Nicolle Wallace is an American television anchor, political analyst, and author best known for hosting Deadline: White House on MS NOW.
Before her television career, she served as White House Communications Director under President George W. Bush.
Nicolle Wallace Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicolle Devenish Wallace |
| Born | February 4, 1972, Orange County, California |
| Age | 54 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | TV Anchor, Political Analyst, Author |
| Known For | Deadline: White House |
| Education | UC Berkeley, Northwestern (Medill) |
| Husband | Michael S. Schmidt |
| Net Worth | $16 million |
Who is Nicolle Wallace?
Nicolle Wallace is one of the most recognized voices in American political television. She anchors Deadline: White House, a weekday news and politics program on MS NOW.
Her career sits at the meeting point of politics and journalism.
Wallace served in the White House under George W. Bush, then advised John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign as a senior strategist. After leaving politics, she moved into broadcast journalism, authorship, and daytime television.
She is also a published novelist whose books draw on her insider knowledge of Washington, D.C.
Wallace co-hosted the ABC daytime talk show The View for one season before joining NBC News and MSNBC. Her career spans government communications, prime-time anchoring, and political fiction.
Her current role as anchor of Deadline: White House has run since 2017. The show expanded to two hours in 2020 as its audience grew.
Nicolle Wallace Husband
Nicolle Wallace is married to Michael S. Schmidt, a journalist for The New York Times. The couple married in April 2022.
Schmidt is known for his investigative reporting on national politics and security.
In November 2023, Wallace announced that she and Schmidt had welcomed a daughter, born via surrogate. The news came when Wallace was 51.
Before Schmidt, Wallace was married to businessman and former diplomat Mark Wallace. The two wed in 2005 and kept their family life mostly private during her rise in television.
Nicolle and Mark Wallace had a son in 2011. The couple divorced in 2019, and she has continued to use the Wallace surname professionally.
Early Life of Nicolle Wallace
Nicolle Devenish was born on February 4, 1972, in Orange County, California. Her parents were Clive Devenish, an antiques dealer, and Veronica Devenish, a teacher’s assistant in public schools.
She grew up in Orinda, a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Wallace is the eldest of four children. Her younger siblings are named Zachary, Courtney, and Ashley.
Her family background includes English and Greek roots. Wallace has credited her Northern California upbringing with shaping her early interest in communications.
She graduated from Miramonte High School in Orinda in 1990. From there, she moved toward both politics and journalism.
Nicolle Wallace Age / Birthday
Nicolle Wallace is 54 years old as of 2026, born on February 4, 1972. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius, a sign often linked with independent thinking and strong communication.
She continues to anchor one of cable news’s flagship political programs.
Wallace has stayed a central figure in American political coverage well into her fifties.
Nicolle Wallace Ethnicity and Nationality
Nicolle Wallace holds American nationality and was born and raised in California. She is of English and Greek descent.
Her grandfather, Thomas Devenish, was an antiques dealer who had English roots.
Wallace has built her career across California, Washington, D.C., and New York City, where she now lives and works.
Nicolle Wallace Education
Nicolle Wallace’s academic background reflects her focus on communications and journalism. After graduating from Miramonte High School in 1990, she enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Berkeley in 1994.
Wallace then attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She completed a master’s degree there in 1996.
That combined training in communications and journalism prepared her for careers in both political messaging and broadcast reporting.
Nicolle Wallace Career
Nicolle Wallace has built one of the most distinctive careers in American media. Her path moved from California state politics to the White House to national television across nearly three decades.
Her early years were rooted in Republican politics.
She later shifted fully into journalism and became a daily presence on cable news. That rare crossover defines her public profile.
Early Political Career (1996–2004)
After finishing her master’s degree in 1996, Wallace briefly worked as an on-air reporter in California. She then moved into Republican state politics, working for Assembly leader Scott Baugh.
In 1999, she relocated to Florida to serve as press secretary for Governor Jeb Bush. The following year, she worked on the 2000 Florida election recount while serving as communications director for the Florida State Technology Office.
Wallace joined the White House staff during George W. Bush’s first term as director of media affairs. In 2003, she became communications director for Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.
White House and McCain Campaign (2005–2008)
On January 5, 2005, Bush named Wallace White House Communications Director. She served in that role until July 2006, advising the president during his second term.
The appointment placed her at the highest level of American government communications. A New York Times headline on her hiring described her goal of improving the relationship between the White House and the press.
She left the White House in July 2006 and moved to New York City. Wallace then served as a senior advisor to John McCain during his 2008 presidential campaign.
Her experience on that campaign, including tensions with running mate Sarah Palin, later shaped her writing. Actress Sarah Paulson portrayed Wallace in the 2012 HBO film Game Change.
Television and Authorship (2010–Present)
After the 2008 election, Wallace moved into writing and media. She published her debut novel, Eighteen Acres, in 2010, drawing on her White House experience.
In 2014, Wallace joined ABC’s The View as a co-host for its 18th season. She left the show after one season and joined NBC News and MSNBC as a political analyst.
Since May 2017, Wallace has anchored Deadline: White House, which airs on MS NOW. The program grew into a two-hour afternoon show and became one of the network’s signature broadcasts.
In 2025, she launched a weekly podcast called The Best People, featuring interviews with figures from media, sports, technology, and entertainment. The podcast marked a step beyond her daily political coverage.
Nicolle Wallace Books
Nicolle Wallace is a published novelist whose fiction draws on her Washington experience. Her books focus on women in positions of political power.
She published her first novel, Eighteen Acres, in 2010.
The title refers to the size of the White House grounds. The book follows three women, including the first female U.S. president, and earned praise from reviewers and television personalities.
Wallace followed it with two more novels in the same world. She released It’s Classified in 2011 and Madam President in 2015.
- Eighteen Acres (2010)
- It’s Classified (2011)
- Madam President (2015)
Her fiction drew on her real experience advising major political campaigns. Reviewers noted that she wrote from genuine insider knowledge.
Nicolle Wallace Net Worth and Salary
Nicolle Wallace’s estimated net worth is $16 million as of 2026. Her wealth comes mainly from her television anchoring, political analysis, and book royalties.
Salary
Wallace earns a reported salary of around $5 million per year from her work with MS NOW and NBC News. That figure reflects her role as anchor of a daily two-hour program and as a senior political analyst.
Her long run on Deadline: White House has made her one of the network’s most prominent on-air figures. That status supports her strong earning power.
Other Income
Beyond her anchoring, Wallace earns through book royalties from her three novels. Her 2025 podcast, The Best People, adds another income stream.
She also commands speaking fees and has worked as an executive producer on network specials. Those projects sit alongside her daily broadcast work.
Nicolle Wallace Social Media
Nicolle Wallace is active on social media, where she shares show clips, political commentary, and updates on her work. She is most active on X, formerly Twitter.
Her verified X account is @NicolleDWallace.
She also maintains a presence on Instagram, where she posts about her broadcasts and podcast. Both platforms keep her connected to her television audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Nicolle Wallace?
Nicolle Wallace is 54 years old. She was born on February 4, 1972, in Orange County, California.
Who is Nicolle Wallace’s husband?
Wallace is married to New York Times journalist Michael S. Schmidt. The couple wed in April 2022.
Was Nicolle Wallace married before?
Yes. She was married to businessman and former diplomat Mark Wallace from 2005 until their divorce in 2019.
What is Nicolle Wallace’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is $16 million as of 2026, built mainly from her television career and book royalties.
How many children does Nicolle Wallace have?
Wallace has two children, a son born in 2011 and a daughter born in 2023 via surrogate.
What show does Nicolle Wallace host?
She anchors Deadline: White House, a weekday afternoon news and politics program on MS NOW.
Conclusion
Nicolle Wallace made a rare crossing from Republican White House spokesperson to one of cable news’s most-watched political anchors, hosting Deadline: White House while also writing novels about power in Washington.
Her mix of insider political experience and daily broadcasting has kept her at the center of American political media for nearly a decade.