Bill Whitaker graduated from Penncrest High School in Pennsylvania in 1969. He then attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts in American History in 1973.
Afterward, he studied at Boston University, where he earned a master’s degree in African American Studies in 1974.
Whitaker went on to pursue journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, completing a Master of Journalism program in 1978.
His studies in history, African American studies, and journalism gave him a strong foundation for his reporting, especially on American politics, racial inequality, social justice, and international affairs.
In 1997, Hobart and William Smith Colleges recognized his achievements with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Knox College later awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2015.
Bill Whitaker Height
Bill Whitaker’s exact height hasn’t been publicly confirmed. Some estimates that he stands at the height of 5 feet 9 inches.
Bill Whitaker Nationality
Bill Whitaker is American. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Media.
He has spent most of his career in U.S. broadcast journalism, particularly with CBS News, covering major stories at home and abroad.
Whitaker is also known for his contributions to American journalism and his long-standing involvement with the National Association of Black Journalists.
Bill Whitaker Parents
Bill Whitaker was born to Marie and William Whitaker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents raised him in Media, where he spent his childhood and attended school.
Bill Whitaker Wife
Bill Whitaker is married to Terry Whitaker, whose name was listed as Teresita Conley in earlier CBS biographical records. Despite Bill’s high-profile career in television, the couple has kept their marriage largely private.
They have been together for decades and have two children, William and Lesley.
Bill rarely discusses his marriage publicly.
Bill Whitaker Wife, Terry
Terry Whitaker is the longtime wife of CBS journalist Bill Whitaker. Earlier CBS biographies listed her full name as Teresita Conley.
She keeps a low profile and has not pursued a prominent career in television journalism. She is occasionally mentioned in accounts of Bill’s personal life.
The couple has two children, William and Lesley, and has lived in both Los Angeles and New York during different periods of Bill’s broadcasting career.
Bill Whitaker Children
Bill and his wife, Terry, have two children: a son, William, and a daughter, Lesley.
The family has largely kept the children’s lives private, and neither has become a regular public figure through their father’s television career.
The family lived in Los Angeles before moving to New York after Bill joined 60 Minutes in 2014.
Bill Whitaker and Terry Daughter
Bill and Terry Whitaker have a daughter named Lesley, one of their two children. Their son is named William.
Lesley has largely stayed out of the public eye. Little information about her education, career, or personal life is publicly available.
Bill Whitaker on 60 Minutes
Bill Whitaker is an award-winning correspondent for CBS News’ investigative newsmagazine 60 Minutes. He joined the program in March 2014 and began reporting that fall.
Before joining 60 Minutes, Whitaker spent about three decades reporting for CBS News. His work has taken him across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
He has covered major international events, including Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the war in Afghanistan.
Whitaker has also reported on pressing issues in the United States, with a focus on racial inequality, policing, addiction, and the criminal justice system.
Some of his notable assignments include:
– The opioid epidemic: He examined how lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry affected efforts to address the crisis.
– Police shootings and racial justice: He reported on policing in Cleveland, Chicago, and Tulsa.
– Chanel Miller interview: In 2019, he conducted the first television interview with sexual assault survivor Chanel Miller.
– Ghost guns: He investigated the growing availability of privately assembled firearms.
– International reporting: He covered developments in North Korea, Japan, Mexico, and the Middle East.
His work has earned him several Emmy Awards, Peabody recognition, and two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards.
Whitaker remains one of the veteran correspondents at the CBS newsmagazine.
Are Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, and Lesley Stahl Still Working at 60 Minutes?
Yes. As of November 2026, all three are still associated with 60 Minutes as correspondents.
CBS News’ September 2026 program information lists Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim among the show’s correspondents, along with Norah O’Donnell and Ross Douthat. The program’s 59th season premiered on September 13, 2026.
Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, and Lesley Stahl: What Happened at 60 Minutes?
Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, and Lesley Stahl are three veteran American journalists who work as correspondents for CBS News’ acclaimed newsmagazine, 60 Minutes. They drew widespread media attention in June 2026 after announcing they would stay with the program, despite turmoil in the newsroom, staff dismissals, and concerns about its editorial independence.
Their announcement came after a string of high-profile departures and firings at CBS News. Those affected included longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Veteran correspondent Scott Pelley was also fired.
In a memo to colleagues dated June 5, 2026, Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim said they were disappointed by the way their departing colleagues had been treated. They acknowledged struggling with whether to stay, but ultimately decided they wanted to help protect the program’s journalistic reputation and traditions.
The correspondents stressed that staying did not mean they supported every decision made by CBS management. Rather, they hoped to defend 60 Minutes’ legacy of independent reporting, investigative journalism, and tough interviews.
They also said they were willing to work with the newly appointed executive producer, Nick Bilton, while underscoring the need for editorial independence and collaboration in the newsroom.
Their memo made their position clear: they would remain at 60 Minutes as long as they could continue the independent, fearless journalism the program is known for. If that became impossible, they would consider leaving.
Bill Whitaker Jeopardy! Guest Host
Bill Whitaker isn’t best known as a Jeopardy! contestant. He appeared on the popular quiz show as a guest host in 2021.
After longtime host Alex Trebek died in November 2020, Jeopardy! brought in a series of celebrities and TV personalities to host the show while looking for a permanent replacement.
Whitaker was among those invited to take the reins. His 10-episode run aired from May 3 to May 14, 2021.
The stint introduced him to viewers beyond his regular audience on CBS News and 60 Minutes. Drawing on years of broadcasting experience, he presented the clues, spoke with contestants, and guided each game.
So, searches for Bill Whitaker as a Jeopardy! contestant usually refer to his time as a guest host—not to a run as a competing player.
Bill Whitaker Salary
Bill Whitaker has not shared his exact salary at CBS News publicly. Estimates put his annual earnings at around $98,000 to $142,000.
Bill Whitaker Net Worth
Bill Whitaker’s exact net worth is not publicly known, but estimates place it at about $3 million.
