Alan Greenspan, the legendary former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve who guided the American economy through nearly two decades of prosperity and crisis, passed away on June 22, 2026, at the age of 100. His death, caused by complications from Parkinson’s disease, was announced by his wife of 29 years, Andrea Mitchell, the chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News.
In a poignant statement, Mitchell said: “Alan passed away at our home this morning at the age of 100 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was a giant of a man who helped shape the U.S. economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes.”
Beyond the towering public legacy of the man often called the “maestro” of the Federal Reserve, Greenspan’s personal life—particularly his marriage to one of America’s most respected journalists and the question of whether he had children—has long attracted public curiosity. This article explores the family life of Alan Greenspan, focusing on his enduring marriage to Andrea Mitchell and the composition of his immediate family.
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The Marriage to Andrea Mitchell: A Partnership of Two Titans
Alan Greenspan’s most significant and lasting relationship was with Andrea Mitchell, whom he married in April 1997. The couple’s romance, however, began much earlier—they started dating in 1984, a full 13 years before they walked down the aisle. Their relationship spanned more than four decades, making Mitchell not only his wife but also his closest companion through the final chapters of his life.
The wedding was officiated by none other than Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a testament to the couple’s standing in Washington’s elite circles. Despite their high-profile careers—Greenspan as the nation’s central banker and Mitchell as a veteran NBC News correspondent—they maintained a relatively private personal life. Mitchell once recounted that Greenspan proposed multiple times before she finally said yes, joking that she “just didn’t get it” the first few times due to his famously roundabout way of speaking. After their wedding, Greenspan told People magazine: “I intend to make her happy, and I will succeed.”
There was a notable 20-year age gap between the two. Greenspan was born on March 6, 1926, while Andrea Mitchell was born on October 30, 1946, making her 79 years old at the time of her husband’s passing. Despite this difference, their bond was remarkably strong. In her 2005 memoir Talking Back, Mitchell described Greenspan as her “biggest fan” and revealed that he always told her, “Your work comes first.”
Following his death, Mitchell reflected: “To me he was my husband, who shaped my life from our very first date in 1984. He had ‘irrational exuberance’ for baseball, the Washington Commanders, tennis, golf and music, especially jazz. He will be remembered for his brilliance and his kindness. Being his life partner was the joy of my life.”
No Children, But a Legacy of Love
One of the most frequently asked questions about Alan Greenspan’s personal life is whether he had any kids. The answer is clear: Alan Greenspan did not have any children, neither biological nor adopted. Despite his monumental career in economics and public policy, Greenspan kept his personal life largely private, and there are no public records suggesting he ever became a father.
Greenspan was married twice. His first marriage was to Joan Mitchell (no relation to Andrea Mitchell), a painter and poet, in October 1952. That union, however, was short-lived—it ended in annulment just ten months later. Joan Mitchell went on to become a renowned abstract expressionist painter before her death in 1992. It was only decades later, in 1997, that Greenspan found lasting love with Andrea Mitchell.
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The couple had no kids together, and Andrea Mitchell did not have children from any previous relationship. This meant that Greenspan’s immediate family consisted solely of his wife at the time of his passing. He is survived by Andrea Mitchell, his partner of over 40 years and wife of nearly three decades.
While Greenspan may not have left behind kids to carry on his name, his legacy is immeasurable—shaped by the policies that defined an era of American economic history, the countless lives he influenced, and the devoted partnership he shared with Andrea Mitchell until his final day.
