Chen's maternal grandfather, Lou Gaw Tong, immigrated from a rural village in China and later became a successful grocery store owner. He had a large family, with nine wives and eleven children, which was not uncommon among his generation under traditional polygamous practices in China.

Education and Influences

Julie Chen attended local schools in Queens and later attempted to enroll at the Bronx High School of Science like her sister, but did not pass the entrance exam. She went on to study at the University of Southern California, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and English.

In a BuzzFeed interview, Chen credited her career inspiration to watching Kaity Tong, a Chinese-American news anchor, on television. Her mother encouraged her aspirations, a moment Chen describes as pivotal: “It was like she planted that seed and I watered it myself,” she said, marking the beginning of her journey into broadcast news.

Early Career in Journalism

Chen began her career in the early 1990s as a desk assistant at ABC News in Los Angeles, eventually becoming a producer there from 1992 to 1995. She then moved to WDTN-TV in Dayton, Ohio, where she worked as a reporter from 1995 to 1997. From 1997 to 1999, she served as a reporter and weekend anchor at WCBS-TV in New York.

Her career advanced when she joined CBS News. In 1999, she began appearing on CBS Morning News and later The Early Show. Starting November 1, 1999, Chen co-anchored The Early Show, serving in that role until 2010 and then continuing as a special contributing anchor through 2011.

Rise at CBS and Hosting Career

Julie Chen became notable for her role as the host of the American version of Big Brother, which premiered in 2000. As of today, she holds the record as the longest-serving host of the reality series. She became synonymous with the signature phrase “But first...,” a transition line she frequently used on the show. Over the years, this phrase turned into a catchphrase and earned her the affectionate nickname “The Chenbot.”

In addition to hosting Big Brother, Chen served as the moderator and co-host of CBS's daytime talk show The Talk from its inception in 2010 until 2018. She frequently appeared alongside co-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Sharon Osbourne, Eve, Sara Gilbert, and Aisha Tyler.

Personal Life and Marriage to Leslie Moonves

During the early 2000s, Chen was in a long-term relationship with television news editor Gary Donahue. She later began dating CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves. Their relationship became public while Moonves was still married to Nancy Wiesenfeld Moonves, though the couple separated and finalized their divorce in 2004.

Julie Chen and Leslie Moonves married on December 23, 2004, in a private ceremony in Mexico. Together, they have a son, Charlie Moonves, born on September 24, 2009. Julie is also a stepmother to Moonves's three children from his previous marriage: Adam, Sara, and Michael.

Personal Challenges and Public Statements

In 2013, on an episode of The Talk, Chen publicly revealed she had undergone East Asian blepharoplasty early in her career. She cited professional pressure from a prominent agent and news director as the reason for the procedure. Although initially met with disapproval from her family, Chen said she reconciled with her decision over time and gained self-acceptance.