Jose Diaz-Balart Biography | Wiki
José Díaz-Balart is a renowned Cuban-American journalist and television anchor currently serving with NBC News and Telemundo. He previously anchored the weeknight editions of Noticias Telemundo and hosted José Díaz-Balart Reports on MSNBC. As of 2025, he anchors the Saturday editions of NBC Nightly News, making him one of the few broadcasters to seamlessly bridge both English and Spanish-language news in the U.S.
How Old is José Díaz-Balart? Age and Birthday
He is 64 years old as of 2025. He was born on November 7, 1960, in Lauderdale, Florida, United States. He celebrates his birthday every year on November 7.
Education
He attended New College of Florida before furthering his studies at the University of Cambridge, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in politics and history.
Nationality and Ethnicity
Born and raised in Florida, Jose holds American nationality. He is of white ethnicity and has strong Cuban heritage through his family, who fled Cuba in 1959.
Height and Physical Appearance
He stands approximately 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall. While he has not publicly disclosed additional body measurements, he is often described as having a commanding on-screen presence.
Family and Early Life
Jose Díaz-Balart comes from a prominent and politically active Cuban family. His parents are Rafael Díaz-Balart y Gutiérrez, a former Cuban politician, and Hilda Caballero Brunet.
He was raised in Madrid, Spain, after his family left Cuba in 1959. He has three brothers:
Rafael Díaz-Balart – a banker
Mario Díaz-Balart – a Republican U.S. Representative
Lincoln Díaz-Balart – a former Republican U.S. Representative
His extended family includes notable figures such as:
Waldo Díaz-Balart – internationally acclaimed painter (uncle)
Mirta Díaz-Balart – Fidel Castro’s first wife (aunt)
Fidel Castro Jr. (Fidelito) – his first cousin through Mirta
Brother
José Díaz-Balart comes from a politically prominent and influential family. He has three brothers:
Mario Díaz-Balart – A well-known Republican politician, Mario serves as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 26th congressional district.
Rafael Díaz-Balart – A banker, who has mostly stayed out of the public political spotlight.
Lincoln Díaz-Balart – A former U.S. Representative and also a Republican, Lincoln served Florida in Congress until his retirement in 2011.
José’s family history is deeply tied to Cuban and U.S. politics. His father, Rafael Díaz-Balart y Gutiérrez, was a Cuban politician who strongly opposed Fidel Castro’s regime. Through his aunt, Mirta Díaz-Balart (Fidel Castro’s first wife), José is also a relative of Fidel Castro by marriage.
Marriage | Wife
He is married to Brenda Díaz-Balart, a Los Angeles native. Although he keeps his personal life relatively private, the couple is known to appear at high-profile public events together. They married in the early 2000s, though the exact date and venue remain undisclosed. Together, they have two daughters, Sabrina and Katrina.
José Díaz-Balart Salary and Net Worth
Annual Salary: Estimated at $120,000 as of 2025
Net Worth: Estimated at $15 million, accumulated from his decades-long career in both English and Spanish-language journalism.
Telemundo
José joined Telemundo in 2000, where he co-hosted the network’s first morning news and entertainment show, as well as its public affairs program. In 2002, he began hosting Enfoque con José Díaz-Balart, a monthly interview program featuring prominent political figures, including presidential candidates.
In 2009, he took over as the main anchor for Noticias Telemundo’s evening newscast. On September 7, 2021, it was announced that he would step down from weeknight newscasts but continue to anchor special events and breaking news coverage for the network.
NBC and MSNBC
Díaz-Balart joined NBC News in 2010 and has since played a key role in bilingual journalism. He made history by becoming the first U.S. journalist to anchor both English and Spanish-language newscasts simultaneously. He filled in for Contessa Brewer on MSNBC Live at the noon slot, breaking ground in cross-cultural reporting.
He currently anchors José Díaz-Balart Reports and the Saturday edition of NBC Nightly News, continuing to deliver in-depth coverage and insightful reporting to a diverse audience.
José Díaz-Balart Political Party
While he is known for his deep family ties to the Republican Party (particularly through his brothers Mario and Lincoln), José himself is a journalist and does not publicly affiliate with any political party. As a respected anchor at Telemundo and NBC/MSNBC, he maintains journalistic neutrality in his reporting.
José Díaz-Balart Leaving MSNBC
José Díaz-Balart has not officially left MSNBC, but there have been some changes in his role. In September 2021, he stepped away from anchoring the weeknight editions of “Noticias Telemundo” to take over a new morning hour on MSNBC, marking a return to English-language news.
However, in 2023, his show “José Díaz-Balart Reports” was moved from weekdays to a more limited role, airing only on Saturdays as part of NBC Nightly News. This led to speculation that he was leaving MSNBC, but in reality, it was more of a strategic realignment in his duties rather than a full departure. He continues to be involved in both NBC and Telemundo’s coverage, particularly for special events and breaking news.
What Happened to José Díaz-Balart?
Nothing tragic or scandalous has happened to him. The changes in his television presence, especially the reduction of his daily MSNBC show, prompted questions from viewers, but these adjustments are part of NBCUniversal’s larger reshuffling of news programming.
He continues to anchor the Saturday edition of NBC Nightly News, and also contributes to Telemundo as a key voice in Spanish-language journalism. He remains an active and respected figure in both English and Spanish news broadcasting.
José Díaz-Balart Reports
“José Díaz-Balart Reports” was a weekday MSNBC news program launched in September 2021, airing at 10 a.m. ET. The show focused on hard news, live interviews, and breaking events, often emphasizing immigration, Latino communities, and social justice issues—areas Díaz-Balart is known for covering with depth and empathy.
The show marked a major move, placing a Telemundo anchor back in English-language programming, symbolizing increased Latino representation in mainstream American news.
José Díaz-Balart Show Cancelled
The weekday edition of “José Díaz-Balart Reports” on MSNBC was effectively canceled or transitioned in mid-2023 as part of a schedule shake-up. While MSNBC never officially labeled it a cancellation, the program was replaced by other hosts and new lineups during the weekday morning hours.
Despite this, Díaz-Balart’s journalism career is far from over. He remains active with NBC News on the weekends and continues to report major stories and special coverage for both NBC and Telemundo, where he has been a trusted anchor for decades.
