Chris Hansen is an American investigative journalist and TV host. He is best known for hosting To Catch a Predator on Dateline NBC. The show confronted adults who had arranged online meetings with people they believed were minors. As of September 2026, Hansen is still working in true-crime media through TruBlu and Takedown with Chris Hansen.
Chris Hansen Quick Facts
- Full name: Christopher Edward Hansen
- Born: September 13, 1959
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Age: 67 as of September 25, 2026
- Nationality: American
- Education: Michigan State University, bachelor’s degree in telecommunication
- Known for: To Catch a Predator on Dateline NBC
- Current work: TruBlu and Takedown with Chris Hansen
- Current wife: Gabrielle Gagnon
- Children: Two sons from his first marriage
Who Is Chris Hansen?
Christopher Edward Hansen became famous through To Catch a Predator. The Dateline NBC series ran from 2004 to 2007. In the show, adults who had talked online with people they believed were teenagers came to meeting places. Hansen then confronted them, often with cameras and law enforcement nearby.
His calm style and famous phrase, “Have a seat,” became closely linked to the show. However, Hansen was already an experienced NBC News reporter before the series made him widely known.
He joined NBC News in 1993 and worked on many major news stories. His reporting included the September 11 attacks, consumer safety, aviation, crime, and international investigations.
Early Life and Education
Hansen was born in Chicago on September 13, 1959, and grew up in Michigan.
He attended Michigan State University. He studied telecommunication and worked at the university radio station. He also worked as a sportswriter for The State News.
While he was still a college senior, Hansen started reporting for WILX, an NBC station in Lansing, Michigan. He later worked for other radio and TV outlets in Michigan before joining NBC News.
How Chris Hansen Built His Career
Hansen joined NBC News in 1993. He first worked as a correspondent for Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric. He later became a correspondent for Dateline NBC.
His work covered many subjects, including aviation safety, crime, consumer issues, and international investigations. He also worked on an undercover report about child sex trafficking in Cambodia.
His best-known work began in 2004. Dateline started investigations into adults who were seeking sexual meetings with minors online. The project was first known as “Dangerous Web” and later became To Catch a Predator.
The investigations used volunteers from the group Perverted-Justice. The volunteers posed as minors during online chats. Adults who came to arranged meetings then found Hansen and a camera crew. Police were also involved in some of the investigations.
The show became very popular, but it also caused debate. Supporters said it helped expose harmful behavior and supported police investigations. Critics questioned the ethics of mixing sting operations with television entertainment.
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Awards and Recognition
Hansen has received several journalism awards. These include Emmy Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, Clarion Awards, and recognition from the National Press Club. He also received awards from the Associated Press and United Press International.
Sources give different numbers for his Emmy wins. Some sources report seven, while others give different totals. Because of these differences, it is safer to say that Hansen has won multiple Emmy Awards.
His award-winning work was not limited to To Catch a Predator. His reporting also covered aviation safety, the Ford/Firestone case, and the Cambodia trafficking investigation.
Chris Hansen’s Family Life
Hansen married Mary Joan Hansen in 1989. They had two sons. Mary Joan filed for divorce in 2018, and the divorce was finalized in 2020.
Hansen married Gabrielle Gagnon in November 2021. Public reports also identify Gagnon’s adult children, Lauren and Paul, as Hansen’s stepchildren. Hansen generally keeps details about his family life private.
Legal Controversy
Hansen faced legal attention in 2021 after he missed a court hearing linked to a subpoena for footage from a law-enforcement sting operation.
A Michigan judge issued a bench warrant. Hansen later turned himself in. He said the issue was caused by a “miscommunication.” The matter was resolved after he appeared in court.
Available reports describe a missed court hearing and its later resolution. They do not describe a criminal conviction from this incident.
What Is Chris Hansen’s Net Worth?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Chris Hansen’s net worth at $1.5 million. This is an estimate from an entertainment website, not a verified financial disclosure.
There is no reliable public information that confirms his current salary, assets, investments, or exact personal wealth. His current work includes TruBlu, Takedown with Chris Hansen, public appearances, and other digital media work, but the amount he earns from these activities is not publicly known.
What Is Chris Hansen Doing Now?
Hansen remains active in true-crime media. He co-founded TruBlu in 2020 and hosts Takedown with Chris Hansen.
The show continues his focus on online investigations and confrontations. TruBlu says Hansen’s investigations have helped lead to hundreds of arrests over two decades. That number is the company’s own claim and has not been independently audited.
Hansen also promotes his podcast, Predators I’ve Caught, and other media work.
His career received new attention in 2026 because of Primetime, an A24 film inspired by the To Catch a Predator era. Robert Pattinson plays a character based on Hansen.
Hansen told the Los Angeles Times that he had not watched the full film after leaving a screening. His company also bought advertising before screenings of the movie to promote TruBlu and Takedown.
How old is Chris Hansen?
Chris Hansen is 67 years old as of September 25, 2026. He was born on September 13, 1959.
What is Chris Hansen’s full name?
His full name is Christopher Edward Hansen.
Why is Chris Hansen famous?
He became nationally known as the host of To Catch a Predator on Dateline NBC. The show confronted adults who had arranged meetings with people they believed were minors online.
Is Chris Hansen still doing predator investigations?
Yes. As of 2026, he hosts Takedown with Chris Hansen on TruBlu, the true-crime streaming service he co-founded in 2020.
Who is Chris Hansen married to?
Chris Hansen married Gabrielle Gagnon in 2021. He was previously married to Mary Joan Hansen from 1989 until their divorce was finalized in 2020.
What is Chris Hansen’s net worth?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $1.5 million. This figure is not a verified financial disclosure, so it should be treated as an estimate.
Chris Hansen Today
Chris Hansen has had a long career in investigative journalism. Before To Catch a Predator, he spent years working as a network news reporter. The show later made him one of the best-known faces in television investigations.
Today, Hansen continues working in true-crime media through TruBlu and Takedown with Chris Hansen. His career remains closely connected to the online investigations that first made him famous.
Sources
Editorial Note: This article was researched using publicly available sources and reviewed for accuracy and originality. Where information is limited or uncertain, we identify it carefully rather than presenting speculation as fact. For corrections or copyright concerns, please contact our editorial team.
Writting by William Foster
