Geraldo Rivera is a 82-years-old American journalist, television host, attorney, political commentator, author, and former war correspondent.
Rivera has been married five times and is a father of five children from his various marriages, including daughters and sons who have largely stayed out of the public spotlight.
Who is Geraldo Rivera?
Geraldo Rivera is a prominent television journalist and media personality known for his bold reporting style and long-standing presence in American media.
He first gained national recognition in the 1970s with an investigative report that exposed the abusive conditions at the Willowbrook State School for people with developmental disabilities.
This groundbreaking report brought widespread attention to the issue and sparked public outrage.
In the 1980s, Rivera became widely known for hosting The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults, a much-hyped live television special that drew over 30 million viewers.
Although the vault revealed nothing of value, the broadcast became a cultural phenomenon and boosted his public profile. He followed up this success by hosting the daytime talk show Geraldo.
Rivera later moved into cable news and became one of the most recognizable faces on Fox News. As a war correspondent, he reported from Afghanistan and Iraq.
While his style occasionally drew criticism, he was admired for his willingness to take risks and provide firsthand accounts of major global events.
Beyond journalism, Rivera has written several books and been an active commentator on political and social issues.
He has also hosted radio shows, appeared in documentaries, and contributed to public discourse through columns and speaking engagements.
In addition to his work in news, Rivera has appeared on reality television, including Dancing with the Stars and The Celebrity Apprentice.
Geraldo Rivera Early Life and Family
Geraldo Rivera was born on July 4, 1943, in New York City, United States, into a culturally rich and diverse family.
He is an American citizen and the product of a multiracial and multi-religious household, with deep roots in both Puerto Rican and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
His father, Cruz Allen Rivera was born in 1915 in Puerto Rico and had Galician ancestry. Cruz worked in humble jobs, including as a restaurant worker and taxicab driver, doing whatever he could to support his family. However, his father died at age of 75 in 1987.
His mother, Lillian Rivera was born in 1924 and was of Russian Jewish descent, and played a central role in preserving the family’s Jewish traditions and values. In 2018, his mother died at age of 94.
Rivera grew up alongside his three siblings Craig Rivera, Irene Rivera Hurst, and Sharon Rivera. The Rivera family often faced racial and ethnic discrimination, a reality that left a strong impression on Geraldo from an early age.
To protect her children from prejudice, Lillian sometimes changed the family surname from Rivera to Riviera in social settings, hoping to deflect the anti-Hispanic bias that was common at the time.
The surname Rivera is widely used in Spanish, Galician, and Puerto Rican cultures, and is one of the most common last names in Puerto Rico.
Despite the cultural blend in his household ,Geraldo was raised primarily in the Jewish faith. Though his father was a Roman Catholic, he celebrated his bar mitzvah.
The dual influences of Catholicism and Judaism, combined with the family’s working-class background, exposed him to the complexities of cultural identity and social inequality from a young age.
Geraldo Rivera Education
Geraldo Rivera began his formal education at West Babylon High School in West Babylon, New York.
His time in high school laid the foundation for his intellectual curiosity and his drive to challenge injustice, though at that point, his future career path was still taking shape.
After graduating from high school, Rivera enrolled at the State University of New York Maritime College in the Bronx in 1961, where he studied for two years. While there, he also became a member of the rowing team.
In 1963, he transferred to the University of Arizona. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1965.
Following graduation, Rivera took various jobs including short-order cook and clothing salesman before deciding to pursue law.
In 1966, he was accepted to Brooklyn Law School, where he excelled academically. During his time there, he held internships with the New York County District Attorney’s Office and Harlem Assertion of Rights.
Graduating near the top of his class in 1969, he went on to receive the prestigious Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship in poverty law, which he completed at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
That same year, he was admitted to the New York State Bar, officially launching his legal career and setting the stage for his future in media and public service.
Geraldo Rivera Age
Geraldo Rivera is 82 years old as of 2025 because he came into the world on July 4, 1943, in New York City, United States. According to her birthday, she falls under the Cancer zodiac sign.
Early Career and Investigative Reporting Breakthrough
Geraldo Rivera’s professional journey began in the late 1960s when he worked as a civil rights attorney, advocating for marginalized communities.
His passion for social justice naturally transitioned into journalism, and by 1970, Rivera joined WABC-TV as a reporter.
He quickly gained a reputation for bold investigative reporting, tackling issues that others avoided. One of his most impactful early stories exposed the horrific conditions at Willowbrook State School.
This groundbreaking report in 1972 drew national attention, leading to public outrage and contributing to the passage of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act in 1980.
Rivera’s rise to national fame came in 1986 with his hosting of the live television event The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults.
The program was built around the opening of sealed vaults under Chicago’s Lexington Hotel, long rumored to contain mobster Al Capone’s hidden treasure.
Following this, in 1987, he launched his daytime talk show, Geraldo, known for its provocative and sometimes chaotic format.
The show ran for 11 years and became famous for sensational topics and heated debates, including a notorious 1988 on-air brawl where Rivera suffered a broken nose.
Although critics labeled the show as trash TV, it attracted a loyal audience and left a lasting mark on daytime television.
Transition to War Correspondence and National Television
In the 1990s, Rivera expanded his television career by hosting Rivera Live on CNBC. He also appeared in popular culture, playing himself in shows like Seinfeld and My Name Is Earl, and lent his voice to animated series such as Phineas and Ferb.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Rivera shifted toward frontline reporting as a Fox News war correspondent. His reporting brought intense, on-the-ground perspectives to viewers but was not without controversy.
In Afghanistan, Rivera was criticized for inaccurately claiming to be at the scene of a friendly fire incident when he was miles away.
More seriously, in Iraq, he was expelled after revealing sensitive military operation details live on air, which the Pentagon said compromised troop safety. Despite these incidents, Rivera remained a prominent and outspoken voice in news media.
He was known for his blunt, sometimes provocative commentary, which occasionally sparked public disputes such as his 2007 feud with fellow Fox commentator Michelle Malkin, which Rivera later apologized for.
His combination of investigative journalism and controversial opinion made him a polarizing but influential figure in American media.
Radio, Continued Media Presence, and Recent Developments
In the 2010s, Rivera expanded into talk radio, hosting shows on major stations like New York’s WABC and Los Angeles’s KABC.
His radio tenure included controversial moments, notably his 2012 comments on the Trayvon Martin case, where he suggested the hoodie Martin wore contributed to the tragedy.
Rivera also continued hosting Geraldo at Large on Fox News and became a rotating liberal co-host on The Five.
However, in mid-2023, after 23 years at Fox News, Rivera announced his departure amid editorial and personal conflicts.
In early 2024, he joined NewsNation as a correspondent-at-large, marking the latest chapter in his long and varied career.
Throughout his five decades in media, Geraldo Rivera has been a trailblazer in investigative reporting, a figure of cultural controversy, a war correspondent, and a radio personality.
His career reflects a complex legacy shaped by groundbreaking journalism, iconic moments, and enduring public debate.
Geraldo Rivera Net Worth
Geraldo Rivera has an estimated net worth of $20 million as of 2025. He earns his income primarily through his work in television and radio.
Over the years, he has hosted numerous shows on major networks like Fox News and CNBC, where he was paid as a news anchor, correspondent, and talk show host.
His appearances on programs such as Geraldo at Large, The Five, and his earlier daytime talk show Geraldo have been significant sources of his earnings.
Additionally, his work as a war correspondent and contributor to various news specials has contributed to his professional income.
Besides broadcasting, Rivera has made money through his radio shows on stations like WABC in New York and KABC in Los Angeles.
He has also authored books, including his memoir and political commentary, which add to his revenue. Furthermore, his appearances on reality TV, such as Dancing with the Stars and The Celebrity Apprentice.
Along with his occasional acting roles and speaking engagements, have made his earnings throughout his career.
What happened to Geraldo Rivera?
Geraldo Rivera left Fox News in June 2023 after more than 20 years with the network. His exit came after he was fired from the panel show The Five, where he was a rotating liberal co-host.
Rivera later explained that a difficult relationship with a male co-host contributed to his departure. Following his time at Fox, Rivera joined NewsNation in early 2024 as a correspondent-at-large.
This new role gave him the chance to continue his journalism career with a different network, and he expressed appreciation for his experiences at Fox despite the challenges.
Geraldo Rivera Wife
Geraldo Rivera has been married to Erica Michelle Levy since August 10, 2003. Erica is a journalist and author who has worked in television production and writing.
The couple has maintained a relatively private relationship compared to Rivera’s previous marriages. Together, they have one daughter.
Erica has supported Rivera through various phases of his career, and the two share a strong partnership both personally and professionally.
Before marrying Erica, Rivera was married to Cynthia Cruickshank Dyer from July 11, 1987, until their divorce in 2001. This marriage lasted for nearly 14 years.
During their time together, Rivera and Cynthia had two daughters. Their relationship ended after over a decade, but Rivera has spoken respectfully about this period of his life.
Rivera’s marriage to Sherryl Raymond spanned from December 31, 1976, to October 10, 1984. The couple had one son together during their marriage.
This union covered much of Rivera’s early career years and ended in divorce after nearly eight years. Geraldo’s marriage to Edith Vonnegut, which lasted from December 14, 1971, to 1975, was during the early days of his professional life.
Edith is from the famous Vonnegut family, known for its literary legacy. The marriage lasted a few years and ended in divorce. Rivera’s first marriage was to Linda Kaye Coblentz.
They were married from August 20, 1965, until 1969. This was before he became widely known as a television personality and journalist. The marriage lasted about four years and ended in divorce.
Geraldo Rivera Children
Geraldo Rivera is the father of five children from different relationships throughout his life.
Gabriel Miguel Rivera
Geraldo Rivera’s eldest child is Gabriel Miguel Rivera, born in July 1979 during Geraldo’s marriage to Sherryl Raymond. Gabriel has largely stayed out of the public eye compared to his father.
Despite the complexities that can come with having a famous parent, Gabriel has carved his own path, away from the intense spotlight that often surrounds his father.
His relationship with Geraldo, like many father-child relationships, has had its ups and downs, but he remains an important part of Rivera’s family.
Isabella Holmes Rivera
Isabella Holmes is one of Geraldo’s daughters with Cynthia C.C. Cruickshank Dyer. Born in 1992, Isabella grew up during a period when Rivera’s career was firmly established across television and radio.
Simone Cruickshank Rivera
Simone, born in 1994, is also a daughter of Geraldo Rivera and Cynthia Cruickshank Dyer. She gained public attention in 2015 when she was caught in the Stade de France terrorist attacks while attending an event with friends.
Fortunately, Simone and her companions escaped unharmed. This incident brought a brief but intense media focus on her.
Rivera’s Youngest Daughter
Geraldo’s youngest child is with his current wife, Erica Michelle Levy. While her name and detailed personal information are kept private, she represents the newest addition to Rivera’s family.
Erica and Geraldo have been known to protect their family’s privacy carefully, so not much public information is available about their youngest daughter, which helps them maintain a more private family environment.
is Madeleine Rivera Related to Geraldo Rivera?
No, Madeleine Rivera is not related to Geraldo Rivera. They share the same last name but there is no known family connection between them.
What Disease does Geraldo Rivera have?
Geraldo Rivera has been quite open about his battle with prostate cancer. He has talked about it publicly to help raise awareness and encourage others to get screened early.
He even sat down with a doctor, Dr. Deepak Kapoor, to discuss the latest advances in how prostate cancer is detected and treated. By sharing his story, Rivera hopes to inspire men to take their health seriously and get checked regularly.
On a different note, Rivera’s career has not been without some wild moments. One of the most famous incidents happened during his talk show when guests included racist skinheads, white supremacists, and a black activist.
Things got so heated that a physical fight broke out on live TV, and Rivera ended up with a broken nose. He had to have plastic surgery twice because of it.
That moment really shows how unpredictable his career has been and how he has never been afraid to dive into tough and controversial topics.
Geraldo Rivera Height and Weight
Geraldo Rivera stands at approximately 5 feet 9 inches which is equal to 175 centimeter or 1.75 meter tall.
His weight has fluctuated slightly over the years, but he generally maintains a healthy build around 80 kilograms 176 pounds.
Rivera has openly discussed his interest in staying fit, including his love for sailing and staying active. Even into his 70s, he has been seen engaging in physical activities.
Social Media Presence
Geraldo Rivera maintains an active presence on social media. He is particularly active on X, where he shares opinions on current events, political commentary, and personal updates.
He uses the platform to engage with both supporters and critics, often sparking discussions with his candid posts.
Bottom Line
In the Bottom line, In the end, Geraldo Rivera’s career has been anything but ordinary. From breaking headlines to stirring debates, he has made a lasting mark on American media.
Whether you admire his boldness or question his controversies, there is no denying his influence and staying power in the world of news and television.
We hope you enjoyed learning about him. Let us know your views in the comment section.
