Ali Velshi is a Canadian journalist and television host, born on October 29, 1969, in Nairobi, Kenya. He was raised in Toronto, Ontario, where he developed an early interest in media and public affairs. Velshi attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto before pursuing higher education.

Education and Early Activism

He earned a degree in religious studies from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, graduating in 1994. During his time at Queen’s University, Velshi was active in campus journalism and publicly opposed the policies of Preston Manning and the Reform Party of Canada. Recognizing his contributions as an alumnus, Queen’s University honored him with the Queen’s University Alumni Achievement Award in 2010 and later awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Personal Life

Ali Velshi is the son of Murad Velshi, a businessman and former Ontario legislator who was the first Canadian of Indian origin elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. His mother, Mila, was raised in South Africa. Velshi was briefly married in his twenties; the marriage ended in divorce. In 2009, he married Lori Wachs, a hedge fund manager and the former president of Philadelphia-based Cross Ledge Investments. The couple met when Wachs appeared as a guest on Velshi’s show. According to MarriedBiography.com, the couple shares three children and has built a stable family life together.

Early Career in Canadian Media

Velshi began his journalism career in Canada, working as a General Assignment reporter at CFTO in Toronto. He was later promoted to business reporter for CablePulse 24. In 1999, he joined Report on Business Television—now known as BNN Bloomberg—Canada’s premiere all-business news channel, where he hosted the prime-time program The Business News.

Entry into U.S. Politics and Media

In 1996, Velshi was awarded a fellowship by the American Political Science Association, enabling him to work with U.S. Congressman Lee H. Hamilton of Indiana. This experience expanded his understanding of American politics and laid the groundwork for his transition to American television journalism.

CNN and Major Business Reporting

Velshi joined CNNfn in September 2001 and anchored several programs, including Your Money, Business Unusual, Street Sweep, and The Money Gang. After CNNfn shut down in 2004, Velshi moved to CNN proper, taking on roles including co-anchor of American Morning and a contributor to The Situation Room.

In 2005, he hosted the reality series The Turnaround, where he traveled across the U.S. to help struggling small businesses by connecting them with high-profile mentors. During the 2008 financial crisis, Velshi gained significant airtime and attention due to his expertise in financial matters. His show Your Money became a go-to source for economic insights, and he also provided live, on-the-ground reporting during major global events such as the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Hurricane Ike.