Melissa Bell: CNN, Age, Education, Husband, Salary and Net Worth
Who is Melissa Bell? | Biography & Wiki
Melissa Bell is a respected British-French journalist and international correspondent currently working with CNN at its Paris bureau. Known for her in-depth reporting and incisive storytelling, she specializes in European politics, international affairs, and global conflicts. Before joining CNN, Melissa played a pivotal role in co-founding the opinion and news platform Vox alongside Ezra Klein and Matthew Yglesias in 2014, following her tenure at The Washington Post. She also helped develop the Mint business newspaper in India, showcasing her dynamic range as a media innovator and global journalist.
Age and Birthday
As of 2025, Melissa Bell is 52 years old. She was born on September 26, 1972, in London, United Kingdom. Each year, she celebrates her birthday on September 26th.
Education
Melissa Bell attended Georgetown University for her undergraduate studies before briefly entering law school. However, with encouragement from her mother, she pivoted toward journalism. She enrolled at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she honed her craft and interned at Hindustan Times in India. She earned her Master’s degree in Journalism in 2006, setting the foundation for her international journalism career.
Melissa Bell Nationality and Ethnicity
Melissa holds British nationality and is of white ethnicity. Born and raised in London, she also embraces her French heritage through her mother, making her a dual-cultural journalist with a broad international perspective.
How Tall is Melissa Bell? | Height and Measurements
Melissa Bell stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall (about 1.72 meters). She has a commanding yet approachable presence on-screen, though additional body measurements are not publicly disclosed.
Family | Parents and Early Life
Melissa is the daughter of Martin Bell, a distinguished British figure known for his career as a BBC war correspondent, UNICEF ambassador, and independent Member of Parliament for Tatton from 1997 to 2001. He holds a first-class honors degree in English from King’s College, Cambridge. Her mother was French, adding a rich cultural layer to Melissa’s upbringing. Although not much is publicly known about her mother, Melissa has often referenced her influence, especially in steering her toward journalism.
Is Melissa Bell Married? | Husband and Wedding
Melissa Bell maintains a very private personal life and has not publicly shared details about her marital status. As such, it’s unclear whether she is married, dating, or single. She tends to keep her relationships out of the media spotlight, focusing instead on her professional work. Any updates regarding her personal life will be shared when available.
Melissa Bell at CNN | Career Highlights
Melissa joined CNN in October 2016, bringing with her years of experience covering major international events. She has reported on numerous high-stakes stories for the network, including:
The Charlie Hebdo and Bataclan terror attacks in Paris
The Mali hotel siege
The Nice Bastille Day attack
France’s “yellow vest” protests
She has also contributed to CNN’s Freedom Project, investigating human trafficking and exploitation in Paris’s Bois de Vincennes, and covered sensitive topics such as sexual abuse by clergy.
Before CNN, she worked with France 24 as a political editor and later as an international affairs correspondent. Her journalism career also includes roles at Reuters in Brussels, Granada Television in Manchester, and the BBC, where she spent seven years covering politics from Westminster.
Melissa Bell Salary | How Much Does She Make?
Melissa earns a competitive salary as an experienced international correspondent with CNN. Her estimated annual salary is around $170,000 as of 2025.
Melissa Bell Net Worth
With a journalism career that spans major global media outlets and includes co-founding a successful digital news platform, Melissa has amassed an impressive professional portfolio. Her estimated net worth is approximately $3 million as of 2025.