Ian Leonard Age, Biography, Family, Career, Net Worth & More (2026 Edition)
He is one of Minnesota’s favorite weather forecasters. He’s about 58-59 years old in 2026 and works as Chief Meteorologist at FOX 9 in Minneapolis. People trust him for honest weather updates every day.
He was born around 1966 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more than 30 years, he’s been studying and predicting weather patterns. His path from Canada to Minnesota shows real commitment to meteorology.
Many people ask “how old is he ” because he never shares his exact birthday. But we can figure it out from his work history. He started his broadcasting career in 1990 when he was about 24 years old.
His age makes him wise and trusted. He knows how to handle severe weather like tornadoes and snowstorms. People like him because he’s accurate and friendly at the same time.
He’s done more than just weather reports. He has helped raise over $20 million for Special Olympics Minnesota. He beat cancer, finished an Ironman triathlon, and loves his family deeply. Everyone knows his famous saying: “I love my life, my wife, my daughters and my dog.”
This article tells you everything about Leonard’s life. You’ll learn about his biography, family, career, net worth, hobbies, and plans ahead. Whether you watch him daily or just heard about him, you’ll get the full picture.
Who Is Ian Leonard?
Ian Leonard’s Professional Identity and Current Role
He works as Chief Meteorologist at FOX 9/KMSP-TV in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. He started there in 2006 after working at other TV stations. His meteorology expertise mixes science with easy-to-understand explanations.
Now 58-59 years old, Leonard knows his job inside out. His age helps people believe what he says about tricky weather patterns. Viewers love how he stays calm and helpful during emergency forecasting for bad storms.
Ian Leonard Age and Birth Details
Nobody knows his exact birthday, but His age can be estimated from his career. Born around 1966 or 1967, he’s now in his late fifties. His first big job started in 1990 at age 24.
Looking at his work timeline helps us guess his current age. He’s been broadcasting continuously since 1990, which confirms he’s about 58-59 now. This matches when he finished college and started working professionally.
Background and Nationality
Leonard grew up in Minneapolis and is an American with White-American background. His family came from Bavaria and settled in Golden Valley, Minnesota over 100 years ago. Being from Minnesota helps him understand local weather better.
Growing up with Minnesota’s crazy weather freezing winters and hot summers with tornadoes—got him interested early. The state’s extreme changes taught him about atmospheric science naturally.
Wiki/Bio Table
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Ian Leonard |
| Ian Leonard Age | 58-59 years (born c. 1966-1967) |
| Birthplace | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Current Residence | Minneapolis area |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White-American |
| Height | 5’7″–5’9″ (170–175 cm) |
| Weight | 69 kg (152 lb) |
| Eye Color | Brown/Blue |
| Hair Color | Gray with darker tones |
| Marital Status | Married to Christy Leonard |
| Children | Two daughters (Jordan & Kaiti) |
| Profession | Chief Meteorologist, FOX 9 |
| Years Active | 1990–Present (36+ years) |
| Education | Bachelor’s in Atmospheric Science |
| Ian Leonard Salary | $90,000–$115,000 yearly |
| Net Worth (2026) | $2–$5 million |
| Famous For | Weather reports, charity work, cancer awareness |
Personal Life and Relationships
Marriage to Christy Leonard
He married Christy Leonard in the late 1990s. Some say 1996, others say 1999. They’ve been together for over 25 years now. Their marriage stayed strong through busy careers and tough times.
Christy Leonard stays out of the spotlight even though her husband is famous. She helps with his charity events and supports his fitness goals. Their relationship shows real stability in TV work.
Ian Leonard’s Daughters and Family Life
They have two daughters named Jordan Leonard and Kaiti Leonard. Jordan was born around August 2002 when Ian was 36. Kaiti came in June 2005 when he was 39 years old.
Both girls stay private despite their dad’s fame. Leonard protects their personal information from the public carefully. This shows smart parenting in today’s internet world.
The Famous Catchphrase and Family Values
His famous line is “I love my life, my wife, my daughters and my dog… I kinda like cats.” This saying shows what matters most to him. Viewers feel connected because he’s genuinely about family first.
They have both dogs and cats at home. He mentions his pets often on TV. Loving animals makes him seem more real and relatable to regular people.
Career and Achievement
CFRN-TV Edmonton, Alberta (1990–2003)
Leonard started working at CFRN-TV in Edmonton, Alberta around 1990. He was only 24 years old but became Chief Meteorologist there. Spending 13 years forecasting Canadian weather taught him a lot.
Working in Canada showed him different climate types and bad weather systems. The job helped him get comfortable on camera while learning forecasting skills. This long experience was important for his career growth.
KWWL Waterloo, Iowa (2003–2006)
In 2003, he moved to KWWL in Waterloo, Iowa at age 37. This job focused on tornadoes and blizzards. Iowa’s dangerous weather helped him learn emergency broadcasting better.
Three years in Iowa connected his Canadian experience with coming back to Minnesota. The position made him an expert on Midwest weather before heading home. Moving around built his weather knowledge completely.
FOX 9 Minneapolis (2006–Present)
Starting at FOX 9 in 2006 meant coming home and reaching his career peak. At 40 years old, Leonard returned to Minneapolis with great credentials. Twenty years later, he’s still the station’s most trusted weather expert.
FOX 9 viewers like how he uses augmented reality in weather reports. He makes complicated weather science easy to understand with cool visuals. Being innovative while experienced makes him special.
Health Battle and Cancer Survival
In 2016,He found out he had squamous-cell skin cancer at age 50. Doctors removed part of his lower lip through surgery. He needed several more operations to fix it.
Now he teaches people about sun safety all over Minnesota. Being open about his health problems helps others going through similar things. Being a cancer survivor became a big part of who he is.
Charity Leadership and Community Impact
Leonard runs fundraising for Special Olympics Minnesota every year. The Polar Plunge and Bad Pants Open golf tournaments have raised over $20 million in 14+ years. His charity work means more than just doing weather reports.
Helping the community is central to his career beyond TV. He visits schools to teach kids about storms and weather. His age and popularity make Minnesota’s charity work stronger.
Major Sources of Income
FOX 9 Chief Meteorologist Salary
His salary is between $90,000 and $115,000 each year at FOX 9. His long experience and working in a big city justify this pay. He also gets bonuses and benefits on top.
Senior weather people in major cities usually earn this much. Leonard’s 36-year career means he deserves top pay for his expertise. His age puts him at his highest earning point.
Previous Broadcasting Positions
His old jobs at CFRN-TV and KWWL helped him save money over time. Canadian and Iowa salaries were smaller than Minneapolis but still built his savings. Working steadily for three decades created good lifetime earnings.
Money differences between Canada and America matter here. Still, working continuously from age 24 meant reliable income always. A long career really helps total net worth grow.
Speaking Engagements and Public Appearances
Leonard’s knowledge creates opportunities beyond daily TV work. Weather conferences, charity functions, and school talks sometimes pay him. His good reputation means organizations pay for his appearances.
Public speaking uses his 36 years of weather knowledge for teaching. Groups value how he explains hard science in simple ways. These events add extra money to his main TV income.
Personal Investments and Assets
Smart money management throughout his career built diverse wealth. Owning real estate in Minneapolis represents big assets. Retirement savings and investments grew through decades of putting money in.
At 58-59 years old, Leonard probably thinks about retirement planning now. His age means he might retire in 5-10 years. Saved money and investments give him financial security.
Hobbies and Fun Facts
Ian Leonard’s Favorite Hobbies
Triathlon training takes lots of his free time outside work. Swimming, biking, and running keep him super fit at age 59. His dedication to endurance sports is impressive for his age.
Doing the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics mixes charity with personal challenge. Jumping into icy Minnesota water yearly shows serious commitment. Athletic activities match his health message after beating cancer.
Teaching weather science goes beyond TV into classrooms statewide. School visits where he teaches kids about storms and climate inspire future scientists. His age makes his educational impact stronger.
Fun Facts:
He lost part of his lower lip to skin cancer but turned it into helping others. At 50, getting diagnosed changed how he thought about sun protection. Now he teaches thousands about staying safe.
His famous saying about loving life, wife, daughters, and dog connects with viewers. This honest show of family love creates real connection beyond weather. The phrase became what he’s known for.
Raising $20 million for Special Olympics Minnesota shows amazing community help. Not many TV people achieve this charity success no matter how long they work. His fundraising work creates a legacy beyond weather.
Finishing the Lake Placid Ironman 140.6 at 57 showed incredible physical ability. The tough triathlon needs months of hard training and mental strength. This fitness achievement inspires middle-aged people everywhere.
Using augmented reality early in weather reports showed forward thinking. Even with a traditional TV background, Leonard embraced new technology eagerly. His willingness to change keeps broadcasts interesting.
Future Prospects
Continued Broadcasting Innovation
He will probably keep improving augmented reality use in weather shows. His age and experience let him teach younger coworkers new technologies. Innovation mixed with traditional skills creates powerful broadcasting.
Teaching young meteorologists makes sense for veteran broadcasters near retirement age. Sharing 36 years of knowledge makes his professional legacy last longer. FOX 9 interns learn from his collected wisdom.
Expanding Charitable Impact
Special Olympics Minnesota fundraising will likely grow through Leonard’s continued work and bigger influence. His platform can reach new donors and company partnerships. Age brings more community respect making charity work more effective.
Future athletic competitions might include more Ironman events or age-group championships. Continued fitness promotion matches health education after cancer survival. Physical achievements inspire people of all ages.
Impact on Social Media
Social Media Presence Overview
He stays active on social media connecting with Minnesota viewers beyond TV. At 58-59 years old, he connects different generations through honest online posts. His style balances being professional with showing personality.
Content he shares includes weather news, fundraising updates, and bits of family moments. Behind-the-scenes broadcasting clips make the professional weather person seem more human. Cancer updates and fitness progress give inspiring content regularly.
Talking directly with his audience strengthens viewer relationships built over decades. Social platforms let two-way talking that’s impossible on TV alone. His loyal FOX 9 fans follow him into digital spaces easily.
Social Media Profile
| Platform | Purpose |
| Work connections and career updates | |
| Community talks and weather news | |
| Twitter/X | Quick weather alerts and viewer chats |
| Photos and personal stories |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How old is Ian Leonard in 2026?
He is about 58-59 years old in 2026, born around 1966-1967 in Minneapolis. His work history starting in 1990 confirms this age.
Who is Ian Leonard’s wife?
Christy Leonard (Christine) married Ian in the late 1990s. They’ve had a strong marriage for over 25 years now.
What happened to Ian Leonard’s lip?
In 2016, squamous-cell skin cancer needed surgery that removed part of his lower lip. Several procedures followed, inspiring his sun safety teaching.
What is Ian Leonard’s net worth?
His net worth is between $2 million and $5 million in 2026. Decades of broadcasting income and smart investing built this wealth.
What station does Ian Leonard work for?
He has worked as Chief Meteorologist at FOX 9 (KMSP-TV) in Minneapolis Saint Paul since 2006, nearly 20 years now.
Conclusion
His age about 58-59 years brings unmatched skill to Minnesota weather reports. His 36-year career from Canadian prairies to Minneapolis homes shows consistent excellence. Beyond weather, his cancer survival, athletic wins, and $20 million charity work create a remarkable story. As Chief Meteorologist at FOX 9, Leonard mixes technical mastery with genuine kindness. His family focus, community help, and health teaching inspire viewers every day. The future looks bright for this beloved broadcaster’s continued positive impact on Minnesota.
Discover Ian Leonard age, career journey, net worth, and family life. FOX 9’s beloved Chief Meteorologist’s complete biography revealed.
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