Jake Tapper, born Jacob Paul Tapper on 12th March 1969 (Age: 55 years old), is one of America’s most prominent political journalists, renowned for his incisive interviews and no-nonsense reporting style. 

Currently the chief Washington correspondent for CNN, Tapper hosts the weekday news show The Lead with Jake Tapper and co-hosts State of the Union. Though now a respected figure in broadcast journalism. 

Initially aspiring to be a cartoonist or filmmaker, he even attended film school before pivoting to a career in media. Starting as a press secretary, Tapper freelanced as a writer for numerous publications before transitioning to broadcast journalism. 

Let’s explore more details in Jake Tapper Biography and learn about his age, wife, children, family, education, career, awards, and some unknown facts.

Jake Tapper Wiki & Early Life

Jake Tapper Wiki
Full NameJacob Paul Tapper
ProfessionJournalist, Author, Cartoonist
Age55 years old
Date of Birth12 March 1969
NationalityAmerican
Zodiac/Sun SignPisces
BirthplaceNew York City, New York, U.S.
Current AddressWashington, D.C., U.S.

Jake Tapper Wife, Children

Jake Tapper with his Wife and Children

Jake Tapper is married to Jennifer Marie Brown, whom he wed in 2006. They have two children together, and the family lives in Washington, D.C.

Relationship StatusMarried
Wife/GirlfriendWife: Jennifer Marie Brown
Children Yet to be updated

Jake Tapper Family

Jake Tapper’s father, Theodore S. Tapper, is a pediatrician, and his mother, Helene Anne Palmatier, was a psychiatric nurse. He has a younger brother named Aaron Joshua Hahn Tapper, who is an academic and writer.

Parent’s NameFather: Theodore S. Tapper 
Mother: Helene Anne Palmatier
SiblingsBrother: Aaron Joshua Hahn Tapper

Jake Tapper Education

Tapper graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College with a degree in History. He briefly studied film at the University of Southern California but left after one semester.

SchoolAkiba Hebrew Academy
Alma MaterDartmouth College
Highest QualificationGraduate

Jake Tapper Career

Jake Tapper started his career in journalism in the 1990s, working for various publications like Salon.com and Washington City Paper. He joined CNN in 2013, where he currently hosts The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union and serves as the network’s Chief Washington Correspondent.

YearRoleCompany
1992Press SecretaryMarjorie Margolies’ Congressional Campaign
1994-2003CartoonistRoll Call
1998-1999Senior WriterWashington City Paper
1999-2002Washington CorrespondentSalon.com
2001HostCNN
2003-2012Senior White House CorrespondentABC News
2013-presentChief Washington Correspondent, Host CNN
2015Republican Primary Debate ModeratorCNN

Awards

YearAward
2011Emmy Award
2013National Headliner Award
2014Sigma Delta Chi Award (Society of Professional Journalists)
2015Merriman Smith Memorial Award
2020News & Documentary Emmy Award
2022News & Documentary Emmy Award
MultipleEdward R. Murrow Award

Controversies

YearControversyDescription
2015Republican Primary Debate ModerationCriticized for his questioning style during the GOP debate, which some felt created unnecessary conflict.
2021CNN’s Cuomo Scandal CoverageTapper publicly criticized former CNN colleague Chris Cuomo for ethical violations involving his brother, Andrew Cuomo.
2022Allegations of BiasFaced accusations of anti-conservative bias during interviews and news coverage​.

Jake Tapper Net Worth, Salary

Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.)$16 Million
Salary (Approx.)$4 Million

Jake Tapper Height, Weight & Physical Stats

Jake Tapper Height
HeightIn centimeters: 185 cm
In meters: 1.85 m
In feet & inches: 6 feet 1 inch 
WeightIn kg: 89 kg
In lbs: 196 lbs
Body MeasurementsYet to be updated
Hair ColourBrown
Eye ColourBrown

Jake Tapper Instagram, X, Facebook

InstagramInstagram Profile jaketapper
XTwitter Icon @jaketapper
FacebookFacebook Profile JakeTapper

10 Interesting Facts About Jake Tapper

  1. Jake Tapper worked as a press secretary for a congressional campaign before becoming a journalist.
  2. He once went on a date with Monica Lewinsky and later wrote an empathetic article about her.
  3. Tapper was a cartoonist and created a comic strip called Capitol Hell for Roll Call.
  4. He briefly studied film at the University of Southern California before quitting after one semester.
  5. His father is a pediatrician, and his mother is a psychiatric nurse.
  6. Jake Tapper attended the Akiba Hebrew Academy, where he was class president​.
  7. He received the Merriman Smith Memorial Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure.
  8. Tapper once criticized his CNN colleague Chris Cuomo during the scandal involving Andrew Cuomo​.
  9. His book The Outpost was adapted into a film in 2020​.
  10. He is a Phi Beta Kappa honor society member from Dartmouth College, where he graduated magna cum laude.

FAQs

What religion is Jake Tapper?

Jake Tapper is Jewish, and he has spoken about his Jewish heritage and upbringing, including attending a Jewish day school​.

What is Jake Tapper doing now?

Jake Tapper is continuing his role as CNN’s Chief Washington Correspondent and hosts two shows: The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union.

Does Jake Tapper have a child?

Yes, Jake Tapper has two children with his wife, Jennifer Marie Brown.

What kind of books does Jake Tapper write?

Jake Tapper writes both non-fiction and fiction, with a focus on political thrillers (The Hellfire Club) and military history (The Outpost).

What is Jake Tapper’s salary?

Tapper’s estimated annual salary is around $4 million, according to various reports​.

How long has Jake Tapper been with CNN?

Jake has been with CNN since January 2013, making it over 11 years of service at the network.