Christine Romans was born and raised in Iowa, growing up in the Quad Cities region of eastern Iowa. She graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf in 1989 before attending Iowa State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication with a minor in French in 1993. While at Iowa State, she held several roles at the Iowa State Daily, the university newspaper, and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Her parents are Bill and Karen Romans, and her father served on the local school board.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Christine Romans |
| Birthplace | Iowa, United States |
| Raised In | Quad Cities region, eastern Iowa |
| High School | Pleasant Valley High School, Bettendorf |
| High School Graduation | 1989 |
| University | Iowa State University |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication |
| Minor | French |
| University Graduation | 1993 |
| Current Position | Chief Business Correspondent, NBC News |
| Previous Employer | CNN |
| CNN Tenure | 24 years |
| Notable Books | Smart Is the New Rich and How to Speak Money |
| Professional Focus | Business and economic journalism |
| Net Worth | Private and not officially confirmed |
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Christine Romans’ Career in Business Journalism
Christine Romans began her journalism career covering finance at both the local and national levels. She reported on business and economic news for The Des Moines Register and Knight-Ridder Financial News before joining Reuters Television in Chicago. There, she anchored and reported from the futures trading pits, covering bonds, stocks, derivatives, and commodities. Her early work in print and broadcast journalism gave her a strong foundation in financial markets for her later television roles.
Joining CNN as a Business Correspondent
Romans joined CNN’s business news team in the late 1990s. She initially reported live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for CNN’s business segments before becoming a regular presence across the network’s business programming.
By the 2000s, Romans had become CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent. She appeared on programs including Moneyline and contributed to CNN’s international business coverage.
Leading CNN’s Business and Economic Coverage
Romans anchored and reported on major business and economic developments at CNN. She hosted the network’s business news programs and appeared regularly on its morning and weekend business shows. She co-hosted CNN’s Your Money, later known as On the Money, and led CNNfn’s business segment Street Sweep.
As CNN’s chief business correspondent, she covered the 2008–2009 financial crisis and the AIG bailout, federal debt ceiling debates, the dot-com crash, the rise of cryptocurrency, and the collapse of FTX. She also explained how economic policies and global events, including trade wars and the pandemic, affected ordinary Americans.
CNN’s press office described her as an “Emmy Award-winning chief business correspondent” who reported on the economy, politics, and international business, including bailouts, spending battles, and market issues.
Co-Anchoring Early Start on CNN
In January 2014, Romans was named co-anchor of CNN’s early-morning show Early Start alongside John Berman. She joined the 5–6 a.m. ET broadcast while retaining her title as chief business correspondent.
For nearly a decade, she anchored Early Start and covered the day’s economic news. She continued to lead CNN’s business coverage and regularly guided viewers through overnight financial developments.
Romans remained an Early Start anchor until her departure from CNN. In July 2023, she announced that she was leaving the network after a 24-year tenure.
Publishing Books on Personal Finance and the Economy
Alongside her broadcasting career, Romans has written several personal finance books, including Smart Is the New Rich (Wiley, 2010) and How to Speak Money: The Language and Knowledge You Need Now (Wiley, 2011). The books help readers understand budgeting, investing, and economic issues, extending her work as a business news communicator to a broader audience.
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Transition to Senior Business Correspondent at NBC News
After leaving CNN in the summer of 2023, Romans joined NBC News. In October 2023, the network announced her appointment as Senior Business Correspondent in its Business and Economy Unit.
Romans reports on economic and financial news across NBC’s broadcast, cable, and digital platforms, including MSNBC. Her coverage includes “all aspects of major breaking business news,” with a focus on inflation, jobs, wages, manufacturing, trade, and other economic trends. NBC executives cited her ability to explain complex economic policies to viewers. She joined the network as an Emmy-winning financial journalist with decades of experience.
Expanding Business Reporting Across Broadcast and Digital Media
In April 2026, NBC News promoted Romans to Chief Business Correspondent and announced that she would anchor a new two-hour morning program on NBC News Now.
An internal NBC memo confirmed that she would host the weekday show from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET beginning in the summer of 2026, extending the streaming channel’s live coverage. The memo described her as “one of the most trusted voices in financial journalism” and said her expertise would strengthen NBC’s opening-of-market coverage.
Romans now serves as a lead business correspondent across NBC’s streaming and linear news divisions. She regularly appears on Today, NBC Nightly News, and MSNBC and writes for NBC’s digital business sections. Her NBC News Now program expands her business reporting across broadcast and digital formats.
Christine Romans Net Worth
As of 2026, Christine Romans’ net worth remains private and has not been officially confirmed. Her income comes from her work as a senior business correspondent and anchor at NBC News, her previous roles at CNN, and royalties from her published personal finance books. Her salary and royalty earnings have not been publicly disclosed.
FAQs
Is Christine Romans an economist?
No. She is a journalist who specializes in business, financial markets, and economic policy.
Is Christine Romans a licensed financial adviser?
There is no verified public record showing that she is a licensed financial adviser. She reports on financial news rather than providing personalized investment advice.
What Emmy Award did Christine Romans receive?
Christine Romans received an Emmy Award for her work on CNN’s Exporting America, a series about globalization and its effects on American workers.
Does Christine Romans provide personal investment recommendations?
No. Her work focuses on financial journalism and economic analysis for general audiences rather than personalized investment recommendations.
What subjects does Christine Romans explain in her reporting?
Her reporting covers inflation, employment, wages, financial markets, trade, manufacturing, and government economic policy.
Why is Christine Romans considered a business journalist rather than a general news anchor?
Most of her career has focused on economic developments, financial markets, consumer finances, and the effects of business policy on households.
