Ali Velshi is 56 years old is one of those rare journalists who makes economic issues clear and relatable. Ali was born on 29th October 1969 in Nairobi, Kenya. 

As a senior correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, he’s spent years breaking down global events and their financial impacts. 

How did his journey in journalism begin, and what led him to become one of the most recognized faces in business reporting? 

Let’s dive into his fascinating biography of Ali Velshi and find out what keeps him at the forefront of news and media.

Ali Velshi Wiki & Early Life

Ali Velshi Wiki

Ali Velshi was born to Indian immigrant parents of Gujarati descent. His family later moved to Canada, where Velshi grew up in Toronto. 

His father was the first Canadian of Indian origin elected to Ontario’s Legislative Assembly, which sparked Velshi’s interest in public affairs.

Full NameAli Velshi
ProfessionJournalist, TV Host, Business Correspondent
Age56 years old
Date of Birth29 October 1969
NationalityAmerican
Zodiac/Sun SignScorpio
BirthplaceNairobi, Kenya
Current AddressNew York, USA

Ali Velshi Wife, Children

Ali Velshi is married to Lori Wachs[1], a hedge fund manager and the president of Cross Ledge Investments.

The couple met when Wachs appeared as a guest on Velshi’s show in 2009. They have one daughter and live in Montgomery, Pennsylvania.

Relationship StatusMarried
Wife/GirlfriendWife: Lori Wachs
Children Yet to be updated

Ali Velshi Family

Velshi’s father, Murad Velshi, was a successful politician in Canada, and his mother, Mila Velshi, worked in community services. There is no widely available information about his siblings, which suggests he may be an only child.

Parent’s NameFather: Murad Velshi 
Mother: Mila Velshi
SiblingsYet to be updated

Ali Velshi Education

Ali went to Northern Secondary School and later for higher studies, he attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he earned a degree in Religious Studies in 1994. He later pursued a career in journalism, which led to his success as a business and news anchor.

SchoolNorthern Secondary School
Alma MaterQueen’s University in Kingston
Highest QualificationDegree in Religious Studies

Ali Velshi Career

Velshi’s career in journalism began with his work at CFTO in Toronto. He joined CNN in 2001, hosting various financial programs, and later became Chief Business Correspondent. After leaving CNN, Velshi joined Al Jazeera America in 2013, before moving to MSNBC and NBC News in 2016, where he continues to work as a senior economic correspondent and hosts his weekend show, Velshi.

YearRoleCompany Name
1996General Assignment ReporterCFTO (Toronto)
1999Anchor, Business NewsReport on Business Television
2001Anchor/Host, Business Unusual, Street SweepCNN
2005Host, The TurnaroundCNN
2005-2006Co-host, The Situation RoomCNN
2007-2008Business CorrespondentCNN
2011Co-anchor, World Business TodayCNN International
2013-2016Host, Real Money with Ali VelshiAl Jazeera America
2015-2016Host, Ali Velshi on TargetAl Jazeera America
2016-PresentHost, MSNBC Live with Ali VelshiMSNBC
2016-PresentBusiness CorrespondentNBC News
2019-PresentHost, VelshiMSNBC

Awards 

YearAward
2010Queen’s University Alumni Achievement Award
2010National Headliner Award for Business & Consumer Reporting
2017Honorary “Canada 150” Ambassador
2017Poynter Fellow in Journalism

Ali Velshi Net Worth, Salary

Ali Velshi Net Worth

Ali Velshi’s estimated net worth is around $5 million [2], accumulated from his successful career in journalism and broadcasting​. His annual salary is between 2 to 3 million.

Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.)$5 million
Salary (Approx.)$2-3 million

Ali Velshi Height, Weight & Physical Stats

Ali Velshi Height
HeightIn centimeters: 173 cm
In meters: 1.73 m
In feet & inches: 5 feet 8 inches
WeightIn kg: Yet to be updated
In lbs: Yet to be updated
Body MeasurementsYet to be updated
Hair ColourBald
Eye ColourBrown

Ali Velshi Instagram, X, Facebook

InstagramInstagram Profile alivelshi
XX (Twitter) Icon @AliVelshi
FacebookFacebook Profile OfficialAliVelshi

More News Anchor From NBC

Alex Witt
Stephanie Ruhle
Andrea Mitchell
Chris Jansing
Joy Reid

10 Interesting Facts About Ali Velshi

  • Ali Velshi once worked as a general assignment reporter at CFTO in Toronto, his first job in journalism​. 
  • He was the first on-air personality hired by Al Jazeera America in 2013​.
  • Recently, he published his memoir Small Acts of Courage [3], which chronicles his family’s migrations across continents​.
  • He delivered a TEDx talk in 2017 about how fake news grows in a post-fact world​.
  • Velshi was once called the “Hairless Prophet of Doom” by comedian Jon Stewart due to his bald look.
  • He played himsself in Oliver Stone’s 2010 film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
  • Jon Stewart jokingly referred to him as the “Hairless Prophet of Doom” on The Daily Show.
  • He has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 2014.
  • Velshi was named an honorary ambassador to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
  • He was named a Poynter Fellow in Journalism at Yale University in 2017​.

More News Anchor From CNN

Jen Psaki
Kasie Hunt
Wolf Blitzer
Jake Tapper
Alicia Menendez

FAQs

How old is Ali Velshi?

Ali Velshi is 56 years old, born on October 29, 1969, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Who are the parents of Ali Velshi?

His parents are Murad Velshi, a former politician in Canada, and Mila Velshi​.

Does Ali have any children?

Yes, Ali has one daughter, but her name is unknown.

What is Ali Velshi’s salary?

Ali Velshi’s annual salary is estimated to range between $2-3 million.

Who is Ali Velshi’s partner?

He married to Lori Wachs, a hedge fund manager.

Where did Ali go to college?

Ali graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, with a degree in Religious Studies​.

Does Ali have his show on MSNBC?

Yes, he hosts his show called Velshi on weekend mornings on MSNBC.

References

  1. Loriwachs
  2. Finance.alot
  3. Instagram