Don Lemon, born March 1, 1966, is an American television journalist and author from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He anchored CNN primetime programming for 17 years before his departure from the network in April 2023.
Since then, he launched his own independent media venture and published two more books.
Who is Don Lemon?
Don Lemon is an American broadcast journalist, author, and media personality. He spent the bulk of his television career at CNN, where he anchored primetime programs and covered some of the most consequential news events of the past two decades.
He became one of the first openly gay Black news anchors on national cable television.
Lemon publicly came out in his 2011 memoir Transparent, a move that drew significant public attention and helped shape his public identity beyond journalism.
Lemon also reported on major events including the George Floyd protests in 2020 and the war in Ukraine.
His willingness to share personal opinions on air made him both popular and divisive. Since leaving CNN, he has continued broadcasting independently through The Don Lemon Show, which streams on multiple platforms.
Early Life of Don Lemon
Don Lemon was born Don Renaldo Lemon-Clark on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
His mother is Katherine Marie Bouligney and his father is Wilmon Lee Richardson. He grew up alongside his sisters, Yma and Leisa, in west Baton Rouge and Port Allen.
His family’s background includes African American and Creole heritage, with French and Scots-Irish ancestry on his mother’s side.
His paternal grandfather played a historic role in Baton Rouge’s civil rights history, having been part of a successful lawsuit to desegregate the city’s public transportation system in the early 1960s.
Lemon attended Baker High School in East Baton Rouge Parish, where he served as president of his senior class.
Don Lemon Age
Don Lemon is 60 years old as of June 16, 2026, born on March 1, 1966. His zodiac sign is Pisces.
In 2024, he published his third book and married his longtime partner Tim Malone, marking a significant year in both his personal and professional life.
Don Lemon Ethnicity and Nationality
Don Lemon holds American nationality, born and raised in Louisiana. His ethnic background is primarily African American with Creole heritage, including French and Scots-Irish ancestry on his mother’s side.
His family’s roots in Louisiana run deep. Lemon has spoken about his Southern upbringing and its influence on his worldview in multiple books and interviews.
Don Lemon Education
Lemon graduated from Baker High School in East Baton Rouge Parish in 1984, where he served as senior class president. He enrolled at Louisiana State University soon after, studying at the Manship School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
He later transferred to Brooklyn College in New York City, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism in 1996.
While studying in New York, he interned at WNYW, the Fox affiliate in the city. That internship gave him early hands-on experience in daily broadcast news production.
Lemon graduated from Brooklyn College at age 30, having balanced work experience alongside his degree.
Don Lemon Career
Don Lemon’s journalism career spans more than three decades, beginning at local television stations and evolving through network news to national cable primetime.
Early Career
After graduating from Brooklyn College in 1996, Lemon started as a weekend news anchor at WBRC-TV, a local affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama.
He then moved through stations in Pennsylvania and Missouri, working as both an investigative journalist and a nightly news anchor.
By the early 2000s, Lemon had reached NBC News in New York. He appeared regularly on NBC’s Today and NBC Nightly News, covering national stories as a correspondent.
In 2002, he earned the Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of the capture of the Washington, D.C. snipers. That award marked his first major national recognition.
Major Positions Held
Lemon joined CNN in 2006, initially as a correspondent. Over time, he became one of the network’s most prominent anchors, eventually hosting CNN Tonight starting in 2014. The show later rebranded as Don Lemon Tonight, which he anchored until 2022.
He also received three regional Emmy Awards during his career, recognizing his special report on real estate in Chicago and a business feature on Craigslist.
In late 2022, CNN moved Lemon to co-anchor CNN This Morning alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. That role proved short-lived.
CNN fired Lemon in April 2023 after 17 years with the network. Lemon stated he was “stunned” to learn of his termination through his agent rather than from CNN management directly.
Current Role
After leaving CNN, Lemon launched his own media company and debuted The Don Lemon Show in January 2024. The program began streaming on X (formerly Twitter) before expanding to other platforms.
The show runs 30-minute episodes three times per week, covering politics, culture, sports, and entertainment. As of 2026, The Don Lemon Show continues streaming across multiple platforms.
Don Lemon Notable Coverage
Throughout his CNN career, Lemon covered some of the biggest news events of his era. He anchored live coverage of the 2020 George Floyd protests, reporting from the ground during a period of national upheaval.
Lemon also covered the war in Ukraine and reported from Eastern Europe during the conflict. His time at CNN placed him at the center of coverage of major political events including multiple U.S. presidential elections.
In January 2026, Lemon made headlines when federal agents arrested him in connection with a protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The church’s pastor held a position with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal prosecutors alleged Lemon had participated in conspiring to interfere with a religious service.
Don Lemon Awards and Recognition
Lemon’s journalism career earned him multiple honors. He won the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2002 for his coverage of the capture of the Washington, D.C. snipers, one of the most significant domestic crime stories of the early 2000s.
He also received three regional Emmy Awards during his years in Chicago, recognizing both a special real estate report and a business feature on Craigslist.
One source also cites a Peabody Award among his career recognition, though this has not been independently confirmed across multiple reliable outlets.
Ebony magazine, The Advocate, and Out have each recognized Lemon as a leading influential figure in American journalism.
Don Lemon Books
Don Lemon has authored three books across his career. His first, Transparent (2011), served as both a memoir and a public coming-out.
In the book, he discussed his career, personal life, and the challenges of being a prominent gay African American journalist.
This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism followed in March 2021. The book, inspired by the murder of George Floyd, debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
His third book, I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America, published in September 2024, explored his complicated relationship with faith and examined religion in contemporary American life.
Don Lemon Husband
Don Lemon married Tim Malone on April 6, 2024, in a ceremony at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City.
The couple had been engaged since April 6, 2019, exactly five years before their wedding date. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield officiated the ceremony.
Lemon and Malone first met at a restaurant in the Hamptons in 2015 and began dating in 2016. Malone is a real estate agent who works in New York’s luxury property market.
Lemon has spoken openly about wanting the wedding to be a traditional celebration and about the significance of it being the first gay wedding for many of their guests.
Don Lemon Net Worth
Don Lemon’s estimated net worth is $15 million as of 2026. He built this through his CNN salary, which reached $4 million per year before CNN moved him to CNN This Morning. In September 2022, he reportedly signed a contract valued at $7 million per year.
Additional income has come from book sales, speaking engagements, and royalties. His 2021 book This Is the Fire reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list, contributing meaningfully to his earnings.
Since 2024, The Don Lemon Show has added a new independent media income stream. Lemon purchased a home in Sag Harbor, New York in 2016 for $3.1 million.
Don Lemon Social Media
Don Lemon maintains an active presence across several platforms. On Instagram, he posts under @donlemonofficial, sharing commentary, show updates, and personal moments.
On X (formerly Twitter), he posts under @donlemon, where he also distributes episodes of The Don Lemon Show. His announcement of his CNN firing in April 2023 came through his X account.
His independent show’s episodes are also available via podcast on platforms including Apple Podcasts. His personal website is donlemon.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Don Lemon’s role or position?
Don Lemon is the host of The Don Lemon Show, an independent streaming program he launched in January 2024. He previously anchored CNN’s primetime programming for 17 years before his April 2023 departure.
How old is Don Lemon?
Don Lemon is 60 years old as of June 16, 2026, born on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
What is Don Lemon’s net worth?
Don Lemon’s estimated net worth is $15 million, built primarily through his CNN salary, book sales, and speaking engagements.
Where did Don Lemon study?
Don Lemon attended Louisiana State University before earning his Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College in 1996.
Who is Don Lemon married to?
Don Lemon married real estate agent Tim Malone on April 6, 2024, at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, after a five-year engagement.
What awards has Don Lemon won?
Lemon won the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2002 for his coverage of the D.C. sniper case. He also received three regional Emmy Awards for reporting in Chicago.
The Bottom Line
Don Lemon anchored CNN’s primetime programming from 2006 to 2023, hosting Don Lemon Tonight and co-anchoring CNN This Morning. His 2021 book This Is the Fire reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
Lemon grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and came out publicly in his 2011 memoir Transparent, becoming one of the first openly gay Black anchors in national cable news. He married Tim Malone in April 2024 at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York.
His most recent book, I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America, published in September 2024, while The Don Lemon Show continues streaming independently across major platforms.
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