In a candid and humorous interview, legendary television host Maury Povich has directly addressed long-standing claims that he is a "gold digger" in his marriage to broadcast journalist Connie Chung. The 87-year-old icon, famous for his tabloid talk show Maury, embraced the label with a laugh during a conversation for Interview magazine last week.
A Playful Admission
Speaking with comedian Adam Friedland, 38, Povich was reflecting on his enviable lifestyle, which includes a mansion in Montana, when Friedland quipped that Povich must be a gold digger for marrying Chung. "Absolutely," Povich responded without hesitation. He then revealed a striking financial detail from their early relationship: "My wife was making 10 times what I was making when we got married. How's that?"
The Early Years of Their Union
The couple tied the knot in 1984, a full seven years before Povich skyrocketed to national fame with his own television program. At that time, Connie Chung was already a prominent figure in broadcast journalism, anchoring NBC News at Sunrise and the Saturday edition of NBC Nightly News. In contrast, Povich was working as a reporter and news anchor, a career he had pursued for two decades prior to landing his iconic hosting role.
Their professional paths first crossed briefly in 1969, but it was not until 1977, when they co-anchored a segment for the Los Angeles CBS affiliate KNXT, that their romantic connection truly ignited. They have been together ever since, demonstrating a partnership that extends beyond their personal life into their professional endeavors.
A Supportive Partnership
Throughout their 42-year marriage, Povich has consistently credited Chung as the cornerstone of his success. In a 2022 CBS interview, he famously referred to himself as "Mr. Chung for almost 40 years," and directly linked his national career breakthrough to his marriage. "You could absolutely track that all of my success, my national success, came after I married this woman," he stated. He elaborated that Chung provided stability, encouragement, and unwavering belief in his talents.
Family Life and Recent Collaborations
The couple has built a family together, raising three children: Povich's two daughters from a previous marriage, Susan and Amy, and their adopted son, Matthew. Their professional collaboration continued into the 2000s when they co-anchored MSNBC's weekend news program, Weekends with Maury and Connie, in 2005, although the show was canceled after a year.
In a touching public display of support, Connie Chung presented Maury Povich with the Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Honor in 2023, just one year after his long-running talk show concluded following an impressive 30-season run. More recently, Povich launched a golf-focused podcast titled On Par with Maury Povich, where Chung appeared as the inaugural guest, showcasing their enduring personal and professional bond.
This lighthearted exchange in the interview underscores not just the financial realities of their early marriage, but the deep mutual respect and supportive dynamic that has defined their four-decade-long relationship, proving that behind the joke lies a genuine and successful partnership.
