Maria Bartiromo spent more than 12 years as one of the most recognizable faces at Fox News and Fox Business.
Then, after disappearing from the air for several weeks, she was suddenly gone.
On September 3, 2026, Fox News Media announced that Bartiromo was no longer with the company, effective immediately. The network did not initially explain why it had parted ways with the veteran anchor, whose shows included Mornings with Maria, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street and Sunday Morning Futures.
The announcement immediately triggered speculation about what had happened behind the scenes.
Within a day, reports pointed to an internal dispute involving confidential Fox communications and the White House. Bartiromo’s attorney, however, strongly disputed reports that she had been fired or was no longer a Fox employee.
The departure has also brought renewed attention to the legal controversies surrounding Bartiromo’s years at Fox, including the $787.5 million Dominion Voting Systems settlement and the still-pending Smartmatic defamation case.
Here is what is known so far.
Fox Announced Maria Bartiromo’s Departure Without Explaining Why
Fox News Media announced on September 3 that Bartiromo was “no longer with FOX News Media” and thanked her for her work over the previous 12 and a half years. The company did not initially provide a reason for the decision.
The programming changes took effect immediately.
Mornings with Maria was replaced by Mornings with FOX Business, while Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street was renamed FBN’s Wall Street. Her Sunday program, Sunday Morning Futures, was assigned a temporary replacement while Fox searched for a permanent host.
The timing was particularly noticeable because Bartiromo had already been absent from the air since early August. Her final broadcast was reported to have aired on August 9, weeks before Fox publicly announced the separation.
Fox later described the move only as a “business decision,” offering no further public explanation.
Reports Linked the Exit to an Internal Fox Communication
The first detailed explanation for Bartiromo’s departure came from reporting based initially on unnamed sources familiar with the situation.
According to those reports, Bartiromo allegedly shared internal Fox Business guidance with people connected to the White House. The guidance reportedly concerned how her program should handle President Donald Trump’s claims about the 2020 election.
Peter Navarro, a senior Trump adviser, told Puck that Bartiromo had sent him a screenshot of internal Fox guidance after he had been scheduled to appear on Mornings with Maria. According to reporting on Navarro’s comments, the guidance instructed the program not to pursue certain election-related claims on air.
That confirmation does not establish exactly why Fox decided to end its relationship with Bartiromo.
Fox itself has not publicly said that the internal communication was the reason for her departure. It has continued to describe the move as a business decision.
Bartiromo’s Lawyer Disputed Claims That She Was Fired
The situation became more complicated on September 4.
Bryan Freedman, Bartiromo’s attorney, issued a statement rejecting reports that she had been fired or was no longer employed by Fox.
Freedman said those claims were “absolutely and unequivocally false” and stated that they had evidence and witnesses that could eventually become public “through the courthouse or otherwise.”
His statement created a direct conflict with Fox’s public announcement that Bartiromo was no longer with Fox News Media.
As of September 5, neither side has publicly provided details about the exact contractual or legal status underlying the disagreement. There has also been no publicly filed court case, at least based on the current reporting, detailing a legal dispute between Bartiromo and Fox over her departure.
That means two separate questions remain open: why Fox made the decision, and what Bartiromo’s lawyer means when he says she remains an employee.
How Maria Bartiromo Became One of Fox’s Biggest Names
Bartiromo did not begin her career as a political commentator.
She became nationally known through financial journalism, particularly during her years at CNBC. She was widely recognized for her reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and became the first journalist to report live daily from the exchange.
Her career background is detailed by the National Italian American Foundation, which notes her work in business journalism and her rise as one of the most recognizable financial television reporters in the United States.
After leaving CNBC, Bartiromo joined Fox Business Network in 2014. Her role eventually expanded beyond markets and economics into politics, and she became one of the network’s most prominent interviewers.
Her interviews with Donald Trump, particularly after the 2020 election, later placed her broadcasts at the center of major legal disputes involving Fox.
The Dominion Lawsuit and the $787.5 Million Settlement
One of the biggest legal stories connected to Bartiromo’s Fox career involved Dominion Voting Systems.
Dominion sued Fox News over false claims aired after the 2020 presidential election. Bartiromo’s broadcasts were among the programs examined during the litigation.
The case was scheduled to proceed to trial in April 2023, but Fox and Dominion reached a settlement before a jury could decide the case.
Fox agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million. The settlement resolved the lawsuit without a trial verdict.
The legal significance of the settlement was substantial. Discovery in the case had exposed internal communications involving Fox executives and hosts, while the litigation raised broader questions about defamation law and the responsibilities of media organizations.
Under U.S. defamation law, a public-figure plaintiff generally faces a demanding legal standard and must prove the required level of fault. The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan established the “actual malice” standard for public officials, requiring proof that a false statement was made with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.
Dominion’s case against Fox ended through settlement, so the jury never reached a final verdict applying that standard to the claims at issue.
The Smartmatic Case Is Still Not Over
The Dominion settlement did not end Fox’s legal problems arising from its 2020 election coverage.
Smartmatic, another election technology company, filed its own multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit against Fox, Fox Corporation and several Fox personalities.
Bartiromo was among the prominent figures named in connection with the litigation.
Unlike the Dominion case, the Smartmatic lawsuit remains unresolved. Recent reporting continues to describe the case as pending, meaning there has been no final judgment determining liability against Bartiromo or the other defendants.
The case has involved extensive discovery and procedural disputes, and its eventual outcome could come through a settlement, dismissal or trial.
That distinction is important because the Dominion settlement and the Smartmatic lawsuit are separate legal proceedings involving different plaintiffs and claims.
What Happens to Bartiromo’s Shows Now?
Fox has already moved forward with replacing Bartiromo’s programming.
Her weekday morning program is now operating under the name Mornings with FOX Business with rotating anchors. Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street has also been rebranded as FBN’s Wall Street.
Jason Chaffetz was scheduled to temporarily host Sunday Morning Futures while Fox determined its longer-term plans for the program.
The speed of the programming changes indicates that Fox had prepared to continue the shows without Bartiromo rather than canceling the time slots entirely.
What Happens Next?
The immediate future depends partly on whether the disagreement between Fox and Bartiromo’s legal team develops into a formal dispute.
Fox has publicly maintained that Bartiromo is no longer with Fox News Media. Her attorney has publicly rejected reports that she was fired or is no longer an employee and has suggested that evidence could emerge through legal proceedings.
At the same time, the Smartmatic litigation remains pending, keeping Bartiromo connected to one of the major unresolved legal consequences of Fox’s 2020 election coverage.
For now, her departure marks the end of her on-air role across Fox News and Fox Business, but the circumstances surrounding that separation may not yet be fully settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Maria Bartiromo?
Maria Bartiromo was born on September 11, 1967. As of September 5, 2026, she is 58 years old and will celebrate her 59th birthday later this month.
Is Maria Bartiromo married?
Yes. Maria Bartiromo is married to businessman Jonathan Steinberg. The couple married in 1999 and have largely kept their personal life away from public attention.
What is Maria Bartiromo’s net worth?
Maria Bartiromo’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Forbes reported that court documents showed she earned approximately $70 million during her years working at Fox.
Does Maria Bartiromo wear a wig?
There is no credible public evidence confirming that Maria Bartiromo wears a wig. The claim appears to stem from online speculation and has not been publicly confirmed by her.
