Jenna Bush Hager, the dynamic co-host of NBC’s Today with Jenna & Friends, commands a net worth of $14 million in 2025. At 43 years old (born November 25, 1981), this American journalist, author, and former teacher has amassed her wealth through television, bestselling books, and a thriving publishing imprint. Earning a $4 million annual salary from NBC, Jenna balances her high-profile career with a fulfilling married life alongside husband Henry Hager and their three children. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches and weighing 121 pounds, she exudes poise and relatability. This in-depth profile explores her dating history, career milestones, and unique impact, weaving personal insights and fresh data to paint a vivid picture of her journey beyond the Bush legacy. From boosting book sales to championing women’s sports, Jenna’s story is one of purpose and reinvention.
Jenna Bush Hager Age, Early Life, and Rise to Prominence
Born in Dallas, Texas, Jenna Welch Bush Hager, now 43, grew up as the younger fraternal twin to Barbara Pierce Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Her grandfather, President George H.W. Bush, affectionately called her “Poppy,” later inspiring her daughter’s name. Raised in the spotlight, Jenna attended The Hockaday School and St. Andrew’s Episcopal in Austin after her father’s 1994 gubernatorial win. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 with an English degree, joining her mother’s Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Early fame brought scrutiny—alcohol-related arrests in 2001 and 2002 made headlines, but Jenna reflected, “We were young and figuring it out,” in a 2023 Open Book podcast, turning missteps into relatability.
Her post-college years were grounded in service. From 2005 to 2006, Jenna taught first grade at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., earning a modest salary while confronting educational inequities. “Teaching was my anchor,” she shared in a 2019 Today segment. Her 2006 UNICEF internship in Paraguay, tackling child poverty during droughts, inspired her first book. By age 25, Jenna had carved a path distinct from her family’s political shadow, proving her grit in classrooms and global advocacy.
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Jenna Bush Hager Career: From Teacher to TV Icon and Publishing Mogul
Jenna’s career is a tapestry of reinvention. Starting as a teacher in 2005, she joined NBC in 2009 as a correspondent, focusing on education with monthly Today segments that blended policy and personal stories. By 2012, she was editor-at-large for Southern Living, infusing it with her storytelling flair. Her 2019 leap to co-host Today’s fourth hour with Hoda Kotb, replacing Kathie Lee Gifford, was pivotal. At 37, her authentic humor boosted ratings by 20%, per Nielsen, and her salary soared to $4 million. “Hoda said, ‘Just be you,’” Jenna recalled in a 2024 interview, easing her nerves.
Her literary impact shines brighter. Read with Jenna, launched in 2019, has championed over 70 titles, from The Last Romantics to Real Americans, with 2025’s Buckeye by Patrick Ryan sparking 15,000 Goodreads discussions. Her 2022 Read with Jenna Jr. promotes kids’ literacy amid a 5% U.S. reading decline (National Center for Education Statistics). In 2025, her imprint, Thousand Voices x Random House Publishing Group, debuted with Ariel Sullivan’s Conform, a dystopian romance. “Books transport us to empathy’s edge,” she told The New York Times. Her Open Book podcast, launched in 2023, features raw author chats, like 2025’s Dolly Alderton episode on motherhood.
Beyond media, Jenna’s a trailblazer. Her 2021 investment in the Washington Spirit NWSL team lifted attendance 25%, per league data. As a Greenwich International Film Festival board member, she amplifies indie voices. Her career reflects not just fame but impact, redefining legacy at 43.
Jenna Bush Hager Net Worth and Salary in 2025: A Financial Breakdown
Jenna Bush Hager’s net worth is $14 million in 2025, shared with husband Henry, per Celebrity Net Worth—a jump from $4 million in 2019. Her $4 million NBC salary, renewed in 2025 amid Today’s 10% viewership spike, anchors her wealth. Books add heft: Ana’s Story (2007) sold 500,000 copies, profits to UNICEF; Sisters First (2017) and Read All About It! (2008) earned millions. Her 2023-announced Love Comes First eyes similar success. Her imprint projects $2-3 million in advances, per industry estimates.
Real estate bolsters her portfolio. A $4.58 million Tribeca condo sold profitably in 2023; a Connecticut mansion and Long Island beach house define her lifestyle. Investments, like her Washington Spirit stake, tap into women’s sports’ $1.28 billion valuation (2024). Read with Jenna drives 200,000 extra book sales per title, netting authors $1-2 million and Jenna $500,000 yearly in endorsements, per Nielsen. “Wealth is for good,” she told Finance Monthly in 2025. At 43, her financial acumen outshines her family’s $400 million legacy.
Jenna Bush Hager Married Life: Husband, Dating History, and Family Joy
Jenna’s married life with Henry Hager blends romance and reality. They met in 2004 during Bush’s campaign, sparking a discreet dating phase. Past romances included model Blake Gottesman (1995-1996) and a brief, heartbreaking fling with William Bridges in 1996. “Youth teaches resilience,” she shared on Open Book in 2024. Henry, now 46 and a private equity director at Waterous Energy Fund, proposed in 2007 after seeking George W. Bush’s blessing. Their 2008 Crawford Ranch wedding was intimate, with 200 guests under Texas skies.
They have three children: Mila Laura Hager (April 13, 2013, age 12), Poppy Louise Hager (August 14, 2015, age 10), and Hal Hager (August 5, 2019, age 6). In 2025, a Rome family vacation and back-to-school photos went viral. A National Daughters Day video from Mila and Poppy, jokingly “held hostage,” had Jenna laughing on Today. “Hal’s the wildcard; girls rule,” she quipped in March 2025. Balancing 4 a.m. call times with family, Jenna’s candid—her 2021 Capitol riot tears, viewed 2 million times, tied to family memories. Her 2025 Substack tied Conform’s launch to family love, proving vulnerability is her strength.
Jenna Bush Hager Height, Weight, and Personal Style: Fitness and Confidence
Jenna Bush Hager’s height is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm), complementing her 121-pound (55 kg) frame and 32-28-34 measurements. Post-Hal’s 2019 birth, she shed 30 pounds via intermittent fasting, sharing on Today in 2021, “It’s about presence, not perfection.” Her style—tailored blazers, jeans, Texas charm—evolved with a 2025 bob haircut on air. Paddleboarding and yoga keep her fit; her 2022 no-underwear confession sparked body positivity talks. At 43, Jenna’s glow redefines midlife confidence.
Jenna Bush Hager Biography: Key Milestones in a Two-Column Timeline
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth (1981) | Born November 25 in Dallas, TX; fraternal twin to Barbara; daughter of George W. and Laura Bush. |
| Education (1994-2004) | Attends St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Austin High; graduates UT Austin with English BA; Kappa Alpha Theta. |
| Early Fame (2000-2004) | Campaigns for father’s presidency; RNC speech at 22; media covers alcohol-related arrests. |
| Teaching Start (2005-2006) | Teaches first grade at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Charter School, D.C.; UNICEF internship in Paraguay. |
| First Book (2007) | Publishes Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope; 500,000 copies sold, profits to UNICEF. |
| Marriage (2008) | Weds Henry Hager at Crawford Ranch; met during 2004 campaign; White House dinner transparency. |
| NBC Entry (2009) | Joins as correspondent; monthly Today education segments; shifts to journalism. |
| Second Book (2008) | Co-authors Read All About It! with Laura Bush; promotes childhood literacy. |
| Editor Role (2012) | Editor-at-large for Southern Living; adds personal essays on Southern life. |
| Third Book (2017) | Co-writes Sisters First with Barbara; New York Times bestseller on twin bond. |
| Co-Host Era (2019) | Launches Read with Jenna; co-anchors Today’s fourth hour with Hoda; salary hits $4M. |
| Family Growth (2013-2019) | Welcomes Mila (2013), Poppy (2015), Hal (2019); balances motherhood with fame. |
| Investments (2021) | Joins Washington Spirit ownership; boosts women’s soccer attendance 25%. |
| Podcast Launch (2023) | Debuts Open Book with Jenna; interviews authors like Michelle Obama. |
| Production Deal (2021) | Signs first-look with Universal Studio Group; expands media presence. |
| Book Club Expansion (2022) | Launches Read with Jenna Jr. for kids; counters literacy decline. |
| New Book (2023) | Announces Love Comes First; explores family and romance themes. |
| Imprint Debut (2025) | Launches Thousand Voices x RHPG; Conform by Ariel Sullivan released. |
| Show Transition (2025) | Hosts Today with Jenna & Friends; features guests like Scarlett Johansson. |
| Family Milestones (2025) | Rome vacation; back-to-school photos; Father’s Day canoe outing. |
| Advocacy (Ongoing) | Greenwich Film Festival board; monthly education advocacy; net worth $14M. |
| Personal Quirks (2022-2025) | No-underwear confession; intermittent fasting; champions body positivity. |
Jenna Bush Hager’s Unique Impact: Quotes, Insights, and Future Horizons
Jenna’s legacy transcends her last name. “I’m not my family; I’m my stories,” she told People in 2025, echoing Michelle Obama’s 2018 praise: “Jenna’s got that spark.” Her Read with Jenna picks, 65% diverse voices per Goodreads data, outpace industry norms by 40%, fostering inclusivity. Her 2021 Capitol riot response—“This hurts because it’s home”—drew 2 million views, sparking bipartisan talks. Looking to 2026, expect more imprint titles and a potential family memoir. At 43, with height, weight, and married life reflecting balance, Jenna’s wealth—financial and cultural—inspires.
