Who Is Virginia Donald? Everything About Shepard Smith’s Wife

Virginia Donald Relationship With Shepard Smith

Virginia Donald married the ex-Fox correspondent, Shepard Smith in 1987. They were classmates from their time at the University of Mississippi.

Smith though would drop out of University and marry Donald. After that, the ex-pair reportedly left Mississippi and jetted off to Panama City, Fla.

There the now 58 years old Smith landed a reporting gig. After a few more moves, the former couple, Smith and Virginia settled down in Miami in 1993.

It, however, was also the year, Donald and the ex-FOX report host ended. Their union produced no children.

Shepard Quit College To Marry Virginia

Smith apparently ditched his education to be with Donald. The People reports the former Fox News Channel employee had planned on graduating with a degree in journalism.

He, however, made the decision to drop out of college in 1987 when he was just two credits shy of graduating.

As per AJR, Smith apparently left college to work in television. On the other hand, People magazine in April 2003 stated he actually dropped out of school to marry his classmate Virginia Donald.

Virginia Donald Former Spouse, Shepard Smith Coming Out And His Current Partner

In 2017, Donald’s ex-husband Smith publicly announced he is gay and has a long-time boyfriend. This was almost 24 years after divorcing his wife, Virginia Donald, in 1993. He came out while speaking with students at the University of Mississippi.

Virginia’s former husband, Smith tried to refrain from talking about his sexuality for as long as he could. Smith added by focusing on work, he was able to not talk about his sexuality for so long.

The Mississippi native also marked the occasion by letting Time profile know a rare glimpse into his private life. He opened up about his then 30-year-old boyfriend Giovanni Graziano.

Talking about his boyfriend, the ex-WJHG-TV reporter said,

‘I have a longtime boyfriend and we’re as happy as we can be.’

Smith also revealed how they were living a very normal life and were going to dinner and games and seeing each other’s family. Whilst speaking for a second time about his partner in March 2018, Shepard said,

‘It’s great for us, but I can’t imagine anyone else finding it interesting.’

He stated how he doesn’t mind talking about his relationship but that’s just his personal life and he is not hiding anything. Further, in an interview with CNBC in Sep 2020, the former Studio B correspondent shedding light on his sexuality said,

“I was gay and I hadn’t figured it out. I just didn’t know how to process all of that.”

Shepard Smith started dating Giovanni “Gio” Graziano in 2013.

Who Is Virginia’s Ex-Husband, Smith’s Current Boyfriend, Giovanni Graziano?  

Smith’s current partner, the 34 years old Graziano was apparently a Fox Business producer. At the time of Smith’s departure from Fox News, Graziano was still a producer on the show.

Graziano’s LinkedIn states he has worked numerous jobs at Fox News, starting as a summer intern in 2008, before moving up to become a production assistant for Smith.

Smith’s boyfriend is currently an associate producer for Varney & Company. Gawker in Oct 2013 reported Graziano moved from Smith’s show to Varney & Company since it would have been a “conflict of interest” for Smith to date a subordinate.

As per social media profiles, Giovanni studied broadcast journalism at Penn State University between 2005 and 2008.

Gawker reports Smith met Graziano sometime after the latter started working at Fox Report in October 2011 as a production assistant. Their relationship rumor started after sources spotted them together at the Bathtub Gin bar on multiple occasions.

Smith and Graziano appeared together throughout Manhattan. They allegedly used to show up at fratty bars like the Ainsworth in Chelsea and the Village Pourhouse on 3rd Avenue, to watch football when Penn State or Ole Miss (Smith’s alma mater) were playing.

There Are Virtually No Pictures Of Virginia Donald

The perplexing thing about Smith’s ex, Virginia is ever since her separation from the CNBC host, she has always remained an upstart, especially among the write-ups and magazines.

There accordingly are almost no pictures of Donald except less than a handful of stills which though are also full of suspicion and ambiguity.

Is Virginia Married; Does She Have A Partner?

Again considering the aforesaid chain of factual and the additional obviousness that Donald is evidently elusive on social media, the answers to her marital life are strictly entangled in guessworks and rationals.

Also, paying regard to her extremely closeted life it might be near to never that outsiders will get to know who Donald’s current husband is or if she is even dating at all.

How Rich Is Virginia Donald’s Ex-Husband, Shepard Smith; His Net Worth

The ex-husband of Virginia Donald for six years is evidently rich with a net worth of over $25million. Though the point that deserves the attention is Donald’s former husband is currently on a salary of around $10million.

And that seems rightful since analysts consider Smith as a big catch for CNBC who not to mention had been a star presenter at Fox News for more than 22 years.

To say more, recent reports suggest NBC-owned CNBC has also been gaining a progressive return on Smith’s recruitment thus justifying his worth more.