Greg Gutfeld

Greg Gutfeld – Life, Career, and Public Influence

Greg Gutfeld (born September 12, 1964) is an American television host, political commentator, humorist, and author. Explore his background, media journey, style, controversies, and memorable quotations in this full profile.

Introduction

Gregory John Gutfeld is a distinctive figure in contemporary American media—a blend of late-night humorist, political pundit, and provocateur. Best known as host of the Fox News late-night show Gutfeld! and as a co-host of The Five, he brings a libertarian sensibility, satirical edge, and contrarian voice to debates about culture, politics, and media. His books, comedic style, and media presence have made him both influential and polarizing.

Early Life & Education

Greg Gutfeld was born on September 12, 1964 in San Mateo, California. His parents were Jacqueline Bernice “Jackie” (née Cauhape) and Alfred Jack Gutfeld. He was raised in a Catholic family and attended Junípero Serra High School, an all-boys Roman Catholic school in San Mateo.

Gutfeld then went on to University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1987 with a B.A. in English. It was during college that his political views began to evolve, and he later identified as libertarian.

Career Trajectory

From Journalism to Magazine ing

After college, Gutfeld began his media career in print:

• He worked as a staff writer for Prevention magazine.

• He then joined Men’s Health, eventually becoming editor-in-chief.

• Gutfeld also served as editor-in-chief for Stuff magazine (in the U.K.) during his international editorial period.

• Additionally, he worked with Maxim magazine in the U.K.

These editorial roles honed his sense of media, content, audience, and cultural trends, establishing him well for a transition to television commentary.

Television & Fox News

Gutfeld joined Fox News in 2007 as a contributor. He hosted Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld, a late-night show combining humor, commentary, and monologue formats (2007–2015). In May 2015, he launched a weekend show, The Greg Gutfeld Show, which later transitioned into a weeknight format.

In 2021, the show was retitled Gutfeld! and moved to a weekday primetime slot (10 PM ET). The show blends satire, panel discussions, monologues, and debates on cultural and political issues.

In addition to his solo show, Gutfeld is a co-host and panelist on The Five, a Fox News commentary program featuring multiple voices debating current events.

He also hosts a game show on Fox Nation called Greg Gutfeld’s What Did I Miss?, which challenges participants to distinguish real vs. fake headlines.

Authorship

Gutfeld has authored multiple books, often combining satire, cultural critique, and his contrarian voice. Some of his well-known titles include:

• The Bible of Unspeakable Truths

• How to Be Right: The Art of Being Persuasively Correct

• The Joy of Hate: How to Triumph over Whiners in the Age of Phony Outrage

• Not Cool (a book on cultural critique)

• The Gutfeld Monologues

His books often reflect his media persona—sharp, provocative, ironic, and unafraid to challenge norms.

Style, Views & Public Persona

Political & Ideological Stance

Gutfeld identifies as libertarian. He often critiques extremes on both the left and right, positioning himself as a satirical contrarian. His style frequently incorporates humor, sarcasm, irony, and provocation to challenge prevailing narratives.

On-Screen Persona

• He blends satire and political commentary, making use of comedic timing and cynical wit.

• His shows are structured around monologues, panel debates, comedic riffs on news, and audience engagement.

• He often frames himself as skeptical of political correctness, institutional media, and cultural orthodoxies.

• His voice is polarizing: adored by those who appreciate his irreverence; criticized by those who find the style abrasive or irresponsible.

Impact & Ratings

A notable milestone: Gutfeld! overtook The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in nightly ratings, becoming a leading late-night show in cable news. This performance underscores his appeal to a segment of the audience that seeks political satire aligned with a conservative-leaning worldview.

Personal Life

Gutfeld is married to Elena Moussa, originally from Russia; they wed in 2004. They have one daughter (born in late 2024) named Mira. They reside in New York City. In interviews, Gutfeld has described himself as formerly Catholic (raised), but more recently as agnostic or atheist. He has also expressed a longtime interest in rock and heavy metal music.

Selected Quotes

Here are a few notable remarks that reflect Gutfeld’s tone and approach:

• “If you don’t poke at the sacred cows, eventually they’ll just chew you up.”

• “I don’t mind being told I’m wrong — I just don’t want to be shouted at for it.”

• “Sometimes the loud voices aren’t the wisest ones.”

These exemplify his preference for challenging orthodoxy, valuing tone over volume, and resisting groupthink.

Criticism & Controversies

Because of Gutfeld’s provocative style, he’s been involved in controversies:

• His remarks on historical, social, or cultural issues occasionally draw backlash for being insensitive or too flippant.

• Some critics argue that his blend of comedy and commentary can blur lines between humor and factual assertion, leading to misleading cues.

• At times, his approach has been criticized as encouraging polarization rather than dialogue.

Nonetheless, his supporters argue that his style is part of his value—disrupting media complacency, questioning assumptions, and injecting humor into otherwise doctrinal discourse.