Tom Brokaw: Health, Net Worth, News, Wife, Age, Children & More

Tom Brokaw is an American journalist, author, and former television news anchor best known for his more than five decades with NBC News. He anchored NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004 and became one of the most recognizable American broadcast journalists of his generation.

Brokaw reported on major events including the Watergate scandal, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the September 11 attacks, presidential elections and wars around the world. He is also the author of The Greatest Generation, the bestselling 1998 book that popularized the phrase used to describe Americans who lived through the Great Depression and World War II.

Although he officially retired from NBC News in 2021, Brokaw has continued writing and making occasional public appearances.

Quick Facts About Tom Brokaw

●      Full name: Thomas John Brokaw

●      Born: February 6, 1940

●      Age: 86

●      Birthplace: Webster, South Dakota

●      Nationality: American

●      Profession: Journalist and author

●      Education: University of South Dakota

●      Wife: Meredith Lynn Auld

●      Married: Since 1962

●      Children: Three daughters

●      Daughters: Jennifer, Andrea, and Sarah

●      Grandchildren: Five

●      Major network: NBC News

●      NBC Nightly News: Anchor, 1982–2004

●      NBC retirement: 2021

●      Major illness: Multiple myeloma

●      Cancer status publicly reported: In remission

●      Best-known book: The Greatest Generation

●      Latest major book: Never Give Up: A Prairie Family's Story

●      Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2014

How Old Is Tom Brokaw?

Tom Brokaw was born on February 6, 1940, in Webster, South Dakota.

●      He is 86 years old.

Brokaw grew up in South Dakota and later attended the University of South Dakota, graduating in 1964 with a degree in political science.

Early Life

Brokaw was born to Anthony "Red" Brokaw and Jean Brokaw in Webster, South Dakota.

His father worked as a construction foreman, while his mother worked as a post office clerk. Brokaw was the eldest of three sons. His upbringing in the Great Plains would later become an important theme in his writing.

He attended Yankton Senior High School before enrolling at the University of Iowa. He subsequently transferred to the University of South Dakota, where he graduated in 1964.

His experiences growing up in South Dakota influenced his later books, particularly The Greatest Generation and Never Give Up: A Prairie Family's Story.

Journalism Career

Brokaw's professional television career began at local stations in the Midwest and South before he joined NBC News.

He joined NBC News in 1966, beginning a relationship with the network that ultimately lasted 55 years.

His early NBC assignments included reporting from Los Angeles and covering political campaigns.

In 1973, he moved to Washington, D.C., to become NBC News' White House correspondent, where he covered President Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal.

Tom Brokaw and Watergate

Brokaw was NBC's White House correspondent during one of the most consequential political scandals in American history.

He covered the Watergate scandal and the final period of the Nixon administration.

Years later, Brokaw revealed that he had actually been offered the position of White House press secretary by the Nixon administration in 1969 but turned it down. He discussed the decision publicly in a 2017 New York Times opinion piece.

His decision to remain a journalist rather than enter the administration became an interesting footnote in his career.

Tom Brokaw and the Today Show

In 1976, Brokaw became co-anchor of NBC's Today alongside Jane Pauley.

He remained on Today until 1981, when he moved into one of the most important jobs in television news.

Brokaw eventually became the only journalist to have anchored all three of NBC News' major programs:

●      Today

●      NBC Nightly News

●      Meet the Press

NBC confirmed this distinction when announcing his retirement in 2021.

Tom Brokaw and NBC Nightly News

Brokaw became anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News in 1982.

He initially shared the anchor role with Roger Mudd, but NBC eventually made Brokaw the sole anchor.

He remained in the position for 22 years, from 1982 until 2004.

During those years, Brokaw covered some of the defining events of the late 20th century.

Among them were:

●      The Challenger space shuttle disaster

●      The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake

●      The fall of the Berlin Wall

●      The collapse of the Soviet Union

●      The Gulf War

●      Presidential elections

●      The September 11 attacks

●      The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

●      Tom Brokaw and the Fall of the Berlin Wall

One of Brokaw's most famous journalistic moments came in November 1989, when the Berlin Wall began to fall.

He was the only American network anchor reporting from Berlin that night, according to NBC.

Brokaw also interviewed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, becoming the first American journalist to conduct an interview with him, according to NBC's biography of Brokaw.

His reporting from Berlin became one of the defining moments of his career.

When Did Tom Brokaw Retire?

Brokaw officially retired from NBC News in 2021 after 55 years with the network.

NBC announced his retirement in January 2021, noting that he planned to remain active in print journalism and continue writing books and articles.

His retirement marked the end of one of the longest careers in American network television journalism.

However, retirement did not mean that Brokaw completely disappeared from public life.

What Is Tom Brokaw Doing Now?

Since retiring from NBC, Brokaw has focused primarily on writing, family, and occasional media appearances.

In 2023, he appeared on CBS Sunday Morning with longtime journalist Jane Pauley to discuss his book Never Give Up: A Prairie Family's Story and his health.

He has also continued to write and participate in discussions about American history, journalism and his experiences covering major events.

There is no evidence that he has returned to a regular television-news anchor position.

Tom Brokaw's Health

Health has been an important part of Brokaw's later-life story.

In 2013, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. He publicly disclosed the diagnosis in February 2014.

At the time, Brokaw said he was optimistic about his future and expressed gratitude for the support of his family, doctors and friends.

Does Tom Brokaw Have Cancer?

Yes. Tom Brokaw was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow.

Brokaw has described the illness as a major turning point in his life. During a 2023 CBS Sunday Morning interview, he explained that the disease affected his bones and that he had to change his lifestyle substantially.

He underwent treatment at the Mayo Clinic and has spoken openly about living with the disease.

Is Tom Brokaw's Cancer in Remission?

Brokaw publicly said that his cancer was in remission.

In a 2019 CBS interview, he said he was in remission and had learned how to live with the illness.

However, multiple myeloma is generally considered an incurable but treatable blood cancer. Therefore, "in remission" should not be interpreted as meaning that Brokaw was permanently cured.

In his 2023 interview, Brokaw continued to describe his condition as an incurable blood cancer that he was managing.

How Did Cancer Affect Tom Brokaw?

The illness significantly changed Brokaw's lifestyle.

He told Jane Pauley that the cancer affected his bones and caused serious physical problems. He described having a hole in his pelvis and fractures in his spine.

He also underwent a procedure known as kyphoplasty to address damage to his spine. Brokaw said the experience forced him to slow down after decades of maintaining an exceptionally demanding work schedule.

His illness eventually contributed to his decision to step back from his previous level of activity at NBC.

Who Is Tom Brokaw's Wife?

Tom Brokaw has been married to Meredith Lynn Auld since 1962.

The couple has been together for more than six decades.

Meredith is an author and has largely maintained a private life despite being married to one of America's most famous journalists.

She has also been a major source of support during Brokaw's health struggles.

During his 2023 interview with Jane Pauley, Brokaw and Meredith discussed their long marriage and the changes brought about by his illness.

Does Tom Brokaw Have Children?

Yes. Tom Brokaw and Meredith have three daughters.

Their children are:

●      Jennifer Brokaw

●      Andrea Brokaw

●      Sarah Brokaw

The family also has five grandchildren, according to CBS News.

Brokaw has spoken warmly about his daughters and grandchildren in interviews.

Who Is Tom Brokaw's Daughter Jennifer?

Jennifer Brokaw is a physician.

CBS News has reported that she is an emergency-room physician based in San Francisco and that she helped her father during his cancer diagnosis.

Brokaw has publicly praised his daughter's medical expertise and support.

Net Worth

Celebrity Net Worth currently estimates his fortune at approximately $85 million. The site also lists a historical salary estimate of about $5 million per year.

However, the $85 million figure should be treated as a third-party estimate, not a confirmed financial fact.

Brokaw spent decades among America's highest-profile television journalists, and his income came from television contracts, books, speaking engagements, and other media work.

Tom Brokaw's Books

Brokaw is also a successful author.

His most famous book is The Greatest Generation, published in 1998.

The book profiled Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and served during World War II. It became a major bestseller and popularized the term "Greatest Generation." NBC describes it as one of the most popular nonfiction books of the 20th century.

Other books by Brokaw include:

●      The Greatest Generation

●      The Greatest Generation Speaks

●      The Time of Our Lives

●      Boom!

●      A Lucky Life Interrupted

●      The Fall of Richard Nixon: A Reporter Remembers Watergate

●      Never Give Up: A Prairie Family's Story

●      Tom Brokaw's Book About Cancer

In 2015, Brokaw published A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope.

The book chronicled his experience with multiple myeloma and the challenges of living with an incurable disease.

The title reflected Brokaw's determination to remain optimistic despite the seriousness of his diagnosis.

Tom Brokaw's Latest Book

One of his later books is Never Give Up: A Prairie Family's Story.

Published in 2023, the book focuses heavily on Brokaw's family history and the South Dakota upbringing that shaped his outlook on life.

During his 2023 CBS interview, Brokaw described the book as essentially a tribute to his parents and the hardworking people of the Great Plains.

Awards and Honors

Brokaw has received many of the most prestigious honors available to an American journalist.

His career recognitions include:

●      Multiple Emmy Awards

●      Peabody Awards

●      DuPont-Columbia Awards

●      Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting

●      Legion of Honor from France

●      Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama awarded Brokaw the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

France also awarded him the Legion of Honor for his work and advocacy on behalf of veterans and the legacy of World War II.

Tom Brokaw and His South Dakota Roots

Despite spending much of his adult life in New York, Washington and other major cities, Brokaw has remained closely connected to his South Dakota roots.

His family background and Midwestern upbringing have played a major role in his writing.

His 2023 book Never Give Up particularly explored his family's history and the values he learned growing up in the Great Plains.

Height

Tom Brokaw is commonly listed as approximately 6 feet (1.83 metres) tall.

Conclusion

Tom Brokaw's career is one of the longest and most influential in American television journalism. He spent 55 years at NBC News, including 22 years as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News.

Beyond television, Brokaw became a bestselling author, most notably with The Greatest Generation. His writing has repeatedly returned to themes of family, history, service and the values he learned growing up in South Dakota.

His personal life has been equally enduring. Brokaw has been married to Meredith Lynn Auld since 1962, and the couple has three daughters and five grandchildren.

His health became a major part of his later life after his 2013 diagnosis with multiple myeloma. Brokaw has described the disease as incurable but treatable and publicly reported that he reached remission. In recent interviews, he has emphasized adapting his lifestyle while continuing to enjoy time with his family.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Tom Brokaw suffering from?

Tom Brokaw was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in 2013. He announced in December 2014 that his cancer was in remission. Brokaw later wrote about his experience with the disease and treatment in his 2015 memoir, A Lucky Life Interrupted.

2. What has happened to Tom Brokaw?

Tom Brokaw retired from NBC News in 2021 after 55 years with the network. Before retiring, he had continued working as a special correspondent, producing documentaries and contributing to major news coverage. He has since largely stepped away from regular television journalism while continuing his writing and other professional activities.

3. Where does Tom Brokaw live today?

Tom Brokaw has homes in New York and Montana. He and his wife, Meredith, have long spent significant time at their ranch near Livingston, Montana, which they purchased in 1989. His publisher's biography currently lists both New York and Montana as his places of residence.

4. What was Tom Brokaw famous for?

Tom Brokaw is best known for anchoring NBC Nightly News from 1983 to 2004 and becoming one of America's most prominent television news anchors. He covered major events including 9/11 and the fall of the Berlin Wall and conducted landmark interviews with world leaders.

Brokaw is also famous for writing the bestselling The Greatest Generation, his 1998 book about Americans who lived through the Great Depression and fought in World War II. The book became a major part of his legacy and popularized the phrase “the Greatest Generation.”

5. What is Tom Brokaw's most famous book?

His best-known book is The Greatest Generation, published in 1998. It became a major bestseller and popularized the term "Greatest Generation."