Paul Solman Bio
Paul Solman is an acclaimed American broadcast journalist, economics correspondent, and author based in Massachusetts. He currently serves as the Business and Economics Correspondent for PBS NewsHour, a position he has held since 1985. He is internationally recognized for making complex financial systems, market trends, and labor statistics accessible to a mass television audience through engaging case-study formats.
Solman began his media career in 1970 as a writer for the alternative weekly Boston After Dark. In 1972, he became a founding editor of The Real Paper, establishing himself as a premier investigative reporter in New England. He later transitioned into public television reporting, creating the award-winning business documentary series ENTERPRISE alongside fellow journalist Zvi Dor-Ner in the early 1980s.
Beyond his daily on-air work for PBS, Solman has deep roots in higher education and non-profit leadership. He taught media, finance, and business history as a member of the Harvard Business School faculty and spent a decade lecturing in Yale University’s Grand Strategy program. He is also the co-founder and board chair of the American Exchange Project, a non-profit domestic exchange program designed to bridge political and cultural divides among high school graduates across the United States.
His distinguished academic foundation began at Brandeis University, where he graduated in 1966 after serving as the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Justice. In 1976, he was selected as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and he returned to the institution to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School in 1978.
Paul Solman Age
Paul Solman is 81 years old as of early 2026. He was born on September 9, 1944, in New York City, New York. He celebrates his birthday on the 9th of September each year, often taking time out of the newsroom to mark the occasion quietly alongside his large family at his home in Boston.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Paul Solman |
| Date of Birth | September 9, 1944 |
| Age | 81 Years Old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | New York City, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Journalist, Economist, Author |
| Education | Brandeis University, Harvard Business School |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Jan Freeman |
| Children | Two Daughters |
| Employer | PBS NewsHour |
Paul Solman Family
Solman was born into an exceptionally prominent artistic household. His father, Joseph Solman, was a legendary American expressionist painter and a core co-founder of “The Ten,” a major modern art movement in New York City. He grew up alongside his siblings in a highly cultured urban environment that placed an immense premium on creative self-expression, literature, and socioeconomic literacy.
Paul Solman’s Wife
Solman is married to his wife, Jan Freeman. Jan is a highly accomplished journalist and linguist who earned widespread recognition as the long-running language and grammar columnist for The Boston Globe. Together, the couple has two adult daughters and seven grandchildren. The close-knit family maintains a private lifestyle, splitting their time between Solman’s broadcast office and their home in Massachusetts.
Paul Solman’s Height
Solman stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 11 inches.
Paul Solman Net Worth
Solman has an estimated net worth of between $2 million and $5 million as of 2026. This solid financial standing has been built over a 50-year career in media, spanning continuous senior correspondent contracts with PBS, book royalties, corporate consulting fees, and historic faculty salaries from Harvard and Yale.
Paul Solman’s Salary
Solman earns an estimated annual salary ranging from $140,000 to $220,000. This baseline pay rate reflects his senior status as one of public broadcasting’s longest-tenured economics journalists and specialized content curators.
Interesting Facts
- He has been a correspondent for PBS NewsHour since 1985.
- He helped create PBS’s business documentary series Enterprise.
- He taught at both Harvard Business School and Yale University.
- He has won Emmy and Peabody Awards across multiple decades.
- He co-authored a bestselling Social Security guide.
- Before becoming a journalist, he worked various jobs including teaching and management consulting.
