Background

George Robert Stephanopoulos was born on February 10, 1961, in Fall River, Massachusetts. He is the son of Nickolitsa "Nikki" Gloria and Robert George Stephanopoulos, both of Greek descent; his father served as a Greek Orthodox priest and dean emeritus of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City. His mother was also closely involved with the church and served as the director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America National News Service. Stephanopoulos became a follower of the Greek Orthodox faith in his youth and even considered entering the priesthood.

As he got older, Stephanopoulos lived in Purchase, New York, before moving again to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended Orange High School in Pepper Pike. During his high school years, Stephanopoulos competed in wrestling. He would attend Columbia University in New York, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science. During his tenure at Columbia University, Stephanopoulos was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year. He earned a Harry S. Truman Scholarship and was a sports broadcaster for the university's radio station WKCR-FM.

Stephanopoulos pursued a job in Washington, D.C. as an aide to Democratic Congressman Ed Feighan of Ohio before eventually leaving America to attend Balliol College at the University of Oxford in England. He would study as a Rhodes Scholar and graduated in 1984 with a master's degree in Theology. Stephanopoulos once said he spent much of his time trying to find the roots of politics while attending Oxford, which led him to more profound philosophies.

Marriage, Wife, and Children

In 2001, Stephanopoulos married Alexandra Wentworth, an actress, comedian, and writer. The pair held their wedding ceremony at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on New York's Upper East Side. Stephanopoulos went on to have two daughters with Wentworth, Elliott Anastasia Stephanopoulos and Harper Andrea Stephanopoulos.

Career and Net Worth

George Stephanopoulos' passion for politics ultimately led him to pursue a profession in politics. He would help Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential battle earning him the title of one of Clinton's most trusted counsel after the race. Once Clinton was elected, Stephanopoulos was appointed press secretary before moving on to Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy. During Clinton's presidency, Stephanopoulos served as a senior advisor to the Clinton administration.

Stephanopoulos' time as press secretary under the Clinton administration was short-lived, and he was immediately supplanted as press secretary after misspeaking during a few question and answer sessions. He was treated harshly by the media, who condemned his work as a press secretary. Things went from bad to worse for Stephanopoulos after receiving a phone call that examined the Resolution Trust Corporation's decision of legal counselors to head the Madison Guaranty examination, also known as the Whitewater scandal. After the embarrassment, Stephanopoulos surrendered to his opponent in 1996.