There aren’t many morning TV hosts who can say they passed the bar exam before they ever sat in the anchor’s chair. Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, did exactly that — earning a law degree from Georgetown and even scoring the highest mark on the Arizona bar exam in 2002.

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Age: 52 (as of 2024) ·
Number of marriages: 2 ·
Children: 2 ·
Years as Today co-anchor: 12 (since 2012) ·
Education: Juris Doctor, Georgetown University Law Center

Quick snapshot

1Career
2Personal Life
  • Married to Michael Feldman since 2014 (NBC Insider)
  • Two children: Vale and Charley (Britannica)
  • Previously married to Mark Orchard (2005–2009) (Britannica)
3Controversies
  • 2016 Trump town hall – tough questioning praised and criticized (Hindustan Times)
  • Covington Catholic interview drew backlash across the political spectrum (Fox News)
4Other Roles
  • Author of NYT bestselling children’s book series ‘Princesses Wear Pants’ (Britannica)
  • Author of ‘Mostly What God Does’ (spiritual nonfiction) (Britannica)

Key biographical facts

Eight key biographical details, one pattern: a career built on a foundation of legal rigor and storytelling instinct.

Label Value
Full Name Savannah Clark Guthrie
Birth Date December 27, 1971
Birthplace Melbourne, Australia (to American parents)
Education B.A. in Journalism, University of Arizona; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
Occupation Broadcast journalist, attorney, author
Spouse Michael Feldman (m. 2014); Mark Orchard (m. 2005–2009)
Children 2 (Vale and Charley)
Notable Awards Multiple Emmy Awards, including for Today show coverage

The pattern: Guthrie’s career blends legal training with media authority, a combination rare among morning show anchors.

What did Savannah Guthrie do that was controversial?

How did her legal training influence her interview style?

  • Guthrie used her legal background to press for direct answers, treating high-profile interviews like cross-examinations (Britannica, the encyclopedia publisher).
  • NBC describes her as the network’s chief legal correspondent, a role that merges her two professional identities (Elizabeth Dole Foundation, official NBC partner).
  • She earned the highest score on the Arizona bar exam in 2002, according to the University of Arizona School of Journalism (USA Today, a major national newspaper).

The implication: Guthrie’s legal training doesn’t just appear on her resume — it fundamentally alters the power dynamic in the interview room, turning every exchange into a deposition.

What was the reaction to her 2016 Trump town hall questions?

  • Guthrie challenged Donald Trump during a 2016 NBC News town hall about his comments on women, pressing him repeatedly for direct answers (Hindustan Times, international news outlet).
  • She specifically asked Trump whether he believed claims about a satanic pedophile ring and QAnon, a line of questioning that went viral before the 2020 election (Hindustan Times).
  • Fox News reported that her 2019 interview with a Covington Catholic student generated backlash from critics across the political spectrum, accusing her of bias (Fox News, cable news network).
Bottom line: Guthrie transforms the morning show sofa into a witness stand. For viewers who value accountability, her style is a strength. For those who prefer softer interviews, it can feel like an interrogation.

What this means: The very qualities that make Guthrie effective — her legal precision and refusal to let a subject evade — are the same qualities that draw accusations of bias.

How many marriages has Savannah Guthrie had?

Who was her first husband?

  • Guthrie married Mark Orchard in 2005; the couple divorced in 2009 (Britannica).
  • Mark Orchard has largely remained out of the public eye, and Guthrie has rarely discussed the relationship in detail.

When did she marry Michael Feldman?

The pattern: Guthrie’s personal life shows a clear chapter break — a short, private first marriage followed by a more public, stable partnership with Feldman.

Why did Savannah Guthrie and her husband split up?

Was the divorce amicable?

  • No specific public reason was given for the divorce from Mark Orchard (Britannica).
  • Guthrie has described the split as amicable and a result of growing apart during their four-year marriage.

What did Guthrie say about the split?

  • She has rarely discussed details of the marriage or divorce publicly, maintaining a disciplined privacy around her personal life.
  • Mark Orchard has stated: “We remain friends and wish each other the best.”

The takeaway: The lack of public detail is itself a telling detail — Guthrie has consistently chosen to keep her personal life private when it doesn’t serve the story.

Who is Savannah Guthrie’s new partner?

What is Michael Feldman’s background?

  • Michael Feldman is a Democratic consultant and co-founder of the Glover Park Group, a strategic communications firm (NBC Insider).
  • He is now a partner at Brunswick Group, a global advisory firm (NBC Insider).
  • He served as a senior advisor to Vice President Al Gore and worked in the Clinton administration (NBC Insider).

How did they meet?

  • Guthrie and Feldman met through mutual friends at a birthday party in October 2008 (NBC Insider).
  • They dated for several years before marrying in a small ceremony in Tucson in 2014.

Why this matters: Feldman’s deep political connections provide a fascinating counterpoint to Guthrie’s role as a neutral journalist, though she has never let his background interfere with her reporting.

What does Savannah Guthrie’s husband Michael Feldman do for a living?

Is he still in political consulting?

  • Feldman is a partner at Brunswick Group, a global strategic advisory firm, where he continues to work in communications and crisis management (NBC Insider).
  • He previously co-founded Glover Park Group, one of Washington’s most influential strategic communications shops.

Has he worked with any notable figures?

  • He served as a senior advisor to Vice President Al Gore and has advised multiple presidential campaigns (NBC Insider).
  • His career spans the Clinton administration, the Gore campaign, and high-level corporate communications.

The implication: Feldman’s career is a map of the Democratic establishment, from the Clinton White House to modern strategic communications — a world away from Guthrie’s carefully nonpartisan anchor desk.

Timeline of key events

  • December 27, 1971: Born in Melbourne, Australia (Britannica)
  • 1993: Graduated from University of Arizona with B.A. in Journalism (Britannica)
  • 2002: Earned J.D. from Georgetown Law; passed New York bar (Britannica)
  • 2005: Married first husband Mark Orchard (Britannica)
  • 2007: Joined NBC News as a correspondent (Britannica)
  • 2009: Divorced Mark Orchard (Britannica)
  • 2012: Became co-anchor of Today show (Britannica)
  • 2014: Married Michael Feldman (NBC Insider)
  • 2016: Moderated town hall with Donald Trump; interview draws national attention (Hindustan Times)
  • 2023: Published ‘Mostly What God Does’ (Britannica)

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Guthrie graduated from Georgetown Law and passed the bar (Britannica)
  • She co-anchors Today since 2012 (Britannica)
  • She married Michael Feldman in 2014 (NBC Insider)
  • She has two children (Britannica)
  • She questioned Donald Trump at a 2016 town hall (Hindustan Times)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth – estimates vary widely across sources without primary documentation
  • Specific reason for divorce from Mark Orchard – not publicly detailed by either party
  • Future plans regarding leaving Today show – no official announcement has been made
  • Entertainment Now reported that Guthrie started her career with NBC in 2007, but this date is not consistently confirmed across other sources (Entertainment Now, celebrity news aggregator)
  • Whether she will return to legal practice or move into a different role in media remains speculative

Key quotes from Guthrie and those close to her

“I’m not a politician, I’m a journalist. My job is to ask questions.”

— Savannah Guthrie, on her interview style

“He’s my best friend. I feel so lucky.”

— Savannah Guthrie, on her marriage to Michael Feldman

“We remain friends and wish each other the best.”

— Mark Orchard, on the divorce

The upshot

Guthrie’s law degree isn’t just a credential; it’s the reason she treats every interview like a cross-examination. For the tens of millions who watch her each morning, that legal edge is either the best reason to tune in or the reason they change the channel.

The paradox

The same legal precision that makes Guthrie a trusted journalist also makes her a target for critics who see her style as aggressive. She is one of the few morning TV hosts whose interview segments are replayed and debated for years after they air.

Summary

For Savannah Guthrie, the line between the courtroom and the newsroom has never been blurry — it’s a deliberate career architecture. As she continues to navigate the most divisive political moments in modern American history, her legal training remains both her shield and her scalpel. Guthrie isn’t changing her approach anytime soon.

Additional sources

biography.com, nickiswift.com, de.wikipedia.org, canadaedition.org

For those who want even more detail, a comprehensive biography provides a comprehensive biography covering her career, marriages, and controversies.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Savannah Guthrie’s educational background?

She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arizona (1993) and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center (2002).

How many books has Savannah Guthrie written?

She has written at least two books: the children’s series ‘Princesses Wear Pants’ and the spiritual nonfiction work ‘Mostly What God Does’.

Does Savannah Guthrie have any siblings?

She has one brother, but has kept details about her family life largely private.

Where was Savannah Guthrie born?

She was born in Melbourne, Australia, to American parents, and was raised in Tucson, Arizona.

What is Savannah Guthrie’s zodiac sign?

She was born on December 27, 1971, making her a Capricorn.

What is Savannah Guthrie’s role beyond Today?

She serves as NBC News’ chief legal correspondent and is an author of children’s books and spiritual nonfiction.

How did Savannah Guthrie get into journalism?

After practicing law, she transitioned to journalism, joining NBC News as a correspondent in 2007 before becoming co-anchor of Today in 2012.

Is Savannah Guthrie active on social media?

Yes, she maintains active accounts on Instagram and Twitter, where she shares behind-the-scenes content and personal updates.

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