Honestly, it feels like we've all grown up with Katie Couric. She was the face of our mornings for years, that perky, sharp journalist who could pivot from hard news to a cooking segment without breaking a sweat. But behind the "America's Sweetheart" persona, her private life has been a rollercoaster of high-profile triumphs and some truly gut-wrenching lows. People often ask, who is Katie Couric married to now? The answer is John Molner, but their story isn’t just a simple Hollywood romance. It’s a second act that almost didn’t happen.
They’ve been together for over a decade. John is a financier, a guy who spent years in the high-stakes world of mergers and acquisitions at Brown Brothers Harriman. He’s Midwestern, originally from Chicago, and according to Katie, he’s got a sense of humor that keeps her grounded. They aren't just partners in life; they are partners in business, too.
The man behind the scenes: Who is John Molner?
John Molner isn't a TV guy. Well, at least he wasn't until he met Katie. Born in January 1963, he’s a few years younger than Couric, a fact she’s joked about more than once. He’s got the classic pedigree: Trinity College for his undergrad and then an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
For a long time, he lived the quiet, successful life of a high-level banker. Then he met Katie in 2012. A mutual friend named Molly Helfet set them up. Interestingly, Katie actually asked Molly to find her a doctor. Molly didn't know any available doctors, but she did know a banker. Katie’s response? "Does he have a pulse?"
It took some badgering for him to finally call her. When they finally met for dinner, she says he "had her at hello." It wasn't some flashy, red-carpet spectacle. It was just two adults who had seen a lot of life finding each other at the right time. They dated for two years before he proposed on a beach in East Hampton during Labor Day weekend in 2013.
They got married in 2014. It was a small, intimate ceremony at her home in the Hamptons. At 57, Katie admitted she felt a little self-conscious being a bride again, but seeing her friends and family—including her two daughters, Ellie and Carrie—changed everything.
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Building a media empire together
These days, you’ll find John’s name on more than just marriage certificates. He’s the CEO of Katie Couric Media (KCM). They founded the company in 2017 because they saw the writing on the wall: traditional news was changing, and brands wanted more "purpose-driven" content.
- John handles the "business-y" side—the strategy and the deals.
- Katie remains the creative force and the face of the brand.
- They produce the Wake-Up Call newsletter, podcasts, and documentaries.
It’s a "Brady Bunch" situation in more ways than one. John brought two children from his previous marriage into the mix, Henry and Allie. Together with Katie’s daughters, they’ve formed this large, blended family that seems remarkably tight-knit.
Why her marriage to John Molner hits differently
To understand why this marriage is so significant, you have to remember Jay Monahan. Jay was Katie’s first husband, a brilliant attorney and legal analyst for NBC. They married in 1989 and were the ultimate power couple of the 90s news world.
Then, tragedy hit. Jay was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1997 and died just nine months later at the age of 42. Katie was left a widow at 41 with two very young children. That loss defined her public advocacy for decades. She even had a colonoscopy on live TV to raise awareness.
For 15 years, Katie didn't remarry. She dated—most notably entrepreneur Brooks Perlin—but nothing stuck. Finding John wasn't just about "moving on." It was about finding someone who respected the space Jay still held in her heart.
In late 2025, Katie shared a throwback photo of her wedding to Jay. She mentioned how John isn't threatened by Jay’s memory. That's a rare kind of security. John reportedly told her that "a heart has space for two people."
Health scares and staying power
Life hasn't been all red carpets and successful business launches for the couple. Shortly before their 2014 wedding, John had a massive health scare. Doctors found a tumor "the size of a coconut" on his liver. He had to have major surgery just months before they said "I do."
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Then, in 2022, Katie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through the surgeries and radiation, she’s been vocal about how John was her rock. It’s a dynamic of mutual support that seems to be the engine of their relationship.
John once said in an interview on their own platform that while he’s proud of Katie, he still thinks of himself as "his own person." He’s not just "Mr. Katie Couric." He’s a guy who likes his own hobbies, his own career path, and clearly, he’s got the business acumen to run a modern media company.
What can we learn from their relationship?
There’s a lot of noise about "finding the one," but Katie and John’s story is more about the "second one." It's about the fact that life doesn't end after a devastating loss or a mid-life divorce.
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- Don't be afraid of the setup. If Katie hadn't badgered her friend about that "banker with a pulse," she might still be single.
- Shared values over shared industries. John wasn't in media, but he understood her drive.
- Communication is everything. They work together and live together; that requires a level of transparency most couples would find suffocating.
If you’re looking to follow in their footsteps—maybe not the "founding a media empire" part, but the "finding a supportive partner" part—take a page from Katie’s book. Stay open. Be willing to laugh at yourself. And remember that it's okay for your heart to have room for the past while you're building a future.
To keep up with what they’re building, you can check out the latest from Katie Couric Media. They’re constantly putting out content that tackles health, aging, and the news of the day with a lot more nuance than your average soundbite.
Next Steps for You:
If you're inspired by Katie's journey of health advocacy, your best move is to schedule those screenings you've been putting off. Whether it's a mammogram or a colonoscopy, early detection is the legacy of her story with both Jay and John. You can also sign up for the Wake-Up Call newsletter to see how this duo is currently reshaping the digital news landscape.