Biography - Lara Spencer

Who is Lara Spencer?

Lara Spencer is a TV host, author by profession, and American by nationality. She is best known as the co-anchor of ABC's Good Morning America, having worked on the shows Nightline, The Insider, Antiques Roadshow, and Flea Market Flip.

Lara Spencer – Age, Parents, Siblings

Lara Spencer’s birth took place on June 19, 1969, in Garden City, New York, USA. She was born Lara Christina Von Seelen to her father Richard von Seelen, former president of Pringle of Scotland in North America, and her mother Carolyn von Seelen. 

She is not the only child of her parents and has four siblings, an older brother named Keith von Seelen, a brother Kirk and two older sisters.

Education, Ethnicity

For education Lara Spencer attended Garden City High School, graduating in 1987. She went on to study at Pennsylvania State University on an athletic scholarship and graduated from the same with a degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1991.

Her ethnicity is Caucasian.

Lara Spencer – Boyfriend, Husband, Children, Divorce

She married her longtime boyfriend David Haffenreffer on 30 September 2000. Haffenreffer is a former CNN journalist and the wedding at the taken place at St. Andrew's Dune Church. 

The couple has two children together – daughter Katharine Paige Haffenreffer (born 2004) and son Duff Haffenreffer (born January 22, 2002). However, after 15 years of marriage, the pair divorced, which was finalized on 18 June 2015.

Her second husband is Rick McVey, the founder, chairman, and CEO of MarketAxess. The couple had first met on a blind date set up by their mutual friend. After years of dating the couple tied the knot on September 1, 2018. From her marriage to McVey, she has three step-children.

Lara Spencer – Career

Early Days

After completing her college education, Spencer went on to volunteer at the NBC page program. She then landed a job at WDEF-TV where she served as a reporter, producer, editor, cameraman, and news van driver. 

Just a year later Lara Spencer joined News 12 Long Island and worked there for two years. Her next employer was WABC-TV for which she covered the TWA Flight 800 crash, which was considered her big break. 

With ABC

In 1999 Spencer joined ABC's Good Morning America as a national correspondent. Since then she has hosted People Icons (2017), the 87th Miss America pageant, Miss America 2015 pageant, Antiques Roadshow (2004-2005), and Antiques Roadshow FYI. 

Currently, Spencer is the correspondent for Nightline and ABC News. Moreover, she was the creator and executive producer of It's Worth What?, I Brake for Yard Sales, Flea Market Flip.  

As an author Lara Spencer has published two books I Brake for Yard Sales (April 2012), and Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures (September 2014).

Lara Spencer – Controversy, Prince George's Comment

In 2019 Spencer was a subject of controversy after her comment about then-six-year-old Prince George of Cambridge enjoying ballet classes. Her comment was interpreted as offensive, causing public backlash.

She issued an apology on Instagram and later apologized on air while interviewing three professional male dancers. 

Lara Spencer – Awards, Nominations

For her work, Lara Spencer was nominated for 2005’s Emmy — Outstanding Reality Program 

Lara Spencer  – Net Worth, Salary

Her net worth is estimated at around $20 million. Although her current salary is not known, her annual salary at the peak of her hosting career was $3 million.

Lara Spencer – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On her social media page, Lara Spencer is active with several hundred thousand followers and counting.