Chris Hayes Biography
Chris Hayes is an American anchor, author, political commentator and activist working for MSNBC as a host for the weekly podcast, All In with Chris Hayes. He joined the MSNBC news team in 2010, after previously working for New America Foundation.
Chris Hayes Career
Hayes shares a deep connection with comedian Desus Nice as they are not only childhood friends but also schoolmates, having attended New York City’s prestigious Hunter College High School together. Notable figures such as Immortal Technique and Lin-Manuel Miranda were also among their classmates. Hayes, in fact, directed Miranda in his first musical during their time together. After high school, he continued his academic journey at Brown University, where he pursued a major in philosophy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001. Reflecting on his intellectual development at Brown, he mentioned his inclination towards the analytic school within philosophy. However, the intellectual environment at Brown, influenced by postmodern critique and thinkers like Foucault, played a significant role in shaping his perspectives.
The shared experiences at Hunter College High School and Brown University contribute to the foundation of Chris Hayes’s diverse background and intellectual formation. Starting in August 2001, he embarked on a four-year stint as a contributor to the Chicago Reader, an independent weekly newspaper. During this period, he covered a range of topics, delving into both local and national politics. In late 2003, he transitioned to In These Times, a labor-focused monthly magazine based in Chicago, where he assumed the role of senior editor. From 2005 to 2006, he served as a Schumann Center Writing Fellow at In These Times, contributing to the publication. Subsequently, from 2006 to 2007, he held the position of Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute and also contributed as a writer for The Nation. His insightful contributions led to his appointment as the Washington, D.C. editor for The Nation on November 1, 2007, succeeding David Corn.
Throughout his career in this capacity, he delved into various topics central to the liberal community. This included extensive commentary on the challenges faced by the Democratic Party in the post-9/11 era, as well as reporting on the evolving landscape of the labor movement. Notably, he covered the efforts of progressive activists to revive the “public option” during the healthcare battles of 2009–2010, a cause that many political insiders had dismissed. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, he took on academic roles, serving as an adjunct professor of English at St. Augustine College in Chicago. Simultaneously, he held the position of Bernard L. Schwartz fellow at the New America Foundation from 2008 to 2010. He had his share of roles at MSNBC beyond his editorial work. In July 2010, he guest-hosted The Rachel Maddow Show, taking the reins while Maddow was on a trip to Afghanistan.
This marked the beginning of a pattern, as he continued to fill in for Maddow during her absences. His hosting responsibilities expanded to include other MSNBC shows like The Ed Show, Countdown With Keith Olbermann, and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. A notable moment in Hayes’ MSNBC journey occurred on November 5, 2010, when it was announced that he would be filling in for Keith Olbermann during Olbermann’s suspension. However, this decision was reversed by the network upon discovering that he had also made political contributions, the same issue that led to Olbermann’s suspension. He has expressed his gratitude to Rachel Maddow, attributing his role as a host at MSNBC to her influence. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, further expanding his presence in the media landscape.
On August 1, 2011, MSNBC unveiled plans for him to host a two-hour weekend morning show, titled “Up with Chris Hayes.” The inaugural episode aired on September 17, 2011, featuring a live interview with Nancy Pelosi. The show aimed to delve deeply into contemporary issues during its Saturday and Sunday broadcasts. However, on May 27, 2012, during Memorial Day Weekend, Hayes sparked controversy with on-air comments about the term “heroism” when applied to American servicemen killed in action. He expressed discomfort with the word, citing concerns about its proximity to justifications for more war. While acknowledging genuine heroism in specific situations, such as rescuing fellow soldiers under gunfire, he questioned the broader use of the term. The remarks generated widespread discussion and criticism.
Hayes initially defended his comments by urging people to consider the full context of his statement. Despite this, he later issued an apology on his blog. On the June 2, 2012, episode of his show, Hayes dedicated a segment to discuss his comments and the perceived gap between civilians and the military. On March 14, 2013, MSNBC revealed that Hayes would assume the prime-time slot formerly occupied by Ed Schultz, who was moving to weekends. At the age of 34, he became the youngest host of a prime-time show on major cable news channels in the United States. The decision was made in the hope that he would attract a broader audience compared to Schultz. The New York Times reported that the transition was aimed at appealing to a wider viewership and that Hayes was seen as policy-oriented, aligning well with The Rachel Maddow Show.
Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, praised Hayes’s success in creating a franchise on weekend mornings and emphasized his exceptional talent and strong connection with the audience. “All In with Chris Hayes,” Hayes’s inaugural prime-time show, premiered on April 1, 2013. The show received Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2018. In May 2018, Hayes introduced a weekly podcast titled “Why Is This Happening?” featuring interviews with various political figures, activists, journalists, writers, and academics. The podcast’s first live episode was recorded in November 2018 with author Ta-Nehisi Coates in Brooklyn, New York. The second live episode, held on February 24, 2019, featured an interview with Georgia politician and activist Stacey Abrams.
Chris Hayes Salary
Hayes earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.
Chris Hayes Net Worth
Hayes has an estimated net worth of about $1 Million – $7 Million which he has earned through his career as an anchor.
Chris Hayes Age
Hayes was born on February 28, 1979, in Winchester, United States. He is 45 years old as of 2024, and he celebrates his birthday on the 28th of February every year.
Chris Hayes Height and Weight
Hayes stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches tall however, information about his weight has not been disclosed.
Chris Hayes Family
Hayes is the son of Roger and Geri Hayes who was a school teacher. He also has two siblings called; Lynn Hayes and Luke Hayes.
Chris Hayes Wife and Children
Hayes is married to Kate A. Shaw who is a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. They met during his time at Brown in 2001 and they tied the knot in 2007. Together they have been blessed with three children, whom they named; Ryan Elizabeth Shaw-Hayes born in November 2011, David Emanuel Shaw-Hayes born in March 2014, and Anya Shaw-Hayes born in January 2018. He resides in Washington, D.C. together with his family.
Chris Hayes Books
Hayes’s initial book, “Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy,” was published by Crown Publishing Group in June 2012. The Atlantic’s review described it as “provocative” and “thoughtful,” though it criticized the policy suggestions. Kirkus Reviews praised it as “forcefully written” and “provocative,” while Aaron Swartz found it “compellingly readable, impossibly erudite, and—most stunningly of all—correct.”
His second book, “A Colony in a Nation,” delves into the U.S. criminal justice system and was published by W. W. Norton in March 2017. Hayes participated in the 2017 Brooklyn Book Festival (BKBF). In April 2017, he was a featured author at the L.A. Times Festival of Books held at USC’s campus.
MSNBC
While working for MSNBC Hayes co-works alongside:
Social Media Platform
Hayes is very active on his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. He has 427.3k followers on Twitter 151.4k followers on Instagram and 90.5k followers on Facebook.