Jonathan Alter Biography / Wiki
Jonathan Alter is an American author, columnist, documentary filmmaker, political analyst and television producer. He served as a columnist and senior editor for Newsweek magazine from 1983 to 2011. Alter has written extensively on American politics and history, including several books about U.S. presidents. Since 1996, Alter has featured on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC as a political analyst for NBC News. He has an online website. Alter started a newsletter called “Old Goats with Jonathan Alter” in 2021. In it, he shares interviews, films, and columns from successful individuals who might be able to contribute their knowledge and insights.
He uses Substack to publish his newsletter both for free and for a fee. John Goodman, Mark Consuelos, Clark Johnson, and Matt Malloy starred in the Amazon Studios production Alpha House, which Alter executive-produced in 2013 and 2014. Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, a 2019 documentary on columnists Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill that won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary, was co-produced and co-directed by him.
Jonathan Alter Age
How old is Jonathan? He is 69 years old as of 2026. He was born on October 6, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Alter celebrates his birthday on October 6th every year.
Jonathan Alter Education
Alter graduated from Phillips Academy and also graduated from Harvard University, where he was one of the lead editors on the Harvard Crimson in 1979. ALSO READ: Mariana Atencio
Jonathan Alter Height / Measurements
How tall is Jonathan? He stands at an average height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.7m). Yet, information about his other body measurements is currently under review.
Jonathan Alter Nationality / Ethnicity
Alter holds American nationality and citizenship by birth. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He is of Jewish ethnicity/heritage.
Jonathan Alter Parents / Family
Jonathan was born and raised in a Jewish family in Chicago. His father, James Alter, owned a refrigeration and air-conditioning company, while his mother was an elected commissioner of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago and a member of the Democratic National Committee. His mother, Joanne H. Alter, was the first elected female public servant in the Chicago region. His sister, Jamie Alter Lynton, who is a journalist and his brother-in-law, Michael Lynton, the former CEO of Sony Corporation of America, were two of the most politically active Obama fundraisers in California.
Jonathan Alter Wife / Married
Is Alter married? Yes, he is happily married to Emily Lazar, a former executive producer of the Comedy Central show The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The couple is proud to have three children; Charlotte 36 years old, a senior national correspondent for Time magazine, Tommy 34 years old, an Emmy-winning producer and co-founder with JJ Redick of ThreeFourTwo Productions, where he hosts the hit basketball podcast The Young Man and the Three, and Molly 32 yearsold, a partner in Northzone, who was selected as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in venture capital in 2020.
Jonathan Alter Salary
Alter is an American author, columnist, documentary filmmaker, political analyst and television producer earning an annual salary ranging from $20,000 to $120,000.
Jonathan Alter Net Worth
Jonathan served as a columnist and senior editor for Newsweek magazine and has an estimated net worth between $5 million and $15 million.
Jonathan Alter Columnist
Alter served as a columnist and senior editor for Newsweek magazine from 1983 to 2011. Alter has written extensively on American politics and history, including several books about U.S. presidents. Since 1996, Alter has featured on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC as a political analyst for NBC News. He has an online website. Alter started a newsletter called “Old Goats with Jonathan Alter” in 2021. In it, he shares interviews, films, and columns from successful individuals who might be able to contribute their knowledge and insights.
He uses Substack to publish his newsletter both for free and for a fee. John Goodman, Mark Consuelos, Clark Johnson, and Matt Malloy starred in the Amazon Studios production Alpha House, which Alter executive-produced in 2013 and 2014. Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, a 2019 documentary on columnists Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill that won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary, was co-produced and co-directed by him.
