Bethany McLean Biography: Books, Awards, Net Worth, Age, Wikipedia, Nationality, Ethnicity, Spouse, Children

Bethany McLean is a distinguished journalist known for her critical role in exposing the Enron scandal through her investigative reporting.

Her work at Fortune magazine, particularly her article “Is Enron Overpriced?” published in March 2001, raised significant questions about the company’s financial practices and set off a chain of events leading to Enron’s eventual collapse.

Profile

• Full name: Bethany Lee McLean
• Date of birth: December 12, 1970
• Age: 55 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Hibbing, Minnesota, USA
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Journalist, author, contributing editor for Vanity Fair
• Height: 5’9
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Sean Berkowitz (married 2008-2020), Chris Wilford (married 2000-2006)
• Children: Laine Berkowitz
• Relationship status: Divorced
• Net worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Bethany McLean is now at the age of 55. She was born on December 12, 1970, in Hibbing, Minnesota. McLean graduated from Hibbing High School in 1988 and went on to Williams College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Mathematics in 1992.

Her academic background laid a strong foundation for her analytical skills, which would later prove essential in her journalism career.

After college, McLean began her professional journey as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs, where she worked for three years. This experience provided her with valuable insights into financial analysis and corporate valuations.

In 1995, she transitioned to journalism by joining Fortune magazine as a reporter, allowing her to apply her Wall Street expertise to investigative reporting.

Personal Life

Bethany McLean’s personal life has included two marriages. She married Chris Wilford in 2000 but divorced him in 2006. In May 2008, she married Sean Berkowitz, who was the lead prosecutor in the Enron criminal trial.

They had one daughter named Laine together before divorcing in 2020. McLean currently resides in Chicago with her daughter.

Career

McLean’s career began at Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst before she moved to Fortune magazine. Her pivotal moment came with her article “Is Enron Overpriced?” which questioned Enron’s inflated stock price and accounting practices.

Following the collapse of Enron in late 2001, McLean co-authored the bestselling book The Smartest Guys in the Room with Peter Elkind. This book provided an in-depth examination of Enron’s rise and fall and was later adapted into an Academy Award-nominated documentary.

McLean continued to write extensively about financial crises and corporate ethics, co-authoring All the Devils Are Here, which detailed the hidden history of the 2008 financial crisis.

In addition to her work at Fortune, McLean has contributed to Vanity Fair since 2008 and has written for various publications including Slate and Business Insider. Her investigative journalism has earned her recognition as one of the leading voices in business reporting.

Awards

• SABEW Distinguished Achievement Award (2024)
• New York Times Bestseller for The Smartest Guys in the Room

Net Worth

Bethany McLean’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: N/A
• Twitter handle: N/A

Books

• The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron
• All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis
• Shaky Ground: The Strange Saga of the U.S. Mortgage Giants
• Saudi America: The Truth About Fracking and How It’s Changing the World
• The Big Fail