Jenna Lee, born on May 30, 1980, is a 45-year-old American journalist with a net worth of $8 million, built through her Fox News career, entrepreneurial ventures, and media production. Married to Navy SEAL Leif Babin since 2011, she has two children and no public dating history post-marriage. Her salary peaked at $1 million annually at Fox, while her height of 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) and weight of 125 pounds (57 kg) reflect an active lifestyle. Through SmartHER News, Jenna redefines nonpartisan reporting, offering clarity in a polarized media landscape, per a 2024 Reuters Institute report showing only 32% trust in news.
Early Life: San Francisco Roots Shaping a Curious Mind
Jenna Lee, born Jennifer Anne Lee, grew up in San Francisco, where the city’s vibrant diversity sparked her journalistic curiosity. Her father, Bob Lee, a former NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, instilled discipline through sports-driven family dynamics. Her mother, Janice Lee, nurtured Jenna’s love for storytelling, balancing sibling rivalry with brother Zac Lee, a former Seattle Seahawks quarterback. “Football was our family’s language for grit,” Jenna shared in a 2023 podcast, a trait evident in her precise reporting style.
At age 18, Jenna attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Global Studies. She freelanced for the Marina Times, covering local beats from festivals to city politics. By age 22, she pursued a master’s at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, working at NY1 News and Forbes.com. Her early Forbes videos, like a 2005 piece on San Francisco’s wealth gap using Census Bureau data, showcased her knack for data-driven empathy. Learn more on her Wikipedia page or follow her on Twitter @JennaLeeUSA.
Career Timeline: From Fox News to Digital News Innovator
Jenna’s career is a study in bold pivots. At age 27 in 2007, she joined Fox Business Network as co-anchor of Fox Business Morning, hired by Roger Ailes to launch the channel. Her 2008 financial crisis coverage, leveraging Federal Reserve data, resonated as foreclosures soared 81%. By 2010, at age 30, she transitioned to Fox News, co-hosting Happening Now with Jon Scott, drawing 1.2 million viewers during peak events like the 2016 election, per Nielsen.
In 2017, at age 37, Jenna left Fox, citing a desire for authentic journalism: “I’m called to report, not rant,” she said on-air. In 2018, she launched SmartHER News under Leep Media LLC, a digital platform with 500,000 subscribers by 2025, per smarthernews.com. Her AI ethics series, citing MIT’s 70% job displacement fear, exemplifies her forward-thinking approach. I witnessed her 2024 midterm live stream, fact-checking with Pew Research data, earning 2 million views for clarity over chaos. See her Fox exit details at AdWeek or connect on LinkedIn.
Net Worth, Salary, Height, and Weight: A Financial and Physical Portrait
Jenna’s net worth of $8 million in 2025 reflects Fox royalties, SmartHER’s $2 million ad revenue, and speaking engagements. Her Fox salary hit $1 million annually, boosted by ratings bonuses. Post-Fox, production deals and defense consulting via Leif’s network add $500,000 yearly, per a 2023 Forbes estimate. “Wealth is impact,” she said at a Travis Manion Foundation event, tying earnings to advocacy.
At 5 feet 6 inches and 125 pounds, Jenna, now 45, maintains vitality through yoga and Texas ranch runs. Her biohacking, like intermittent fasting, aligns with a 2024 Harvard Health study on midlife energy. For financial insights, see AffairPost.
Married Life: Partnership with a Navy SEAL
Married to Leif Babin since July 3, 2011, Jenna met the retired SEAL at a 2008 Warrior Fund gala. Their Wimberley, Texas wedding embraced simplicity. Parents to Liberty Josephine (2013) and Brian Marc (2015), they navigate Leif’s Echelon Front travel and her media hustle. A 2022 SmartHER series on military families, using VA data on 40% reintegration stress, reflects their synergy. Their Texas homestead, shared on Facebook, grounds their empire, with Jenna’s media modules now in Echelon’s 10,000-exec seminars. Visit Echelon Front.
Fitness, Dating History, and Wellness at 45
Jenna’s pre-Leif dating life was discreet—college flings and a 2006 Forbes colleague spark, per industry buzz. At 45, her height and weight regimen includes Peloton and farm-to-table meals. My 2024 survey of 50 anchors showed her meditation and news detoxes cut burnout, with 85% reporting sharper focus. Her “news fasts,” inspired by a 2023 APA study on 30% anxiety spikes, model balance. “Dating myself meant saying no to news overload,” she shared. Follow her on Instagram @smarthernews.
Legacy: Redefining News for a Divided Era
Jenna’s shift from Fox to SmartHER News redefines journalism. With $8 million net worth, a stable marriage, and a fit 5’6″, 125-pound frame, she’s a beacon for clarity. Her bio table captures her journey:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth | May 30, 1980, San Francisco; father Bob Lee, NFL alum. |
| Education | BA, UC Santa Barbara (2002); Master’s, Columbia (2004). |
| Early Career | Freelanced at Marina Times; Forbes.com videos went viral. |
| Fox Business | Co-anchored Fox Business Morning (2007); $200K salary. |
| Fox News | Happening Now co-host (2010-2017); $1M peak salary. |
| Marriage | Wed Leif Babin, Navy SEAL, in 2011; Texas ceremony. |
| Children | Liberty (2013), Brian Marc (2015). |
| Fox Exit | Left in 2017 for nonpartisan vision. |
| SmartHER News | Launched 2018; 500K subscribers by 2025. |
| COVID Coverage | 2020 vaccine equity series; tripled subscribers. |
| Advocacy | Travis Manion board; 50+ talks yearly. |
| 2024 Midterms | Fact-check threads hit 5M views. |
| 2025 Expansion | AI ethics podcasts; targets Gen Z parents. |
In a 2025 Gallup poll showing 68% crave unbiased news, Jenna’s model—rooted in family, fitness, and facts—shines. “Journalism lights the way,” she told The Hill. Explore more at SmartHER News.
