Ginger Zee ABC News, Bio, Age, Husband, Family, Career, Salary & Net Worth

Who Is Ginger Zee?| Biography

Ginger Zee is an American meteorologist, television personality, author, and chief meteorologist for ABC News. She also appears prominently on Good Morning America. Her energetic forecasting style and storm coverage have made her a recognizable television meteorologist.

Born Ginger Renee Zuidgeest on January 13, 1981, Zee was born in Orange, California. However, she spent much of her childhood in Michigan. Her interest in weather developed after seeing a waterspout over Lake Michigan during childhood. She later turned that fascination into a professional meteorology career.

Zee attended Valparaiso University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. Additionally, she studied mathematics and Spanish while preparing for broadcasting and atmospheric science work. She later earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Her television career included positions at WEYI, WOOD-TV, and WMAQ-TV before she joined ABC News. Zee joined ABC as the weekend meteorologist for Good Morning America. Eventually, she became ABC News chief meteorologist and expanded her reporting across the network.

Throughout her career, Zee has reported from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, blizzards, and other major weather events. Moreover, she combines weather forecasting with reporting about climate science, environmental issues, and extreme weather.

She remained active at ABC News in September 2026, covering Tropical Storm Edouard. Beyond meteorology, Zee competed on Season 22 ofDancing with the Stars and finished third. She has also written books, including the memoir Natural Disaster and the Chasing Helicity STEM series.

In her personal life, Ginger Zee married television personality Ben Aaron in 2014. The couple has two sons, Adrian and Miles. Zee balances her television career with writing, science advocacy, family life, and environmental storytelling.

Ginger Zee Age | How Old Is Ginger Zee?

Ginger Zee is 45 years old as of 2026. She was born on January 13, 1981, in Orange, California. However, she spent much of her childhood in Michigan, where her interest in weather developed. Zee’s age reflects more than two decades of experience in broadcast meteorology. Additionally, she has built a strong career as ABC News’ chief meteorologist. She also appears regularly on Good Morning America. Moreover, Zee continues covering hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms, and climate-related events. At 45, she remains one of the most recognizable meteorologists on American television.

Ginger Zee Height | How Tall Is Ginger Zee?

Ginger Zee stands about 5 feet 6½ inches tall, which equals approximately 1.69 meters. Her height places her near the average range for American women. Additionally, she often appears taller during her television appearances because of footwear and studio presentation. She maintains an active lifestyle while handling demanding weather assignments across the country. Moreover, her height has never limited her adventurous approach to reporting. Zee has covered hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and severe winter storms.

Ginger Zee Ethnicity | What Ethnicity is Ginger Zee?

Ginger Zee is a White American with strong Dutch ancestry and broader European family roots. Her birth name, Ginger Renee Zuidgeest, reflects her Dutch heritage. Her father, Robert Zuidgeest, comes from a Dutch family with close ties to the Netherlands. Additionally, Ginger Zee’s paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands. Her family background also includes reported German and English ancestry through other branches. Zee was born in California and grew up mainly in Michigan. Therefore, her nationality is American, while her ethnic background remains largely European. Her Dutch heritage remains the most clearly documented part of her ancestry.

Ginger Zee Education

Ginger Zee attended Valparaiso University in Indiana, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. She completed her degree in 2002 and prepared for a career in professional weather forecasting. Additionally, her studies included demanding coursework in atmospheric science, mathematics, physics, and weather analysis. Zee later returned to Valparaiso University as an adjunct professor from 2008 to 2011. She shared her professional meteorology experience while continuing her broadcasting career. Moreover, Ginger Zee earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Her education provided the scientific foundation needed for severe weather forecasting and climate reporting. Today, her meteorology education supports her work as ABC News’ chief meteorologist.

Ginger Zee Husband | Is Ginger Zee Married?

Ginger Zee’s husband is Ben Aaron, an American television personality, host, and media professional. His full name is Benjamin Aaron Colonomos. The couple became engaged in August 2013 and married on June 7, 2014. Additionally, their relationship has continued alongside their busy television careers. Ben Aaron has worked across television and entertainment, including hosting and lifestyle programming. Moreover, he occasionally shares humorous family moments and supports Zee’s interests outside meteorology. In May 2026, he even promoted the idea of Zee hosting a gardening television show. Ginger Zee and Ben Aaron have two sons, Adrian and Miles. As of September 2026, the couple remains married and continues raising their family together.

Ginger Zee Children | How Many Kids does Ginger Zee have?

Ginger Zee has two children with her husband, Ben Aaron. The couple shares two sons named Adrian Benjamin Colonomos and Miles Macklin Colonomos. Ginger welcomed Adrian in December 2015, making him the couple’s first child. Additionally, she gave birth to Miles on February 9, 2018. Ginger Zee often speaks warmly about motherhood and her experiences raising two boys. Moreover, she has discussed balancing parenting with her demanding career at ABC News. Her early morning schedule sometimes requires creative ways to stay connected with her children. Zee has also shared family moments during interviews and television appearances. As of 2026, her children, Adrian and Miles, remain an important part of her family life.

Ginger Zee Family | Parents and Siblings

Ginger Zee was born to parents Robert Zuidgeest and Dawn Zuidgeest in Orange, California. Her birth name is Ginger Renee Zuidgeest, which reflects her Dutch family heritage. However, her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother later remarried. Ginger grew up mainly in Michigan and remained connected to a blended family. She has brothers, including Sean Jeffrey Zuidgeest and Walter “Wally” Zuidgeest. Additionally, she has stepfamily members through her mother’s second marriage. Ginger later created her own family with television personality Ben Aaron, whom she married in 2014. The couple has two sons, Adrian and Miles. Today, Ginger Zee balances her ABC News career with family life and motherhood.

Ginger Zee ABC News, Meteorology and Television Career

Ginger Zee began her meteorology career after earning a degree from Valparaiso University. She first worked in Michigan, gaining experience with local weather forecasting. Early roles included work with WLAV-FM and WXMI in Grand Rapids. She later joined WEYI-TV in Flint from 2003 until 2005. Afterward, Zee joined WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, where she worked with Storm Team 8.

She covered weather while also reporting environmental and science stories. Her career advanced again when she joined WMAQ-TV in Chicago in 2006. Additionally, she occasionally filled in on NBC and MSNBC programs. Zee joined ABC News in 2011 as the weekend meteorologist for Good Morning America. Her strong reporting eventually earned her the chief meteorologist position.

Today, Ginger Zee serves as ABC News’ chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent. She also remains a major presence on Good Morning America. Throughout her ABC career, Zee has covered hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, blizzards, and other severe weather events.

Moreover, she reports on climate change, environmental science, and extreme weather. Her 2026 assignments included severe storms, flooding, heat, and Tropical Storm Edouard. Beyond forecasting, Zee has written books and appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Her career combines meteorology, science communication, climate reporting, television, and education.

Ginger Zee Books

Ginger Zee has written memoirs and children’s books focused on weather, science, personal growth, and storytelling. Her books include:

  • Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One
  • A Little Closer to Home: How I Found the Calm After the Storm
  • Chasing Helicity: Force of Nature
  • Chasing Helicity: Into the Wind
  • Chasing Helicity: Through the Storm

Additionally, the Chasing Helicity series introduces younger readers to meteorology through adventure and science. Zee uses the books to make weather topics more accessible and engaging. Meanwhile, her memoirs explore her television career, relationships, challenges, and personal experiences. Overall, Zee’s books expand her work beyond ABC News and strengthen her role as a science communicator and author.

Ginger Zee Salary

Ginger Zee earns an estimated annual salary of about $500,000 from her television career. This estimate reflects her senior position and long experience in national broadcasting. Zee serves as ABC News’ chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent. Additionally, she appears regularly on Good Morning America and other ABC platforms. Her responsibilities include severe weather coverage, climate reporting, live broadcasts, and special assignments. Moreover, Ginger Zee may earn additional income from books, speaking engagements, television appearances, and other media projects. Overall, her salary reflects her prominent role within American broadcast meteorology.

Ginger Zee Net Worth

Ginger Zee’s net worth is estimated at about $2.5 million to $3 million in 2026. She has accumulated her wealth through years of national television work and other professional ventures. Beyond weather broadcasting, Zee has expanded her earnings through published books, public speaking, branded opportunities, and television appearances. Her memoirs and children’s titles have also strengthened her profile outside journalism. Additionally, her long-running presence on major ABC programs has increased her value as a media personality. Zee’s financial success reflects a career built across meteorology, publishing, science communication, and entertainment. Her diversified work continues to support her overall wealth.

Biography Summary

Category Details
Full Name Ginger Renee Zuidgeest
Known As Ginger Zee
Date of Birth January 13, 1981
Age 45 years old as of 2026
Birthplace Orange, California, United States
Nationality American
Ethnicity White American with Dutch and broader European ancestry
Height About 5 feet 6½ inches (1.69 m)
Education Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, Valparaiso University
Profession Meteorologist, television personality, author
Current Role ABC News Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent
Known For Good Morning America, severe weather coverage, climate reporting
Husband Ben Aaron
Marriage Date June 7, 2014
Children Adrian Benjamin Colonomos and Miles Macklin Colonomos
Parents Robert Zuidgeest and Dawn Zuidgeest
Siblings Sean Jeffrey Zuidgeest and Walter “Wally” Zuidgeest
Notable Books Natural Disaster, A Little Closer to Home, Chasing Helicity series
Estimated Salary Around $500,000 annually
Estimated Net Worth About $2.5 million to $3 million
Years Active Early 2000s–present
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