Early Life and Education

Born in 1976, Erin Isabelle Burnett grew up in Mardela Springs, Maryland. She is the youngest daughter of Esther Margaret and Kenneth King Burnett, a corporate attorney. Burnett attended St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware, graduating in 1994. She later returned to the school in 2009 to deliver the commencement address.

Burnett earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from Williams College in Massachusetts. As an undergraduate, she was active in athletics, playing both field hockey and lacrosse. Known for her intellectual curiosity and balanced demeanor, Burnett was regarded as a well-rounded and capable student.

Transition from Finance to Journalism

Erin Burnett began her career in finance as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, where she specialized in mergers, acquisitions, and corporate finance. Despite her success, Burnett realized early on that her long-term passion lay elsewhere.

Reflecting on her transition from finance to journalism in a USA Today interview, she credited mentors like Willow Bay, Tom Brokaw, and former CNBC co-anchor Mark Haines for their influence. She explained, “Someone said to me to look at where you’d be in five or ten years. At the time, I was working in investment banking, and when I looked ahead, I realized I didn’t want that future.”

Motivated by this insight, she pivoted to media, accepting a position at CNN as a writer and booker for the program Moneyline. She later worked as Vice President of Digital Media at Citigroup before transitioning to Bloomberg Television, where she served as an anchor and stock editor. These early experiences laid a solid foundation for her subsequent journalism career.

Prominence at CNBC and CNN

Burnett rose to national prominence at CNBC, co-anchoring Squawk on the Street and hosting Street Signs. She also appeared on NBC programs such as Meet the Press, Morning Joe, and The Today Show, extending her reach across multiple networks. Additionally, she took part in NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice as an occasional advisor to then-host Donald Trump.

In 2011, she joined CNN as the anchor of Erin Burnett OutFront. Known for her sharp interviewing style and in-depth reporting, Burnett brought a comprehensive perspective to global issues and U.S. politics through the show.