Earlier today, Hoda Kotb announced that she’s engaged to her boyfriend of six years, Joel Schiffman. If your first thought is, Who on earth is Joel Schiffman? you’re not alone.
From their meet-cute to their beachy proposal, keep reading for everything we know about Kotb’s new fiancé, Joel Schiffman.
He’s a big-time finance guy. Schiffman currently works as the head of U.S. defined contribution and insurance sales at Schroder Investment Management, according to his LinkedIn account.
He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (aka UCLA), where he played on the school’s rugby team.
The couple met while Kotb was speaking at an event for Wall Street professionals in 2013. Schiffman approached her while she was signing books, and they instantly hit it off.
“It was one of those events they ask us to speak at and it was pouring rain and it was a bunch of Wall Street guys,” Kotb said on Bethenny. “I didn’t even want to go.”
Joel popped the question while they were on vacation in Mexico. The couple were dining at a fancy restaurant when he suddenly got down on one knee.
“He said some beautiful things and then he got down on one knee,” Hoda explained on the Today show. “He said, ‘Would you be my wife?’”
According to Kathryn Money, the vice president of strategy and merchandising for Brilliant Earth, “Hoda’s elegant engagement ring appears to feature an estimated three to four carat elongated radiant cut diamond surrounded by a halo of sapphires set in a diamond-adorned white gold or platinum band.”
Money estimates the accessory costs between $40,000 and $70,000. NBD.
Kotb and Schiffman are parents to two adopted daughters. Their first child, Haley (2), joined the family back in 2017, followed by baby Hope in April of this year.
Unfortunately, the Today show anchor hasn’t confirmed any details about the nuptials. However, fall 2020 has an awfully nice ring to it, don’t you think?
