• Virginia Donald is a 54-year-old socialite, television personality, and columnist; best known as the ex-wife of Shepard Smith.
• Virginia Donald's net worth is estimated to be over $2 million.
• She was raised by her parents who were high school teachers in Mississippi.
• Her career ventures include small roles in television series, television commercials, and writing for blogs and magazines.
• She and Shepard Smith were married for 7 years before ending their marriage in 1993.
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Who is Virginia Donald?
Virginia Donald was born in 1966, in Mississippi USA; however, the actual date of her birth is unknown. She is a 54-year-old socialite, television personality, and columnist, but probably best recognized as the now ex-wife of famous journalist and anchor Shepard Smith.
How rich is she, as of now? Virginia Donald Net Worth
As of late 2020, Virginia Donald’s net worth is over $2 million; acquired through her involvement in several endeavors. Moreover, it is assumed that she increased her wealth through the divorce settlement from her ex-husband Shepard Smith, whose net worth is reputedly as high as $30 million.
Early Life, Parents, Nationality, Ethnicity, Religion, Educational Background
Virginia Donald spent her early years in Mississippi, where she was raised by her parents. Although the names of her parents haven’t been revealed in the media, it is known that both of them worked as high school teachers. It is also unknown whether she has siblings or not. Virginia holds American nationality and belongs to White Caucasian ethnic group, and is a Christian. She attended the high school where her parents worked, and upon matriculation, she enrolled into the University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism and Acting, from which she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1988.
Professional Career
Virginia Donald always wanted to become an actress, but her acting career never took off. Early in her career, she auditioned several times for major roles but never had much success. Nonetheless, she landed small roles in television series and short film titles. Besides that, she featured in a number of television commercials for various brands. Virginia subsequently pursued her career as a journalist and columnist, writing for different blogs and magazines.
Relationship with Shepard Smith
Virginia Donald and Shepard Smith met each other while both of them were students, classmates at the University of Mississippi. As the time passed, the two fell in love and became romantically involved, and after dating for some time, they eventually walked down the aisle in 1987.
They were married for seven years, but didn’t have children, and parted their ways and ended their marriage in 1993. The reason for their split remains a mystery.
After more than two decades since their divorce, Shepard Smith opened up about his sexuality and in 2017 admitted that he is a gay. Thereafter, Virginia was often asked by the press to comment on her ex-husband’s sexuality, but has refused to do so.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
Virginia Donald has blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 4ins (1.63m), while her weight is around 145lbs (65kgs), her vital statistics 34-32-37, bra size 32B, and shoe size 7 (US).
Who is Her Ex-Husband? Shepard Smith Short Wiki/Bio
David Shepard Smith Jr. was born on 14 January 1964 under the zodiac sign of Capricorn, in Holly Springs, Mississippi USA.
He was raised by his father, David Shepard Smith Sr., a cotton merchant, and his mother, Dora Ellen Anderson, who worked as an English teacher. He holds American nationality and belongs to White Caucasian ethnicity. Shepard went to Marshall Academy, a K–12 private school in Holly Springs, then following the divorce of his parents, he moved with his mother to Florida, and there completed his high school education. Upon matriculation, he enrolled into the University of Mississippi to study Journalism, but dropped out to take a job, apparently within two credits of graduation.
Career Beginnings
Shepard Smith started pursuing his professional career in the field of journalism as a reporter for WJHG-TV, a dual NBC/CW+-affiliated television station, in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Thereafter, he worked as a reporter for WBBH-TV, affiliated to NBC and located in Fort Myers, which was followed by his stints with WCPX-TV (now WKMG-TV) in Orlando, and WSVN, affiliated to Fox and located in Miami. Subsequently, he was hired to work as a correspondent for the television newsmagazine program “A Current Affair”, aired in syndication and produced by Fox Television Stations. He also worked as a correspondent for News Edge, a service affiliated by Fox.
Rise to Fame and Fox News Channel
Shepard Smith joined the Fox News Channel at its inception in 1996. During his reporting career there, he anchored the evening newscast “The Fox Report With Shepard Smith”, and covered such important events as the O. J. Simpson trial, the death and funeral of Princess Diana, the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, the Columbine High School shooting, the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
In 2003, “The Fox Report” was ranked third overall among the top five cable news programs, while in a TV Guide poll he was named the second most trusted news anchor in the country on both network and cable news. He also anchored “Studio B with Shepard Smith” between 2002 and 2013.
Shepard Smith was then promoted to the position of chief news anchor, and chosen to lead the channel’s breaking news division as its managing editor. He also started hosting the one-hour program “Shepard Smith Reporting”. In October 2019, Shepard announced that he’d decided to leave the channel.
CNBC
In July 2020, he started to work in the positions of chief general news and chief general breaking news anchors for the business news channel CNBC. He also became the host of the primetime general news program “The News With Shepard Smith”.
Film Appearances
In 1997, Shepard made an appearance as himself in the disaster film “Volcano”, directed by Mick Jackson. Furthermore, the video of Shepard anchoring on Fox News Channel covering the March 2003 Iraq war was shown in the political documentary film “Fahrenheit 9/11” in 2004. Besides that, the video of Shepard covering the 2016 U.S. presidential election was used in the drama film “Bombshell”, directed by Jay Roach.
