Birgit Fenderl is an Austrian journalist and television presenter best known for her three-decade career at ORF, Austria’s national public broadcaster.
She joined ORF in 1993 while still a student and went on to anchor flagship news programs including ZiB 3, the Report magazine, and Studio 2.
Birgit Fenderl Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Birgit Fenderl |
| Born | January 15, 1971, Vienna, Austria |
| Age | 55 |
| Nationality | German (Austrian-born) |
| Profession | Journalist, Television Presenter, Author |
| Known For | ZiB 3, Studio 2, Report on ORF |
| Ex-Husband | Armin Wolf (m. 2001, div. 2004) |
| Children | Anna-Sophie Fenderl (born 2005) |
| Net Worth | $1 million |
Who is Birgit Fenderl?
Birgit Fenderl is an Austrian-born journalist and television presenter of German nationality.
She built her career at ORF, Austria’s public broadcaster, over more than 30 years, presenting news, politics, and magazine programs that reached audiences across the country.
She is also known as the ex-wife of prominent Austrian journalist Armin Wolf, who anchors ORF’s flagship nightly news program ZiB 2.
Both were working journalists at ORF during their relationship, and their professional paths ran in parallel for much of the 1990s and 2000s.
Fenderl worked her way through several of ORF’s main programs, starting in editorial roles before taking on presenting duties.
She hosted children’s news, domestic affairs coverage, a late-night news program, a weekly politics magazine, and eventually the early-evening Studio 2 magazine.
In late 2024, she left ORF after 31 years to pursue independent work. She had told Austrian media that she wanted to explore something new rather than wait for retirement.
Birgit Fenderl Ex-Husband Armin Wolf
Birgit Fenderl was married to Austrian journalist Armin Wolf from 2001 to 2004. The two met through their overlapping careers at ORF, where both were working as journalists and presenters.
Armin Wolf is one of Austria’s most recognised broadcast journalists. He anchors the ZiB 2 evening news program and became known for his sharp interviewing style.
In 2017, Politico Europe named him one of Europe’s most skilled political journalists.
Two years later, in 2019, he received the European Journalist of the Year award at the Prix Europa media contest.
The marriage ended in divorce in 2004. After the separation, Wolf went on to marry Austrian journalist Euke Frank in 2008.
Euke Frank serves as editor-in-chief of the magazine Woman. Birgit Fenderl did not remarry and raised her daughter as a single parent.
Early Life of Birgit Fenderl
Birgit Fenderl was born on January 15, 1971, in Vienna, Austria. She grew up in St. Johann im Pongau, Munich, and Anif, moving between different places during her childhood and early years.
She completed her school-leaving exams, the Matura, in Salzburg.
After finishing secondary school, Fenderl spent a year studying Italian in Siena before moving to Paris to study French at the Sorbonne.
This period of study abroad gave her language skills she would later use in foreign affairs reporting. Her parents’ names are not publicly confirmed in available sources.
Birgit Fenderl Age / Birthday
Birgit Fenderl is 55 years old as of 2026, born on January 15, 1971. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn, a sign often linked with ambition and discipline.
Since leaving ORF at the end of 2024, she has pursued independent work as a moderator, media coach, and speaker.
Birgit Fenderl Ethnicity and Nationality
Birgit Fenderl holds German nationality despite having been born in Vienna, Austria.
She is of European background, raised in the Austrian-German cultural sphere across several cities in her youth.
Her upbringing across different locations, including Germany and Austria, shaped her linguistic range and her later studies in multiple European languages.
Birgit Fenderl Height and Weight
Birgit Fenderl’s exact height and weight are not publicly confirmed in available sources.
She carries herself with a composed, professional presence suited to live television.
No verified physical measurements have appeared in Austrian or international media reporting on her career.
Birgit Fenderl Education
Birgit Fenderl studied Political Science with a minor in Spanish at the University of Vienna.
She graduated in 1995, receiving her Mag. a Phil. degree, with a diploma thesis on parliamentary reform in Italy covering the period from 1992 to 1994.
Before enrolling in Vienna, she had already spent a year studying Italian in Siena and French at the Sorbonne in Paris.
This academic background in political science gave her a strong foundation for the domestic and international affairs reporting she carried out at ORF.
She also completed an earlier internship at the daily newspaper Der Standard, which brought her into contact with professional journalism while still a student.
Birgit Fenderl Career
Early Career at ORF (1993–1997)
Birgit Fenderl joined ORF in 1993 while still completing her studies at the University of Vienna.
She started in the foreign affairs editorial office, taking on an internship role before moving into a full editorial position.
Her first presenting role came with MiniZiB, the child-friendly edition of the Zeit im Bild news broadcasts.
She spent around a year and a half in that editorial team, building her on-screen experience.
In 1995, she moved to the editorial staff of Zeit im Bild 1, ORF’s main evening news program, and then became a domestic affairs editor for ZiB 2.
Der Standard, where she had done her initial internship, gave her an early introduction to print journalism. The switch to television reporting at ORF proved to be her permanent direction.
ZiB 3 and Report (1998–2008)
In January 1998, Fenderl became the first presenter of ZiB 3, the newly introduced midnight news program on ORF.
She held that position until 2004, giving her six years as the face of late-night news for Austrian viewers.
She also contributed foreign affairs segments to other ZiB programs during this period. In 2002, she published her book 30erinnen, a portrait of successful women around the age of 30.
From 2004, she shifted to presenting the daily short ZiB news editions and also took on Report, ORF’s weekly politics magazine.
She presented Report from 2004 through April 2008, interrupted by maternity leave following the birth of her daughter in April 2005.
The combination of those presenting duties and single parenthood was demanding, and Fenderl later said she was “jahrelang einfach am Limit” (at the limit for years) during that period.
Alongside her broadcasting work, she began teaching at the University of Applied Sciences for Journalism in Vienna from the winter semester of 2002 to 2003.
She covered interview technique, communication, presentation, and argumentation. She also organised and moderated panel discussions and events on politics, culture, and business.
Studio 2 and Departure from ORF (2019–2024)
From January 2019, Fenderl co-presented Studio 2, ORF 2’s early evening magazine, alongside Martin Ferdiny.
The program ran in a 9 pm time slot and covered news, lifestyle, and culture for a general Austrian audience. During her time on the show, she also presented special coverage of royal events.
In August 2024, Der Standard and other Austrian outlets reported that Fenderl would leave ORF at the end of that year, after 31 years with the broadcaster.
She confirmed the news herself and said she planned to go independent and pursue her own projects. Her final edition of Studio 2 aired in late 2024.
Since leaving ORF, Fenderl has worked as a freelance moderator, media coach, and speaker, drawing on her decades of live television experience.
Birgit Fenderl Books and Publications
Birgit Fenderl published 30erinnen in spring 2002, a book that profiled successful women around the age of 30.
She authored a further book, Was uns zusammenhält, which focused on the bonds between women.
Both works came out of her interest in the working and personal lives of women navigating career and family in contemporary Austria.
Birgit Fenderl Children
Birgit Fenderl has one daughter, Anna-Sophie Fenderl, born in April 2005. Fenderl raised Anna-Sophie as a single parent, a period she has described publicly as one of the most demanding of her life, managing full-time live television presenting with sole childcare responsibilities.
Anna-Sophie completed her Matura in 2023 and has expressed a wish to become an actress.
By that time, Fenderl noted that her daughter had become highly independent and was in the process of leaving home.
Birgit Fenderl Net Worth
Birgit Fenderl’s estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026. Her income came primarily from her 31-year career as a presenter and journalist at ORF, one of Austria’s most prominent media employers.
Her additional income sources include book royalties from her publications, fees from panel moderation and public speaking events, and her teaching work at journalism institutions in Vienna.
Since leaving ORF at the end of 2024, she has continued earning through freelance moderation, media coaching, and keynote work.
Birgit Fenderl has not publicly disclosed detailed figures about her salary or personal finances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Birgit Fenderl?
Birgit Fenderl is 55 years old as of 2026. She was born on January 15, 1971, in Vienna, Austria.
Who is Birgit Fenderl’s ex-husband?
Her ex-husband is Armin Wolf, the well-known Austrian journalist and ZiB 2 news anchor. They were married from 2001 to 2004 and both worked at ORF during their relationship.
What is Birgit Fenderl’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026, accumulated through her three-decade career at ORF and her work as an author and public speaker.
Does Birgit Fenderl have children?
Yes, she has one daughter named Anna-Sophie Fenderl, born in April 2005. Birgit raised her as a single parent.
Why did Birgit Fenderl leave ORF?
She left ORF voluntarily at the end of 2024 after 31 years. She stated publicly that she wanted to try something new and go independent rather than remain at ORF until retirement.
Where is Birgit Fenderl from?
She was born in Vienna, Austria, and grew up in St. Johann im Pongau, Munich, and Anif. She holds German nationality.
Conclusion
Birgit Fenderl spent 31 years as one of ORF’s recognisable television faces, anchoring everything from a midnight news program to a weekly politics magazine and an early-evening lifestyle show.
Her departure from ORF at the end of 2024 closed a long chapter in Austrian public broadcasting, with Fenderl moving into independent work after a career that began while she was still a student.