Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves is a prominent American television personality, producer, and news anchor who has been a significant presence on the CBS network for over two decades. She is most widely recognized for her long-standing role as the host of the American version of the reality competition show Big Brother since its debut in July 2000. Chen Moonves also co-hosted the CBS Daytime talk show The Talk from its premiere in 2010 until her departure in 2018. Her career began in news, where she served as a co-anchor for The Early Show on CBS from 2002 to 2010.
Julie Chen Moonves Overview
| Full Name | Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves |
| Date of Birth | January 6, 1970 |
| Age | 55 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Family | David Chen (Father), Wang Ling Chen (Mother), Gladys and Victoria Chen (Sisters) |
| Husband | Leslie “Les” Moonves (m. 2004) |
| Children | Charlie Moonves (Son) |
| Height | Approximately 5’5″ |
| Profession | Television Personality, News Anchor, Producer |
| Net Worth | Estimated $30 million |
Early Life and Education of Julie Chen Moonves
Julie Suzanne Chen was born on January 6, 1970, in Queens, New York City. She is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her father, David Chen, was born in China and later fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. Her mother, Wang Ling Chen, grew up in Rangoon, Burma. Chen’s maternal grandfather, Lou Gaw Tong, came from a poor background in the Fujian province of China and later became wealthy through a chain of grocery stores. Julie has two older sisters, Gladys and Victoria. She attended junior high school in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens and graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School in 1987. Following high school, Chen attended the University of Southern California, where she graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and English.
Julie Chen Moonves’s Career
Early Career and Breakthrough
Julie Chen Moonves’s journey in television began in June 1990 with an internship at CBS Morning News, where her primary duty was answering phones. A year later, while still a student, she worked as a desk assistant for ABC NewsOne for a season and was subsequently promoted to a producer role, which she held for three years. After graduating, she became a news assistant for ABC News in Los Angeles in September 1991. In 1995, she moved to Dayton, Ohio, to work as a local news reporter for WDTN-TV, a position she held until 1997. She then worked as a reporter and weekend anchor at WCBS-TV in New York City before her major break. From 1999 to 2002, Chen became the anchor of CBS Morning News and a news anchor for CBS This Morning and later The Early Show.
Hosting ‘Big Brother’ and ‘The Talk’
In July 2000, Julie Chen Moonves became the host of the American version of the reality show Big Brother, a role she has held for over two decades. During the show’s first season, she received criticism for her scripted and somewhat robotic delivery, earning her the nickname “Chenbot.” She has since embraced the nickname, stating it likely stemmed from her desire for an objective and precise on-air style. She will return to host the 27th season of the show.
From 2002 to 2010, she was a co-anchor of The Early Show on CBS. In 2010, she became a co-host and moderator on the CBS Daytime talk show The Talk, which she helped create alongside Sara Gilbert. She shared the table with co-hosts including Sharon Osbourne, leah remini, Holly Robinson Peete, and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Chen Moonves remained with the show until 2018.
Julie Chen Moonves Personal Life & Family
Julie Chen met Leslie “Les” Moonves, a media executive, in the 1990s while she was working at CBS. They began their romantic relationship when Moonves was estranged from his first wife. On December 23, 2004, Chen and Moonves married in a private ceremony in Acapulco, Mexico, shortly after his divorce was finalized. On September 24, 2009, she gave birth to their son, Charlie. She is also a stepmother to Moonves’s three children from his previous marriage.
In September 2013, Chen Moonves revealed on The Talk that she had undergone blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) early in her career. She explained that a former news director and a prominent agent had pressured her to get the surgery to appear “less Asian.” This decision caused a division within her family, but she has stated she stands by her choices.
In 2018, following the sexual misconduct allegations against her husband, Chen Moonves publicly supported him. She also began embracing Christianity around this time, a journey she detailed in her 2023 audio memoir, “But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery.” She has described her pre-faith self as “self-absorbed” and “vain,” and credits her spiritual awakening with becoming a more compassionate person.
Awards and Achievements of Julie Chen Moonves
Julie Chen Moonves has been recognized for her work, particularly as a host on The Talk. She and her co-hosts received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host in 2017. They were also nominated for the same award in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. In 2011, she was named “Woman of the 21st Century” by the Women’s Guild of Cedars-Sinai.
- 2017: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host (The Talk) – Winner
- 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host (The Talk) – Nominee
Julie Chen Moonves Net Worth and Income
As of 2025, Julie Chen Moonves’s net worth is estimated to be around $30 million. Her income is primarily derived from her long and successful career as a television host, producer, and news anchor. For her role on Big Brother, it has been reported that she earns a significant salary per season. Her husband, Les Moonves, has a reported net worth estimated at $400 million. The couple has also been involved in high-value real estate transactions, including the purchase of a Malibu home for $28.8 million in 2014.
Legacy and Influence
Julie Chen Moonves has established a lasting legacy as one of the most recognizable faces on CBS and a prominent Asian-American figure in American television. Her decades-long tenure on Big Brother has made her synonymous with the popular reality show. Despite early criticism that led to the “Chenbot” moniker, she has become a beloved and integral part of the franchise. Her public discussion about her decision to have plastic surgery sparked a significant conversation about racial identity and the pressures faced by minorities in the media industry.
Interesting Facts about Julie Chen Moonves
- She speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.
- In 2018, she authored a children’s book titled “When I Grow Up,” which she dedicated to her son, Charlie.
- She has supported the Robin Hood Foundation, an organization aimed at ending poverty in New York City.
- During her wedding ceremony, she reportedly walked down the aisle with a coin in her shoe, a Chinese tradition to ensure prosperity.
- In her 2023 audio memoir, she revealed that she reconciled with former The Talk co-host Leah Remini years after a falling out.
Controversies
Julie Chen Moonves’s career has been marked by a significant controversy involving her husband, Les Moonves. In 2018, numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault against him led to his resignation as the Chairman and CEO of CBS. In a show of solidarity, Chen Moonves began using her married name professionally for the first time on the September 13, 2018, episode of Big Brother, signing off with, “I’m Julie Chen Moonves, goodnight.” This move was met with mixed reactions from the public.
Shortly after the allegations against her husband became public, Chen Moonves announced her departure from The Talk. While her on-air statement cited a need to spend more time with her family, she later revealed in her 2023 audio memoir that she felt “stabbed in the back” and that the decision for her to leave was made by the network. She described herself as “collateral damage” in the scandal.
Chen Moonves has also addressed controversies related to the show Big Brother, acknowledging issues of racial microaggressions within the house and drawing on her own early-career experiences with racial bias.
Social Media Presence
Julie Chen Moonves maintains an active presence on social media, where she engages with fans of her shows.
- Instagram: Her follower count is substantial, where she often posts behind-the-scenes content from Big Brother.
- Twitter (X): She uses the platform to share updates and personal messages.
- TikTok: She has a presence on TikTok, sharing short videos related to her work.
Final Words about Julie Chen Moonves
Julie Chen Moonves continues to be a formidable presence in the television industry, primarily through her unwavering role as the host of Big Brother. Having navigated immense professional and personal challenges, she has demonstrated resilience and a capacity for reinvention. Her journey, including her recent embrace of faith, has added new dimensions to her public persona. While she has expressed no plans to return to news or daytime talk, her legacy as a host and a trailblazing Asian-American media personality is firmly cemented. Her future remains focused on her family and her enduring role on one of America’s longest-running reality shows.
