In the world of high-stakes media, most relationships have the shelf life of a carton of milk. You see it constantly. One partner is chasing a lead in a war zone while the other is climbing a corporate ladder in New York, and eventually, the distance—physical or emotional—just snaps the bond. But then there’s Soledad O'Brien and husband Brad Raymond.
They’ve been married since 1995. Think about that for a second. In celebrity years, three decades is basically a century.
Honestly, it's kinda rare to find a couple in the public eye who manages to stay so low-key while doing such high-impact work. While Soledad was busy becoming one of the most recognizable faces in journalism—anchoring at NBC, CNN, and HBO—Brad was quietly navigating the shark-infested waters of Wall Street. They aren't the type of couple you'll find plastered across every tabloid for drama. Instead, they’ve built a massive life together based on a shared obsession with education and a pretty remarkable ability to juggle four kids.
The Banker and the Broadcaster: How They Work
So, who is Brad Raymond exactly? Basically, he’s the financial powerhouse to Soledad’s media empire. While she’s the CEO of Soledad O'Brien Productions, Brad is a heavy hitter in the investment banking world. He’s spent years as the Global Head of Investment Banking at Stifel. Before that, he was putting in work at big names like Morgan Stanley and Thomas Weisel Partners.
He's a Harvard guy. So is she (though she famously finished her degree years later after starting her career).
👉 See also: Patricia Neal and Gary Cooper: The Affair That Nearly Broke Hollywood
You’d think a marriage between a hard-charging journalist and a top-tier investment banker would be a recipe for a "power couple" disaster. Too much ego, not enough time. But they’ve managed to create a synergy that actually works. Brad isn't just a husband in the background; he’s a strategic partner. He serves on the board of their joint philanthropic ventures, and he’s often the one crunching the numbers to make sure their "Starfish" dreams actually have the funding to survive.
Why the "Starfish" Foundation Changed Everything
A lot of people ask what the turning point was for them as a couple. It wasn't a fancy gala or a career promotion. It was Hurricane Katrina.
Soledad was on the ground in New Orleans, reporting on the absolute devastation. It was one of those moments that breaks a person. She didn’t just want to tell the story; she wanted to help. She called Brad. They didn't just send a check to a random charity. Together, they started the PowHERful Foundation (formerly the Starfish Foundation).
- The Mission: Helping young women get "to and through" college.
- The Approach: It’s not just about tuition; it’s about mentorship and wrap-around support.
- The Scale: They’ve helped dozens of young women graduate who otherwise would have been left behind.
Watching them talk about the foundation, you realize this is the glue. They aren't just raising kids together; they’re raising a whole generation of scholars. Brad’s banking expertise ensures the foundation stays solvent, while Soledad’s platform brings in the visibility.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With the Death of John Candy: A Legacy of Laughter and Heartbreak
Raising Four Kids in the Spotlight
Let's talk about the family. They have four children: two daughters, Sofia and Cecilia, and twin sons, Charles and Jackson.
Raising twins is a nightmare for anyone. Raising twins while you’re hosting American Morning and your husband is closing multi-million dollar deals? That’s next-level chaos. Soledad has been very open about the fact that she doesn't believe in "balance." She thinks it's a myth.
She's right.
Instead, they focus on presence. When they are home, they are home. They’ve built a life that prioritizes their kids' education and heritage. It’s a busy household, for sure. You’ve got a mix of Irish, Australian, and Afro-Cuban backgrounds all colliding under one roof. They’ve made it a point to ensure their kids understand the struggle their grandparents went through—like Soledad’s parents, who had to marry in D.C. because interracial marriage was illegal in Maryland at the time.
🔗 Read more: Is There Actually a Wife of Tiger Shroff? Sorting Fact from Viral Fiction
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
People assume that because they are successful, everything has been easy. It hasn't.
Brad and Soledad have navigated the shifting landscape of their respective industries for years. When Soledad left CNN to start her own production company, it was a huge risk. When the banking world crashed in 2008, Brad was right in the middle of it. They’ve survived the volatility by being each other’s "safe harbor."
There’s also this misconception that Brad is just "the husband." In reality, he's a highly sought-after advisor who understands the intersection of technology and finance better than almost anyone in his field. He’s a Trustee for the Westminster School and deeply involved in his own right. They are two separate, high-performing orbits that happen to share a center.
Actionable Insights from the O'Brien-Raymond Playbook
If you're looking at their relationship and wondering how they do it, here are a few things we can actually learn:
- Shared Mission Trumps Everything: They don't just share a bank account; they share a cause. Find something bigger than your own careers to work on together.
- Define Your Roles: Brad handles the "how" (the finance and structure), and Soledad handles the "why" and "what" (the storytelling and vision).
- Reject the Balance Myth: Stop trying to make every day a perfect 50/50 split. Some weeks the job wins; some weeks the family wins. As long as it averages out over the year, you’re doing fine.
- Legacy over Luxury: While they live well, their focus is consistently on the scholarship girls and their children’s education.
To stay updated on their latest philanthropic efforts or to see how Soledad is changing the documentary landscape, you should follow the PowHERful Foundation’s annual summits. They frequently host events that offer a transparent look at how they manage their time and resources to help the next generation of leaders.