Maria Stephanos is an American news anchor, journalist, and Emmy Award winner best known as the co-anchor of WCVB NewsCenter 5 in Boston. With more than three decades on New England television, she became a household name during her long run at FOX 25 (WFXT) before joining WCVB Channel 5 in 2016. She is married to political illustrator Dale Stephanos, and the couple share two children.
Maria Stephanos Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Maria Stephanos |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | June 9, 1964 |
| Age | 61 years old (as of May 2026) |
| Place of birth | Groveland, Massachusetts, United States |
| Current residence | Foxboro, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Greek-American |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox (reported) |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
| Weight | Around 128 lbs (58 kg) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Dale Charles Stephanos |
| Children | Two — Isabella and Liam |
| High school | Pentucket Regional High School |
| Alma mater | Emerson College (BA, MA) |
| Profession | News anchor, journalist, reporter |
| Years active | 1988 – present |
| Current employer | WCVB Channel 5 (NewsCenter 5) |
| Net worth | Estimated $2 million – $5 million |
| @mariastephanos |
Who is Maria Stephanos?
Maria Stephanos is a veteran Boston television anchor who currently co-anchors WCVB NewsCenter 5 at 4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. with Ed Harding and meteorologist Mike Wankum. She also fronts The 10 O’Clock News on MeTV Boston.
Born into a tight-knit Greek-American family in the small town of Groveland, Massachusetts, Maria has spent her entire career reporting on New England.
Her on-air work has included presidential elections, Red Sox World Series wins, the 9/11 attacks, the Boston Marathon bombings, and the Whitey Bulger trial.
How old is Maria Stephanos? Age and birthday
Maria Stephanos is 61 years old as of May 2026. She was born on June 9, 1964, in Groveland, Massachusetts, which makes her zodiac sign Gemini.
She publicly confirmed her age in a 2018 Boston Magazine interview, saying, “I’m 52 years old — and yes, you can print that”. She will turn 62 on June 9, 2026.
Maria Stephanos’ height, weight, and body measurements
Maria stands approximately 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall and weighs around 128 lbs (58 kg). Her body measurements are estimated at roughly 33-24-33 inches, though these figures are unverified by the anchor herself. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes, and is often photographed with a shoulder-length, on-air hairstyle.
Where is Maria Stephanos from and what is her family background?
Maria grew up in Groveland, a quiet town in northeastern Massachusetts, in a close Greek-American family. Her late mother, Lois Athena Nionakis, passed away in November 2016 and was remembered for her devotion to her daughters and her love of the Boston Red Sox.
She has one sister, Nicole Kieser. In her own words, Groveland “is a magical quiet place that helped to define who I am” — a place she still credits for shaping her work ethic and warmth on screen.
Education
Maria attended Bagnall Elementary School in Groveland and graduated from Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, Massachusetts.
She first enrolled at UMass Amherst, but transferred to Emerson College in Boston, where she earned both her undergraduate degree in Television (1988) and a master’s degree in Mass Communication (1993).
While studying at Emerson, she famously waited tables at the original Cheers on Beacon Hill — an experience she credits with teaching her how to multitask under pressure.
Career
Early radio reporting
Maria began her career as a Statehouse reporter for several local stations, including WBUR in Boston. She also filed reports for NPR affiliates, WCBS Radio, and WABC Radio in New York.
WJAR-TV and FOX 25 / WFXT
She made the jump to television at WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, before joining WFXT-TV (FOX 25) in Boston in 1997.
Maria spent nearly 18 years at FOX 25 as a primetime anchor, becoming one of the most recognisable faces in New England news.
WCVB Channel 5 (2016 – present)
In 2016, Maria joined WCVB NewsCenter 5 as evening co-anchor. She debuted on the 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. newscasts on February 4, 2016, alongside fellow Emerson alum Ed Harding.
Today she anchors four evening newscasts and hosts the primetime special Someone You Should Know with Maria Stephanos.
Major stories covered
Across her 30-plus-year career, Maria has reported on the death of John F. Kennedy Jr., the Worcester Cold Storage fire, the 2000 Florida presidential recount, the 9/11 attacks (from both Boston and Washington, D.C.), the deaths of Senator Edward Kennedy and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, multiple Red Sox World Series wins, and Patriots Super Bowl runs.
Awards
She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alpha Omega Society, presented by former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. In 2018, Emerson College honoured her with its Alumni Award of Distinction.
Her primetime special Someone You Should Know also won at the 43rd Annual Boston-New England Emmy Awards.
What is Maria Stephanos’ net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Maria Stephanos’ net worth is estimated at between $2 million and $5 million, according to industry trackers. Her wealth has been built primarily through her broadcast career.
Salary and income sources
Industry estimates place Maria’s annual WCVB salary in the range of $300,000 to $600,000, in line with top-market evening anchors in Boston. Older reports listed a base figure closer to $89,500, though this likely reflects an early-career or partial-package number. Her income sources include:
- Her on-air contract with WCVB Channel 5 (Hearst Television)
- Speaking engagements and event hosting
- Brand and charity partnerships in the Greater Boston area
- Royalties and residuals from special broadcasts
Is Maria Stephanos married? Husband and children
Yes. Maria is married to Dale Charles Stephanos, an award-winning illustrator and portrait artist whose political and editorial work has appeared in major American magazines and newspapers.
The couple met as teenagers in Groveland — Dale had recently moved from Swampscott — and walked home together from their first date in two feet of snow.
In a 2024 anniversary post, Dale wrote that the two had been married for 35 years, suggesting they tied the knot around 1989.
Children
Maria and Dale share two children:
- Isabella Stephanos — their daughter, who attended college and was celebrated in a 2024 Instagram post when she received a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
- Liam Stephanos — their son, who recently graduated and is building his own career in New England
The family lives in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where Maria says her favourite place to play is her own front yard.
Health and personal life
Maria has been open about a 2009 on-set incident at FOX 25 in which she collapsed due to dehydration after a long morning run; she was taken to the hospital and recovered quickly.
There is no credible reporting that she has had a brain tumour or any serious ongoing illness — most online claims to that effect are speculative.
In April 2013, Maria and her husband were standing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon when the bombs went off. Both were unharmed, and Maria returned to the FOX 25 studio that afternoon to anchor coverage.
Social media presence
As of May 2026, Maria is most active on X (Twitter) at @mariastephanos, where she has roughly 53,800 followers and posts breaking-news updates, behind-the-scenes WCVB clips, and Boston sports commentary. She also maintains an Instagram presence focused on family, cooking, and station promos. Her tone online is warm, conversational, and unmistakably Bostonian.
Fast facts about Maria Stephanos
- She is a proud Greek-American who still cooks her aunts’ Greek recipes, including a signature tiropita.
- Her first job was rolling pennies for a neighbour in Groveland — a gig that lasted exactly one day.
- She worked at the iconic Cheers bar in Beacon Hill while studying at Emerson College.
- She has lived in Massachusetts for more than 50 years and refuses to leave the state.
- Her husband Dale Stephanos is a nationally published political portrait illustrator.
- She covered the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings only hours after being at the finish line herself.
- She is an Emmy Award winner and Emerson College’s 2018 Alumni Award of Distinction recipient.
- Her primetime WCVB special Someone You Should Know with Maria Stephanos has been honoured at the Boston-New England Emmys.
- She enjoys playing catch and shooting hoops with her son in their Foxboro front yard.
- Former Governor Michael Dukakis personally presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alpha Omega Society.
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Wrapping up
Maria Stephanos has spent more than thirty years telling New England’s biggest stories, from political recounts to Super Bowl parades to moments of unimaginable tragedy.
At 61, she remains one of the most trusted faces on Boston television, anchoring multiple WCVB newscasts each night while staying close to family in Foxboro.
With a steady WCVB role, a strong social following, and a growing list of Emmy honours, her career shows no signs of slowing down in 2026.
References
- WCVB.“Maria Stephanos – News Team”.
- WCVB.“Get to know Maria Stephanos, WCVB’s newest evening anchor”.
- Boston Magazine.“Influencer: Maria Stephanos from WCVB, Boston’s Anchor”.
- Emerson Today.“News Anchor Maria Stephanos to Get Alumni Award of Distinction”.
- WCVB.“Award-winning art and music – Dale Stephanos”.
- Dolan Funeral Home.“Lois Athena Nionakis Obituary”.
- Conferences for Women.“Maria Stephanos – Speaker Profile”.
- WCVB.“WCVB Channel 5 Wins Twelve Emmy® Awards”.
Disclaimer: The information on Star Vistiq is collected from trusted public sources. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact: info@starvistiq.com.
