Robert Peston Biography: Books, Wife, Children, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Ethnicity, TV

Robert Peston is a British journalist, broadcaster, and author best known for his sharp political and economic analysis.

Born on April 25, 1960, in London, he rose to prominence as the BBC’s Business Editor during the 2008 financial crisis and is now the Political Editor of ITV News and host of the weekly current affairs show Peston.

Profile

• Full Name: Robert James Kenneth Peston
• Stage Name: Robert Peston
• Born: April 25, 1960
• Age: 65 years old
• Birthplace: London, England
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: Journalist, Broadcaster, Author
• Height: 6 feet (1.83 m)
• Parent: Maurice Peston (father), Helen Conroy Peston (mother)
• Siblings: Juliet Peston
• Spouse: Sian Busby (late wife)
• Children: Maximilian Peston, Simon Peston, Max Peston
• Partner: Charlotte Edwardes
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Robert Peston was born on April 25, 1960, in London, England. He is 65 years old. He was born into a Jewish family, though he has described himself as not religiously observant. His ethnicity is White British, and he comes from a highly intellectual background.

His father, Maurice Peston, was a distinguished economist and a Labour life peer, known as Lord Peston of Mile End. His mother was Helen Conroy. Robert has one sibling, a sister named Juliet Peston.

He attended Highgate School, a prestigious independent school in North London. After completing his secondary education, he went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Balliol College, Oxford University. He later pursued further education at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.

Career

Robert Peston began his journalism career in the early 1980s, working at The Investors Chronicle before moving to The Independent newspaper. He later joined the Financial Times, where he spent over a decade covering business, politics, and finance.

At the FT, he served in several key roles, including Political Editor, Banking Editor, and Financial Editor, gaining a reputation for sharp economic insights and well-researched reporting.

His national prominence soared when he became the BBC’s Business Editor in 2006. During the 2008 global financial crisis, Peston played a central role in covering the collapse of major banks and economic fallout.

His scoops on the Northern Rock crisis and developments involving RBS and HBOS made headlines, earning him public recognition and several awards. He later became the BBC’s Economics Editor.

In 2015, Peston left the BBC and joined ITV News as Political Editor. Around the same time, he launched Peston on Sunday, a weekly political affairs show, which was later renamed simply Peston.

The program features interviews with political leaders, expert analysis, and audience interaction. His reporting has remained influential, particularly during Brexit, UK elections, and major economic developments. Outside of broadcast journalism, Robert Peston is also a successful author.

He has written several non-fiction books, including Brown’s Britain (2005), Who Runs Britain? (2008), and How Do We Fix This Mess? (2012), which explores economic policy and political power structures. He also ventured into fiction with novels such as Whistleblower (2020) and The Whistleblower Affair (2023).

Awards and Nominations

• Royal Television Society’s “Specialist Journalist of the Year” (2005)
• Royal Television Society’s “Television Journalist of the Year” (2008)
• Broadcasting Press Guild Awards – Best Performer in a Non-Acting Role
• Political Studies Association Awards – Journalist of the Year (2009)

Social Media

• Twitter handle: @Peston

Personal Life

British journalist, broadcaster, and author Robert Peston was previously married to British writer Siân Busby. The couple got married in 1998 and shared a strong bond until Siân’s death on 4 September 2012 after a long illness.

Together, they had three children: Maximilian Peston, Simon Peston, and Max Peston. He is currently in a romantic relationship with Charlotte Edwardes, a fellow writer and journalist. Robert Peston stands at an estimated height of 6 feet (1.83 meters).

Television Appearance

• Peston on Sunday (ITV)
• Peston (ITV political show)
• Regular contributor on ITV News
• BBC News (former Business Editor)

Net Worth

Robert Peston has an estimated net worth of $5 million. His wealth primarily comes from his long-standing career in journalism, spanning several decades across major media organizations like the BBC and ITV.

As a political editor and former business and economics editor, he has held some of the highest-paid roles in British broadcast journalism. In addition to his television work, Peston earns income through book sales.

He is the author of several bestselling non-fiction titles and political thrillers, which have added significantly to his earnings. He also generates income through public speaking engagements, media consultancy, and occasional appearances at industry events and conferences.