Mark Mester is a Hungarian-American television news anchor best known for his work at KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles and his current role as the evening anchor at NBC Palm Springs (KMIR). He became a household name in September 2022 after an emotional on-air tribute to his former co-anchor Lynette Romero, which led to his firing. The Budapest-born journalist has built a 20-year career in American local news.
Mark Mester Profile summary
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Mark Mester |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 27 December 1986 |
| Age | 39 years old (as of June 2026) |
| Place of birth | Budapest, Hungary |
| Current residence | Palm Springs, California, USA |
| Nationality | Hungarian-American (dual) |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (Hungarian and Korean descent) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 6 ft 3 in (190 cm) |
| Weight | Around 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Unmarried (in a long-term relationship) |
| Partner | Isabella Mur (since 2020) |
| Children | None publicly known |
| Father | Dr. Andrew Mester |
| Mother | Sunae Lee |
| Siblings | Matt Mester, Luke Mester |
| Alma mater | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Profession | News anchor, journalist, reporter |
| Years active | 2006 – present |
| Net worth | Around $1 million (estimated) |
| @markmester |
Who is Mark Mester?
Mark Mester is an American journalist and news anchor who currently presents the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. evening newscasts at NBC Palm Springs (KMIR) alongside Olivia Sandusky.
He joined the Entravision-owned station in May 2024 after a turbulent exit from KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles, where he had served as the weekend morning co-anchor for more than eight years.
Born in Hungary and raised across several U.S. states, the broadcaster is recognised for his warm on-air presence, storytelling skills, and the viral 2022 broadcast in which he defended his fired KTLA colleague Lynette Romero. That moment turned him into a symbol of newsroom integrity for many American viewers.
Is Mark Mester married? Wife, girlfriend, and dating history
Mark Mester is not married as of June 2026. He is in a long-term relationship with Isabella Mur (also reported as Isabella Murray), whom he first introduced to fans on Instagram in August 2020. The pair have kept most of their relationship private and rarely post couple photos online.
Earlier rumours linked him to former KTLA colleague Liberté Chan, although both repeatedly clarified that they were only close friends and co-workers. He has no publicly known children.
Where is Mark Mester from? Family background
The broadcaster was born in Budapest, Hungary, and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1988 when he was a toddler.
The family settled in California, although Mark also lived in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York City, and Florida during his upbringing.
His father, Dr. Andrew Mester, is an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist based in Santa Barbara, California.
His mother, Sunae Lee, is of Korean origin, giving Mark a mixed Hungarian-Korean heritage. He grew up alongside two brothers:
- Matt Mester – older brother, works as Director of Engineering at Sideplate in California.
- Luke Mester – younger brother, employed as a Sales Development Representative at Brandlive Inc. in Oregon.
Mark frequently shares photographs of his parents and brothers on his Instagram, and his father has occasionally appeared on his broadcasts.
How old is Mark Mester? Age and birthday
Mark Mester is 39 years old as of June 2026. He was born on 27 December 1986 in Budapest, Hungary, and his zodiac sign is Capricorn. He turns 40 in December 2026.
He celebrates his birthday on the same day every December, often sharing snapshots with family and his NBC Palm Springs team on social media.
How tall is Mark Mester? Height and weight
Mark Mester stands approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall (around 190 centimetres) and weighs an estimated 180 pounds (about 82 kilograms). He has confirmed his approximate height on his own social media platforms while reporting on location.
He keeps an athletic build through surfing, tennis, swimming, and outdoor activities around the Coachella Valley. His hair is dark brown and his eyes are brown.
What is Mark Mester’s educational background?
Mark attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics.
While studying economics, he discovered his love for storytelling and pivoted toward broadcast journalism before graduation.
He has spoken publicly about how his economics training shaped the way he approaches business and consumer stories on local news.
Mark Mester’s career
Mark has worked in television news from coast to coast for more than two decades. His career path moved from a New York internship to top-50 American TV markets.
Early career and KEYT-TV
Mark began his journalism journey at the age of 20 as an intern at NBC News in New York City. He soon returned to California and joined KEYT-TV, the ABC affiliate in Santa Barbara, where he worked as a reporter and weekend anchor. The role allowed him to learn from veteran journalists and refine his storytelling style.
He later took on reporting and anchoring duties at several other regional U.S. stations, including KRCR-TV in northern California, before being recruited to one of the nation’s largest local markets.
KTLA Channel 5 (2014–2022)
In May 2014, Mark joined KTLA 5 in Los Angeles, initially as a fill-in anchor and reporter. He quickly earned a permanent slot on the KTLA 5 Weekend Morning News, eventually co-anchoring the show with Lynette Romero.
Throughout his eight-year run, he worked with hosts such as Liberté Chan, Erin Myers, and Christina Pascucci.
His charismatic field segments, including surfing reports, charity events, and offbeat human-interest stories, helped grow his fan base across Southern California.
The Lynette Romero on-air tribute and firing
On 17 September 2022, Mark went off-script during the KTLA 5 Weekend Morning News to apologise to viewers and to his co-anchor Lynette Romero, who had abruptly left the station after 24 years. He called the way management handled her exit “rude” and “cruel.”
Five days later, on 22 September 2022, KTLA owner Nexstar Media Group terminated him. The clip went viral and earned widespread sympathy from viewers and fellow journalists alike.
NBC Palm Springs / KMIR (2024–present)
After nearly two years away from the anchor desk, Mark returned to television in May 2024 as the evening anchor at NBC Palm Springs (KMIR). He now co-anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts with Olivia Sandusky, covering the Coachella Valley.
What is Mark Mester’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Mark Mester’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million. His wealth comes mainly from his decades-long broadcasting career and brand partnerships.
He earns an estimated annual salary in the range of $40,000 to $110,000 as an evening anchor at NBC Palm Springs, which aligns with mid-market American TV anchor pay. His income sources include:
- Anchor salary at KMIR / NBC Palm Springs
- Previous earnings from KTLA Channel 5 and KEYT-TV
- Brand endorsements and sponsored social media content
- Public speaking and event hosting
- Plans for a podcast titled Mark Mester’s Dad Jokes
The Budapest-born anchor has hinted at future digital projects, suggesting his income streams could expand beyond traditional television.
Social media presence
Mark Mester is active on Instagram under the handle @markmester, where he has built a following of around 97,000 followers as of June 2026.
He uses the platform mainly for behind-the-scenes news clips, lifestyle posts about Palm Springs, charity work, and family snapshots.
His most-shared posts tend to be tributes to colleagues and on-the-ground reporting from Southern California events.
Fast facts about Mark Mester
- He was born in Budapest, Hungary, and moved to the United States as a toddler.
- His father, Dr. Andrew Mester, is a well-known ENT surgeon in Santa Barbara.
- He studied Business Economics, not journalism, at UC Santa Barbara.
- He began his TV career at age 20 as an intern at NBC News in New York.
- He served as KTLA 5 weekend morning co-anchor from May 2014 to September 2022.
- He was fired from KTLA in 2022 after defending his colleague Lynette Romero on air.
- He once shaved his head live on KTLA to raise more than $140,000 for Direct Relief.
- He joined NBC Palm Springs as evening anchor in May 2024.
- His favourite hobbies include surfing, tennis, and eating gelato.
- He speaks fondly of both his Hungarian roots and his Korean heritage from his mother’s side.
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Wrapping up
Mark Mester’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. From a Hungarian-born child immigrant to a UC Santa Barbara economics graduate, and from a viral firing at KTLA to a successful return as the evening anchor at NBC Palm Springs, he has shown that authenticity still has a home in local news.
At 39, with a steady relationship, a loyal social media following, and a fresh chapter in the Coachella Valley, Mark looks set for many more years on the anchor desk.
References
- NBC Palm Springs. “Mark Mester – Evening Anchor”.
- Legit.ng. “Where is Mark Mester now? His life before and after KTLA”.
- Los Angeles Times. “KTLA anchor Mark Mester fired after on-air outburst over Lynette Romero’s departure”.
- The Wrap. “Fired KTLA News Anchor Mark Mester Lands New Gig in Palm Springs”.
- Adweek / TVSpy. “Former KTLA Anchor Mark Mester Joins KMIR in Palm Springs”.
- Wikipedia. “KTLA Morning News”.
- NBC Palm Springs. “Welcome Mark Mester To The NBC Palm Springs Family”.
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