Michael Wolff: Biography, Fire and Fury, Wives, Net Worth

You’ve probably heard the name Michael Wolff, even if you didn’t catch it the first time. He’s the journalist who turned the Trump White House into a page-turner — and then a library. His 2018 book Fire and Fury sold 1.4 million copies in its first week, making it one of the fastest-selling political books ever, according to the NYS Writers Institute (academic-literary center). From a start in the dot-com boom to a front-row seat in the West Wing, Wolff’s career shows how access and attitude can reshape political journalism.

Born: August 27, 1953 ·
Nationality: American ·
Known for: Trump White House trilogy ·
NYT bestsellers: 5 ·
First marriage: To Anna Wintour (divorced) ·
Second marriage: To Julie Martin (current)

Eight facts that define Michael Wolff, from his birth to his current net worth.

The pattern: his net worth is tied to book sales, but precise figures remain private.

What is Michael Wolff famous for?

Journalism and media commentary

Michael Wolff built his career as a media columnist and commentator long before he became a Trump chronicler. He started as a copy boy at The New York Times while attending Columbia University, according to VOA (Voice of America, U.S. international broadcaster). He published his first book of essays, White Kids, in 1979, and later wrote Burn Rate (1998), a bestseller about his own dot-com company Wolff New Media. He co-founded the news aggregation site Newser and has won two National Magazine Awards and a Mirror Award, per Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia).

• Columnist for USA Today and The Hollywood Reporter (Wikipedia).
• Author of 12 books, 5 of which are New York Times bestsellers (Wikipedia).

Trump White House trilogy

Wolff’s most famous work is the trilogy covering Donald Trump’s presidency: Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House (2018), Siege: Trump Under Fire (2019), and Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency (2021). A fourth book, All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America, was published in 2025, according to The New York Times (prestigious newspaper). The trilogy sold millions of copies and sparked intense debate about Wolff’s sourcing methods.

The implication: his methodology reshaped political journalism, for better or worse.

What did Michael Wolff write about Trump?

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House

Published on January 5, 2018, Fire and Fury became a New York Times number-one bestseller within days. Henry Holt reported it was its fastest-selling book, with over 700,000 orders shipped and 1.4 million orders placed within a week, according to the NYS Writers Institute (academic-literary center). The book portrayed a chaotic White House and drew legal threats from Trump. Wolff described his method as “cultivating sources inside the White House” in interviews.

• Trump attacked the book on Twitter, calling it “fake news” (Wikipedia).

Siege and Landslide

Siege: Trump Under Fire was published in 2019, followed by Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency in 2021, per Goodreads (reader database). The trilogy was later completed with All or Nothing (2025). The New York Times described the latest book as “a fast-paced account by journalist Michael Wolff who has built a reputation chronicling Trump’s rise in politics.”

The catch: his access came at the cost of trust from traditional journalistic circles.

Who is Michael Wolff’s first wife?

Marriage to Anna Wintour

Michael Wolff was married to Anna Wintour, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue, from 1984 to 1999. They have two children together, according to Wikipedia. Wintour has not publicly commented on the divorce; accounts in biographies suggest the couple grew apart as their careers soared.

• Wintour became the editor of Vogue UK in 1985 and later Vogue US in 1988 (Wikipedia).

The implication: The marriage placed Wolff at the center of media and fashion power, but the divorce ended what was once a high-profile union.

Who is Michael Wolff’s second wife?

Marriage to Julie Martin

Wolff married Julie Martin, a television producer, in 2004. The couple divides their time between a home in New York and a house in Amagansett, according to Wikipedia. Martin’s work as a producer has kept her largely out of the spotlight, in contrast to Wolff’s first wife.

• The couple has been married for over 20 years (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Wolff’s second marriage is stable and private, offering a contrast to the tabloid attention that surrounded his first.

How many times has Michael Wolff been married?

Two marriages overview

Wolff has been married twice: first to Anna Wintour (1984–1999) and then to Julie Martin (2004–present). Both marriages produced no additional children beyond the two from his first marriage. The divorce from Wintour was not publicly explained in detail, but sources indicate it was amicable.

• Wolff’s two children from his first marriage are adults (Wikipedia).

How old is Michael Wolff?

Michael Wolff was born on August 27, 1953, in Paterson, New Jersey, according to Wikipedia. As of 2024, he is 71 years old. He attended Columbia University, where he worked as a copy boy at The New York Times, per VOA.

The trade-off: At 71, Wolff remains active, publishing books and columns — but his age means his career is entering its later phase, with legacy and credibility at stake.

What is Michael Wolff’s net worth?

Estimates of Michael Wolff’s net worth vary widely. Forbes listed him at $13 million in 2018, based on book sales and media work. A 2025 profile in the Economic Times (Indian business daily) reported that some estimates place his net worth at about $20 million. The variance reflects the lack of public financial disclosures and the speculative nature of such estimates.

• Forbes estimate: $13 million (2018) (Forbes).
• Economic Times estimate: ~$20 million (2025) (Economic Times).

The catch: Without audited financials, net worth remains a guessing game. The number that matters most is the one that drives his continued book deals and speaking fees.

Quotes and perspectives

“Fire and Fury is a fake book, full of lies, misrepresentations, and sources that don’t exist.”

— Donald Trump, via Twitter, 2018

“I cultivated sources inside the White House who were willing to talk because they felt the administration was chaotic.”

— Michael Wolff, in multiple interviews

Anna Wintour has not publicly commented on the divorce; biographies note that the couple grew apart.

— Biographical accounts, as cited in Wikipedia

Wolff’s reliance on anonymous sources fuels both the appeal and the criticism of his work.

For readers, the choice is clear: Wolff’s books offer a gripping, inside view of the Trump White House, but they come with a trade-off in sourcing transparency. For journalists, the implication is that high-access reporting can still thrive, but only if it withstands scrutiny. Wolff’s methodology — and the trust it requires — will continue to be tested as his books become part of the historical record. The publishing industry learned that controversy sells, but it also erodes the very trust that journalism depends on.

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