Giovanni di Lorenzo Biography: Age, Parents, Siblings, Net Worth, Career, Controversy, Wife

Giovanni di Lorenzo is a German-Italian journalist, author, and television presenter who has shaped German media for decades.

He became particularly well known when he took over as editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper Die Zeit in 2004, following earlier leadership at Der Tagesspiegel. In addition to his editorial work, he is also recognized for hosting the long-running German talk show 3 nach 9.

Profile

• Full name: Giovanni di Lorenzo
• Date of birth: 9 March 1959
• Age: 66 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Stockholm, Sweden
• Nationality: German and Italian
• Profession: Journalist, author, television moderator/presenter
• Parents: Father: Carlo di Lorenzo; Mother: Marianne (née Matull)
• Siblings: At least one twin brother, Marco; he is one of twin sons of his parents
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: One daughter (born 2008)
• Relationship status: Former relationship with Sabrina Staubitz (2005-2015)
• Ethnicity: Mixed (Italian father, German mother)
• Net worth: $6 million

Early Life and Education

Giovanni di Lorenzo is now 66 years old, born on 9 March 1959 in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Carlo di Lorenzo, was Italian; his mother Marianne Matull was German. Soon after his birth, the family moved and he spent parts of his early childhood in Rimini and Rome. Following his parents’ separation, at about eleven years of age he moved with his mother (and twin brother) to Hanover, Germany.

He attended secondary school in Hanover, including the Ratsgymnasium and later the Tellkampfschule, graduating in 1979. After high school he undertook internships in journalism, including at Neue Presse in Hanover. He then studied at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, majoring in communication studies, modern history, and political science.

His master’s thesis was titled Strategie und Aufstieg des Privatfernsehens in Italien am Beispiel der Networks von Silvio Berlusconi (Strategy and Rise of Private Television in Italy as Exemplified by Berlusconi’s Networks), which earned the highest grade.

Personal Life

From 2005 to 2015, Giovanni di Lorenzo was in a relationship with Sabrina Staubitz. The two have one daughter, born in 2008. Di Lorenzo also enjoys cooking; he has described cooking as something he learned (in part) to emulate his father and as a kind of personal refuge given his professional demands.

Career

After his internship at Neue Presse in Hanover, di Lorenzo worked there until around 1982. His early work included writing for local magazines and newspapers in Hanover and Munich. He first appeared on television in 1984 as host of the youth magazine Live aus dem Alabama on Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Over the years, he held editorial roles: in May 1987 he joined Süddeutsche Zeitung’s internal politics section; in 1994 he took over German “Reportage/Seite Drei” at the same paper. In 1999 he became editor-in-chief of the newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, a Berlin liberal daily; he remained in that capacity until 2004, and thereafter became publisher.

In 2004 he became editor-in-chief of Die Zeit, one of Germany’s major weekly newspapers. In addition to print journalism, he hosts the talk show 3 nach 9, broadcast monthly via Radio Bremen and NDR. He has written books and essays; his work spans interviews, commentary, cultural critique, and political topics.

Awards

• Medienpreis für Sprachkultur – category press, 2006
• Ischia International Journalism Award, 2005
• Theodor-Wolff-Preis, 1993
• Bambi (Germany), 1992
• Goldene Feder, 2001
• Preis der europäischen Presse – RAI / Radiotelevisione Italiana, 2001
• München leuchtet, 2001

Net worth

Giovanni di Lorenzo’s net worth is estimated to be at least $6 million.

Controversy

One incident that drew attention: after the European Parliament election on 25 May 2014, di Lorenzo on a talk show stated that he had voted twice (once in the Italian consulate, once in a local German polling station), an act which is contrary to EU voting rules (one vote per person).

He later apologized, stating that he was not aware of the relevant law. Another critical moment: in 2011, a four-page interview he published with Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in Die Zeit, followed by a book, attracted criticism over whether sufficient distance was maintained, given Guttenberg’s political status.

Social Media

N/A

Books

• Wofür stehst du? (2010)
• Auf eine Zigarette mit Helmut Schmidt (2011)
• Verstehen Sie das, Herr Schmidt? (2012)
• Vom Aufstieg und anderen Niederlagen: Gespräche mit Zeitgenossen (2014)
• Erklär mir Italien! (2017)
• Vom Leben und anderen Zumutungen (2023)