Joe Kernan

Joseph Richard Kernen was born on January 6, 1956, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, graduating in 1974. Kernen pursued higher education at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He furthered his academic career by obtaining a master’s degree in molecular biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His master’s thesis focused on cancer research. Prior to his career in television, Kernen worked for ten years as a stockbroker.

Kernen’s media career began when he joined Financial News Network (FNN). In 1991, he transitioned to CNBC following the merger between FNN and CNBC. In 1995, Kernen became the co-host of ‘Squawk Box,’ CNBC’s flagship morning program. ‘Squawk Box’ is known for its fast-paced coverage of Wall Street and has been a long-running show on the network, where Kernen continues to co-anchor, providing daily insights into financial markets and business news. His personal life includes marriage to Penelope Scott Kernen, a former commodities trader, whom he married in 1998.