Michael Willesee Jr. is an Australian television journalist who has made a name for himself in print and broadcast media.
He is the son of the legendary Mike Willesee, one of Australia’s most influential and respected interviewers.
Michael Willesee Jr. has followed in his father’s footsteps, reporting on various topics and issues, from politics to crime, entertainment to sports.
Table of Contents
Profile
- Full name: Michael Willesee Jr.
- Date of birth: December 1, 1969
- Age: 55 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
- Nationality: Australian
- Profession: Television journalist, documentary filmmaker, political adviser
- Height: N/A
- Parents: Mike Willesee (father, deceased), Joan Stanbury (mother)
- Siblings: Amy Willesee (sister), Kate Willesee (sister)
- Spouse: Allison Langdon (wife)
- Children: Mack James Willesee (son), Scout Heather Willesee (daughter)
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $3 million
Early Life and Education
Michael Willesee Jr. was born on December 1, 1969, in Sydney, Australia, the eldest son of Mike Willesee and Joan Stanbury.
His father was a famous journalist and interviewer who hosted several popular TV shows, such as A Current Affair, Four Corners, and This Day Tonight.
His mother was a former Miss Australia and Willesee senior’s first wife. They divorced when Michael was young, and his father remarried twice. Michael has two sisters, Amy and Kate, who are also involved in journalism and health care, respectively.
Michael grew up in a media-savvy family and was exposed to journalism early on. He attended St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, a prestigious Jesuit school in Sydney, where he excelled in academics and sports.
He then graduated from Charles Sturt University at the end of 1988 with a degree in journalism.
Personal Life
Michael Willesee Jr. is married to Allison Langdon, a reporter for Nine Network’s 60 Minutes program.
They met in 2006 while working for the same network and engaged in 2007. They tied the knot in 2008 in a lavish ceremony at the Palm Beach Golf Club in Sydney.
They have two children: a son named Mack James, born in January 2017, and a daughter named Scout Heather, born in March 2019. The couple lives in Sydney and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Career
Michael Willesee Jr. started his career at The Australian newspaper in 1990 as a cadet journalist.
He then moved to Los Angeles and New York, where he worked for various TV programs, such as Entertainment Tonight, Extra, and Inside Edition. He covered stories ranging from Hollywood celebrities to the O.J. Simpson trial.
He returned to Australia in 1996 and joined the Nine Network, reporting for National Nine News and A Current Affair.
He also hosted his show, Michael Willesee Live, featuring interviews with prominent figures, such as Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and Muhammad Ali.
In 1997, he made headlines when he interviewed the convicted murderer John Wayne Glover on A Current Affair. The interview was controversial, as it was seen as insensitive and exploitative, and Willesee was accused of paying Glover for the exclusive.
Willesee defended his decision, saying that he wanted to understand the mind of a serial killer and that he donated the money to charity.
In 1999, he left the Nine Network, and founded his own production company, Willesee Productions, which specialised in documentaries and factual programs. He produced and hosted several award-winning documentaries, such as The Miracle of Bali, The Last Days of Jesus, and The Power of the Mind.
He also collaborated with his father, Mike Willesee, on projects such as The Willesee Interviews and The Willesee Dynasty.
In 2014, he resigned from Sky News Australia, where he was a senior correspondent, to work in the office of Treasurer Joe Hockey.
He served as Hockey’s media adviser and speechwriter until Hockey resigned in 2015. He then returned to journalism and joined the Seven Network, where he worked as a senior reporter for Sunday Night. He also appeared on Sunrise, The Morning Show, and The Daily Edition.
Awards
Michael Willesee Jr. has won several awards for his work as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, such as:
- The Logie Award for Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report in 2000 for The Miracle of Bali.
- The Walkley Award for Best Documentary 2001 for The Last Days of Jesus.
- The New York Festival Award for Best Documentary in 2002 for The Power of the Mind.
- The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Documentary in 2003 for The Willesee Interviews.
Net Worth
Michael Willesee Jr.’s net worth is estimated at $3 million, although he has not disclosed his income or assets to the public.
He has earned substantial money from his career as a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and political adviser. He also inherited some wealth from his father, Mike Willesee, who died in 2019 after a long battle with throat cancer.
Controversy
Michael Willesee Jr. has faced some controversy in his career, mainly due to his interview with John Wayne Glover in 1997.
He was criticised for being unethical and sensationalist and for paying a convicted murderer for an exclusive. Glover’s family sued him, claiming that he breached their privacy and caused them distress. The case was settled out of court, and Willesee apologised to the family.
Another controversy Willesee faced was his involvement in the “Plibersek incident” in 2015. He was working as a media adviser for Joe Hockey when he approached Tanya Plibersek, the deputy leader of the opposition, and asked her to comment on the budget. Plibersek refused to answer and accused Willesee of being a “Liberal stooge”. Willesee denied any bias and said he was doing his job as a journalist.
Social Media
- Instagram: @michaelwilleseejr
- Twitter: @mwilleseejr