Maria Bartiromo

Maria Bartiromo – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Maria Bartiromo (born September 11, 1967) is an American financial journalist, broadcaster, and author known for pioneering live reporting from the NYSE trading floor, hosting major business news programs, and influencing the intersection of media and markets. Explore her life story, career trajectory, and memorable insights.

Introduction

Maria Bartiromo is among the most recognizable names in financial journalism. A trailblazer in business broadcasting, she broke barriers as the first TV journalist to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Over decades, she has anchored major programs, interviewed top business leaders and politicians, and written books on markets and success. Her career spans CNBC and Fox Business / Fox News, often blending finance, policy, and opinion. As with many high-profile journalists, she has attracted both acclaim and criticism. In this article, we trace her life, her contributions, her controversies, and her most memorable quotes.

Early Life and Family

Maria Sara Bartiromo was born on September 11, 1967 in Brooklyn, New York.

She was raised in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Maria attended Fontbonne Hall Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. New York University (NYU).

During her college years, Maria interned at radio (on Barry Farber’s show) and later at CNN.

In 1999, she married Jonathan Lawrence Steinberg, CEO of WisdomTree Investments and son of financier Saul Steinberg.

Career and Achievements

CNN & Early Career

Maria began her media career in the late 1980s, working as a producer and assignment editor at CNN.

CNBC: Breaking Ground on Wall Street

In 1993, Bartiromo joined CNBC and became a pioneer in financial journalism. Closing Bell, On the Money with Maria Bartiromo, Market Wrap, Business Center, The Business of Innovation, and more.

Over time, she gained reputation for securing interviews with CEOs, central bankers, and influential business leaders.

While at CNBC, she won awards including Emmys for breaking news coverage and business reporting.

Transition to Fox Business / Fox News

In 2013, Bartiromo departed CNBC and joined Fox Business Network as a Global Markets or. Mornings with Maria, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, and Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.

Under Fox, she has increasingly addressed not just markets but policy, economics, and political themes—sometimes from a perspective aligned with conservative views.

Her audience reach grew, and her salary and profile increased accordingly.

Books and Publications

Maria has authored several books, including:

• Use the News: How to Separate the Noise from the Investment Nuggets and Make Money in Any Economy

• The 10 Laws of Enduring Success

• The Weekend That Changed Wall Street

• The Cost: Trump, China, and American Renewal (coauthor)

These works often combine market insights, personal narrative, and advice on navigating economic cycles.

Honors & Roles

Maria Bartiromo has received multiple awards for broadcast journalism (including Emmys) Cable Hall of Fame. Maria Bartiromo Broadcast Journalism Studio at Fontbonne Hall Academy is named after her.

She has served on the board of trustees at NYU and taught as adjunct professor at NYU Stern.

Historical & Cultural Context

Bartiromo’s career unfolded amid massive shifts in media, finance, and politics. She rose as cable news and business news channels expanded, and as real-time financial information became central to global markets. Her live reporting from the NYSE floor coincided with the increasing speed and interconnectivity of markets.

She has also navigated the convergence of journalism and opinion, especially during politically polarized periods where business news and political narratives overlap. Likewise, her movement from CNBC (traditionally more market-focused) to Fox (where politics is more prominent) reflects broader media realignment.

Her adoption of more political stances in later years has made her a subject of public debate, especially as questions of journalistic neutrality and media bias have grown more salient.

Legacy and Influence

Maria Bartiromo’s legacy includes:

• Pioneering role in financial journalism: Her floor reporting and market coverage set a new standard for business news.

• Role model for women in finance media: She overcame a male-dominated field to become one of the most visible financial journalists.

• Influence on media blending of economics and politics: Her current position straddles markets and public policy, influencing how audiences interpret financial news in political context.

• Public figure in high-stakes debates: Her career illustrates both the power and risks of entering politically charged territory as a journalist.

Even as controversies have surfaced, her name remains iconic in business media.

Personality, Strengths & Critiques

Maria is often described as ambitious, driven, and capable of navigating high-pressure live environments. Her ability to secure top interviews and command complex discussions about markets shows tenacity and network influence.

Strengths:

• Access & network: She has built relationships with CEOs, policymakers, and financial leaders.

• On-air composure: She handles fast, volatile environments well.

• Branding & transformation: She has successfully managed her evolution from market reporter to media personality.

Critiques and controversies:

• Her alignment with political views (especially in her Fox years) has raised questions about bias.

• She has been named in defamation lawsuits (e.g. Smartmatic’s suit against Fox) for allegedly amplifying false election fraud claims.

• The “Money Honey” nickname has been criticized as diminishing her professionalism.

Selected Quotes of Maria Bartiromo

Here are a few notable quotes that reflect her views on journalism, finance, and success:

“You have to go where the story is.”
“I’m a free-market capitalist who would like to think that the market can correct itself. Unfortunately, the structures we have in place dropped the ball.”
“The markets are the truth teller of the global economy—even when we want to look away.”
“Great leaders know when to respect the past but also when to take risk and envision a different future.”

(Note: Some of her quotes are paraphrased from interviews and speeches; she speaks frequently in her shows and media appearances.)

Lessons from Maria Bartiromo’s Journey

1. Be bold in breaking new ground
   Her decision to report live from the trading floor transformed business journalism.

2. Adapt and evolve
   She transitioned from markets to policy, from pure journalism to combining opinion and analysis.

3. Build strong networks
   Access to people who run big firms, governments, and finance institutions has been central to her influence.

4. Understand the risks of public alignment
   Crossing into political commentary brings greater scrutiny; journalistic credibility must be guarded.

5. Persistence matters
   Her steady climb in a male-dominated field shows that resilience is essential in media.

Conclusion

Maria Bartiromo’s career is a compelling study in ambition, innovation, influence, and controversy. From her early days in Brooklyn to becoming a pioneer on Wall Street and a prominent voice on national media, she has shaped how the public sees finance and policy. Her journey illustrates both the power and complexity of modern journalism in an era where markets, politics, and media converge.