Ginger Zee is an American television personality and chief meteorologist for ABC News. With her meteorology expertise and on-screen presence, she has become a prodigious figure in the broadcasting industry.
Known for her accurate weather forecasts and engaging delivery, Ginger has garnered a loyal following who rely on her for the latest weather updates.
File
- Full Name: Ginger Renee Colonomos
- Other name: Ginger Zee
- Date of birth: January 13, 1981
- Age: 42 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Orange, California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: TV presenter, meteorologist
- Parents: Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft and Robert Zuidgeest
- Siblings: Adrianna Craft and Elaina Craft (half-sisters)
- Spouse: Ben Aaron (married 2014)
- Children: Adrian Benjamin Colonomos, Miles Macklin Colonomos
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $3 million
Early life and education
Ginger Zee, now 42, was born in Orange, California, on January 13, 1981. Her parents, Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft and Robert Zuidgeest, moved to Michigan when Ginger was one year old. Ginger’s father, who is Dutch, named her after “Ginger” from Gilligan’s Island, as he was a fan of the show.
She grew up with her stepfather Carl Craft, two half-sisters, Adrianna and Elaina Craft, and her immediate sister, Sara Haines.
Ginger’s maternal grandparents were George Joseph Hemleb and Paula Adeline Wesner. In contrast, her paternal grandparents were Adriaan Cornelis “Adrian” or “Arie” Zuidgeest and Hillegonda “Hilda” Zuidgeest, people who immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands.
Ginger developed a passion for meteorology at a young age. When she was eight years old, she witnessed a tornado over Lake Michigan, which left her fascinated and fascinated by weather.
After graduating from Rockford High School in Michigan in 1999, Ginger attended Valparaiso University.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in meteorology and minored in mathematics and Spanish.
Personal life
Ginger Zee has been open about her struggles since she was diagnosed with narcolepsy at the age of 21. Despite this, she persevered and achieved great success in her career.
In August 2013, Ginger became engaged to Benjamin Aaron Colonomos, better known as Ben Aaron, a WNBC personality. They were married on June 7, 2014.
The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Adrian Benjamin Colonomos, in December 2015. In August 2017, Ginger announced on Good Morning America that she was expecting her second child.
In February 2018, she gave birth to another son, Miles Macklin Colonomos. The family currently resides in Rockland County, New York.
Career
Ginger Zee’s meteorology career began right after graduating from college. She worked for various media outlets, including WEYI-TV in Flint, Michigan; WYIN-TV in Merrillville, Indiana; WLAV-FM and WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan; WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama, and WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois.
During her time at WMAQ from 2006 to 2011, Ginger got her big break. She was asked to be a guest meteorologist on the weekend edition of The Today Show, fulfilling her high school goal.
In 2011, Ginger Zee joined Good Morning America Weekend, a show that catapulted her to national prominence. She became chief meteorologist for the Good Morning America network and weather editor for ABC News in 2013, succeeding Sam Champion.
Ginger’s weather forecasting expertise and engaging on-screen presence have made her a trusted source for viewers looking for accurate information on weather conditions. She has also appeared on other ABC programs, such as Nightline and ABC World News Tonight.
In addition to her meteorology career, Ginger Zee has also ventured into other areas of entertainment. In 2015, she appeared on an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy!, competing against Bellamy Young and Josh Gad.
Furthermore, Ginger showcased her dancing skills as a celebrity contestant on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars season 22 in 2016. She was paired with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy and finished third.
Net worth
Ginger Zee has achieved considerable success throughout her career as a meteorologist and television presenter.
With her extensive experience and popularity, she has amassed an estimated net worth of around $3 million.
Social media
- Instagram: @ginger_zee
- Twitter: @Ginger_Zee
