Kelly O’Donnell – NBC News | Bio, Age, Weightloss, Height, Husband, & Net Worth
Kelly O’Donnell is a seasoned political reporter for NBC News, known for her sharp, in-depth coverage as a White House and Capitol Hill correspondent. She regularly appears on NBC Nightly News, Today, Meet the Press, and MSNBC.
Age and Birthday
Born on May 17, 1965, in Cleveland, Ohio, Kelly O’Donnell is 59 years old as of 2025. She celebrates her birthday every year on May 17.
Kelly O’Donnell Education
O’Donnell graduated from Northwestern University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, concentrating on a custom program in Journalism and Public Policy. She was a top student in her class and received the Alumnae Award from Northwestern in 2014.
Nationality and Ethnicity
She is American by nationality and belongs to the white ethnicity, having been born and raised in the United States.
Kelly O’Donnell Height
Kelly stands approximately 5 feet 9 inches (1.77 meters) tall. While she maintains a polished on-camera presence, additional body measurements have not been publicly shared.
Family and Early Life
Kelly was born to Josh O’Donnell, a businessman, and Kristien O’Donnell, a professional dancer. She has one sister, Jenny O’Donnell, who also works in journalism as a correspondent.
Kelly O’Donnell Marriage| Husband
Kelly O’Donnell is married to David Ake, the Deputy Head of Bureau at the Associated Press in Washington and a seasoned photographer. Though the couple maintains a low public profile, they’ve been together for years, and Ake has held several key editorial roles at AP, including Deputy Director of Photography from 2003 to 2006.
Salary
As a veteran NBC journalist, O’Donnell earns an estimated annual salary of $300,000 as of 2025, thanks to her long-standing role across multiple NBC platforms.
Net Worth
With a journalism career spanning more than three decades, Kelly O’Donnell has built a solid professional reputation and financial foundation. Her estimated net worth is $8 million.
Kelly O’Donnell NBC News
O’Donnell has covered six presidential campaigns, reported on the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, and was the only NBC journalist assigned to both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s 2016 campaigns.
She has been on the frontlines of key political and global stories, from the Capitol Hill battles over healthcare and Supreme Court nominations to being embedded with U.S. troops during the Iraq War. O’Donnell also reported on major historical events such as the 9/11 attacks, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, the Oklahoma City bombing, the O.J. Simpson trial, and the death of Pope John Paul II.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a reporter and anchor at WJW-TV in Cleveland, where she teamed up with then-local reporter Martin Savidge. By 1994, she had joined NBC News as a correspondent, with assignments in New York and Los Angeles. She’s contributed to Dateline NBC and served as a panelist on The Chris Matthews Show before it ended.
Notably, during the 2016 election, O’Donnell was the first journalist to report live on air that Hillary Clinton had conceded to Donald Trump.
Kelly O’Donnell Weight Loss and Illness
Veteran NBC News correspondent Kelly O’Donnell has long been admired for her tenacity in covering major political events. In recent years, she’s also drawn attention for a more personal reason—her remarkable weight loss transformation.
O’Donnell’s journey began in 2018, following a diagnosis of a chronic autoimmune condition. The condition required medication known to potentially cause weight gain, prompting her to take proactive steps to safeguard her overall health.
Determined to make lasting changes, she began working closely with a nutritionist to develop a balanced eating plan and partnered with a personal trainer to establish a regular fitness routine. Her commitment to better health wasn’t just about appearance—it was a strategic move to manage her condition and maintain energy in a demanding career.
Her story has inspired many, especially those navigating similar health challenges while balancing high-pressure professional responsibilities. Though she has not shared every detail publicly, O’Donnell’s transformation reflects her resilience, discipline, and dedication to well-being.
