If you’ve spent any time watching the nightly news landscape shift lately, you probably recognize Leland Vittert. He’s the guy on NewsNation who manages to look remarkably calm while dissecting the most chaotic political stories of the day. But for a long time, there was a massive question mark hanging over his personal life. People kept asking: is Leland Vittert married? For years, the answer was a simple "no." He was the consummate bachelor, a journalist whose passport was more crowded than his social calendar. He spent over a decade at Fox News, often reporting from the middle of war zones in Libya or the streets of Jerusalem. Honestly, when you’re ducking for cover in a riot, you aren't exactly worried about wedding planning.
Everything changed on June 7, 2025.
Leland Vittert is officially off the market. He married Rachel Putnam in a ceremony that was basically the opposite of the high-decibel, high-stress news world he inhabits every night. It wasn't some massive, televised gala. It was small. It was intimate. It was, according to those there, exactly what he needed.
The San Ysidro Ranch Affair: Where Leland Vittert Got Married
The wedding took place at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. If that name sounds familiar, it's because it’s the same spot where legends like JFK and Jackie spent their honeymoon. It’s also where Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger tied the knot. It’s tucked away, lush, and incredibly private.
Vittert and Putnam didn't want a circus. They invited just 65 guests.
"We wanted to feel like this was a great party with friends rather than something all about us," Vittert told People magazine shortly after the nuptials.
They kept it "garden formal." Think effortless elegance rather than stuffy tuxedos. Interestingly, they didn't even have a traditional wedding party. No bridesmaids in matching dresses or groomsmen in a row. They just walked down the aisle together. It’s a move that feels very "Vittert"—breaking the standard format to do what actually makes sense.
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A Champagne Ceremony
Most weddings have a ceremony that feels like it lasts an eternity. Not this one. Leland and Rachel reportedly told their guests they wanted the ceremony to last "no more than one glass of champagne."
As guests walked into the garden, they were handed a cold glass of bubbly. By the time that glass was empty, the couple was officially husband and wife.
The ring bearer was perhaps the most important guest of all: their dog, Dutch. He carried the rings on a pillow that Vittert’s own grandmother had made for his parents’ wedding decades ago. It was a nice bridge between the past and the future.
Who Is Rachel Putnam?
Naturally, everyone wants to know who managed to tie down the man who seemed married to his career. Rachel Putnam isn't in the news business, which is probably why they work so well together. She is a successful entrepreneur and the co-founder of OMG Accessories.
The two actually met during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a classic "friend of a friend" setup. A college buddy of Leland's showed him a photo of Rachel and literally told him, "I found your wife."
Turns out, that friend was a bit of a prophet.
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They got engaged in September 2023. It happened in Ireland, in the gardens of Adare Manor. Leland used Rachel’s mother’s anniversary ring to propose—a ring Rachel used to try on for fun when she was a little girl. Talk about a full-circle moment.
The News Nobody Knew: Autism and The Memoir
You can't really talk about Leland Vittert’s marriage or his life in 2026 without mentioning his memoir, Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism.
Released in late 2025, the book was a massive bombshell for the media industry. For his entire career, Vittert had kept a secret: he is autistic.
He didn’t speak until he was three years old. He struggled with eye contact and social cues—things that seem impossible for a guy who now talks to millions of people for a living. The book details how his father, Mark Vittert, essentially quit his job to coach Leland on how to navigate the "neurotypical" world.
This context makes his marriage to Rachel even more significant. Vittert spent much of his life feeling like he didn't fit in. He was bullied. He was called "weird" by a school principal. To find a partner like Rachel and build a life that includes a "garden formal" wedding in Montecito is a pretty incredible arc.
Why People Are Still Searching for His Status
Even though the wedding was covered by People, fans still search "is Leland Vittert married" constantly. Why?
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Part of it is his vibe on On Balance. He’s private. He doesn't spend twenty minutes talking about his weekend on air. He’s there to do the news. In a world where every news anchor is trying to be an influencer, Vittert’s old-school approach to privacy actually makes people more curious.
Plus, there was a bit of confusion in the "relatives" section of his biography for a while. His sister, Liberty Vittert, is a well-known TV chef and data scientist. People often see the name "Vittert" and get their wires crossed about who is who.
Quick Facts: The Vittert-Putnam Timeline
- 2020: Met through mutual friends during the pandemic.
- Sept 2023: Engaged at Adare Manor, Ireland.
- June 7, 2025: Married at San Ysidro Ranch.
- Late 2025: Leland releases his memoir Born Lucky.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to keep up with Leland’s career and personal milestones, here’s how to do it without falling for "clickbait" rumors:
- Watch NewsNation: He hosts On Balance with Leland Vittert. He occasionally drops small personal anecdotes here, though they are rare.
- Read "Born Lucky": If you want the real story of his life—including his struggles with social connection and how he met Rachel—the book is the only source that actually comes from him.
- Check Official Profiles: His NewsNation bio is updated regularly with his "Chief Washington Anchor" status and recent career achievements.
The bottom line is that Leland Vittert is very much a married man. He and Rachel are currently navigating their first year of marriage while he continues to be one of the most unique voices in cable news. It took him 42 years to get to the altar, but by all accounts, he waited for the right person.
Now that the mystery is solved, you can focus on his reporting—or maybe go buy his book to see how a kid who couldn't speak at age three ended up as one of the most articulate guys on television. It’s a hell of a story.