Do dreams really come true? Let’s take a closer look at the remarkable journey of news anchor David Muir, one of America’s most revered TV personalities. Believe it or not, even as a young child, David had a burning passion to become a journalist, capturing the attention of millions of people eagerly awaiting his news updates. At just ten years old, he transformed his living room into a makeshift studio, using nothing more than cardboard boxes as his props.
Growing up in New York, Muir found his inspiration in the work of Peter Jennings, whom he considered the James Bond of evening news. “I didn’t care,” Muir recounts to People Magazine. “I thought Peter Jennings was the James Bond of evening news.” Such was his zeal to become a journalist that he would never miss an evening news broadcast, even dressing up as a reporter for Halloween while his friends opted for favorite cartoon characters, superheroes, and cowboys.
“As a child, my desire to see the world meant covering severe thunderstorms in the next county or going to the New York State Fair with the local reporter and photographer who were kind enough to let me tag along,” Muir says. “Now, I am literally seeing the world. I’m grateful for that, and although I couldn’t fully articulate it as a kid, it’s the same hunger that drives me today.”
Muir’s journalism career began at the young age of twelve when he spent his summer writing emails to local press organizations, requesting opportunities to tour their studios. It wasn’t long before he received a letter from Ron Curtis, a respected journalist and anchor, inviting him to intern at WTVH Channel 5. The note read, “Competition in television news is keen. There’s always room for the right person. It could be you.” Those words resonated deeply with Muir and have stayed with him ever since.
As he pursued a major in Journalism during his college years, Muir embarked on a semester abroad in Spain, where he immersed himself in the language and culture. “This experience was so pivotal,” he recalls. “Living with a family and attending school in Spanish opened up new horizons for me.” This linguistic prowess came in handy when he interviewed Pope Francis in Spanish in 2015.
Following his graduation, Muir dedicated five years of his life to WTVH Channel 5 before moving to Boston and kick-starting his career as a journalist at WCVB. It was his groundbreaking reports from the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv, after the passing of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin that earned him numerous accolades and made him an obvious choice for ABC.
In 2014, when Diane Sawyer stepped down from ABC’s weekend news program, David Muir took over her position. The following year, he became the sole anchor of the show. “You have seen David Muir at this desk, in this chair, so many times. You know his command and commitment to bringing you the news,” Sawyer remarked on her final day. “I cannot wait to see you in high gear.”
Not many people can say they’ve achieved their childhood ambitions, but Muir often emphasizes how much his career means to him because it allows him to fulfill his lifelong dream. “I have always felt that if I couldn’t be the reporter I was before I got this job, people who got to know me through my reporting would wonder, ‘What happened to this guy?’” Muir shared with the LA Times. “I hope that, over time, people will see that thirst and hunger for curiosity is truly what drives me. It fuels me. And I hope they see it in this newscast every night.”
Throughout his career, Muir has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Edward R. Murrow medal and an Emmy for his outstanding live reporting on the Somalian famine from Mogadishu. But it was in 2014 that Muir received a unique honor when People Magazine crowned him the “Sexiest Man Alive.”
At 47 years old, David Muir is not only a respected journalist but also a wealthy man, with a net worth of $20 million. Despite his fame and success, Muir remains a humble individual who puts his family above all else.