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Maury Povich just revealed a surprising truth about his marriage. His wife, Connie Chung, was making 10 times more money than him when they wed in 1984. The legendary broadcaster joked he is a true gold digger in an interview published today.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Income Gap: Connie earned 10 times Maury’s salary when they married in the 1980s
- Career Peak: Her anchoring career reached $2 to $4 million annually at its height
- Historic Achievement: First female co-anchor of CBS Evening News in broadcast history
- Combined Wealth: The couple shares an $80 million net worth after 41+ years together
The Gold Digger Confession
Maury Povich, now 87 years old, made the candid admission during an interview with comedian Adam Friedland for Interview magazine, published April 1, 2026. When asked if he was a gold digger, Povich’s response was immediate and lighthearted.
“Absolutely,” the legendary talk show host said. “My wife was making 10 times what I was making when we got married. How’s that?” He explained that his enviable lifestyle as a snowbird, splitting time between Florida, New York, and Montana, exists only because of Chung’s success. “Only because I married Connie Chung,” he told Friedland when discussing his dream life.
Connie Chung earned 10 times more than Maury Povich before they wed
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From Underdog to Network Star
Connie Chung, now 79, was at the height of her broadcasting dominance when she and Maury married. Her career trajectory stands as one of journalism’s greatest success stories. She became the first female co-anchor of CBS Evening News in 1993, shattering a glass ceiling that had stood for decades in network television.
During her peak anchoring years, Chung commanded salaries between $2 million and $4 million annually. For comparison, Povich was earning a fraction of that amount at the time, laying groundwork for his later success in daytime talk television. Her distinction as the first Asian American to anchor a major network newscast cemented her legacy in broadcasting history.
A Newsroom Romance with Perfect Timing
| Timeline | Major Event |
| 1969 | Connie works as copygirl at WTTG, Washington, D.C., Maury is big star there |
| 1977 | Maury arrives in Los Angeles, Connie is major anchor at CBS affiliate |
| 1977-1984 | Seven-year dating period while careers flourish separately |
| 1984 | Married with Connie earning 10 times more than Maury |
The couple’s love story is uniquely rooted in broadcast journalism. They first met in Washington, D.C., in 1969 when Chung was just beginning, working as a copygirl ripping wire copy at the WTTG station. “I was ripping wire copy off the machine,” she recalled to PEOPLE magazine. “He was very gruff and never looked up at me.”
Years later, by 1977, their positions had reversed dramatically. Chung had become a CBS anchor star while Povich landed in Los Angeles as her co-anchor before being let go. “He lost his job and I pitied him,” Chung shared, noting that pity transformed into love during their seven-year relationship.
“My wife was making 10 times what I was making when we got married. How’s that?”
— Maury Povich, in Interview magazine (April 1, 2026)
Building Their Empire Together
Despite the earnings disparity in 1984, Povich‘s career exploded once he transitioned to daytime talk television. The Maury Povich Show became a cultural phenomenon, earning him $13 to $14 million annually at its peak. Yet Chung remained a constant supporter throughout his controversial segments on the show.
“Even when Povich was getting backlash for controversial segments,” Chung stood beside him. “More than anything else, Connie was a big supporter,” he told PEOPLE. Together, they accumulated a combined net worth of $80 million, making them one of broadcast media’s most successful couples. They adopted their son Matthew in 1995.
What Does a 41-Year Marriage Reveal About Love?
After more than 40 years of marriage, Povich and Chung continue to fascinate the public with their candid stories. In interviews, Maury attributes their longevity to a simple philosophy. “If we’re arguing, when your head hits the pillow at night, it’s over,” he told Al Roker on Today in April 2025. “You start fresh the next day.”
Their willingness to discuss the income disparity that defined their early years shows remarkable honesty. Chung’s trailblazing career in broadcast journalism, where she broke barriers as both a woman and Asian American anchor, ultimately created the platform for their shared success. Whether it feels like a gold digger situation or a partnership of equals may depend on perspective, but 41 years together speaks louder than salary differences.
Sources
- PEOPLE Magazine – Maury Povich’s candid interview about his wife’s earnings disparity and their marriage (April 5, 2026)
- Interview Magazine – Conversation between Maury Povich and comedian Adam Friedland discussing his lifestyle and marriage (April 1, 2026)
- Celebrity Net Worth – Verified financial data for both Maury Povich and Connie Chung’s net worth and career earnings
