Kristen Lee “Kris” Budden is a famous sideline reporter and sports journalist who is employed by ESPN. She reports on college football, basketball, and baseball and has also appeared significantly at Grand Slam tennis events such as the US Open and the Australian Open.
A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, which is considered one of the best broadcast journalism schools, Budden has established himself as an expert in dynamic storytelling, professional demeanor, and journalistic integrity.
She has won regional Emmys and Associated Press awards over her career, worked every major sporting event, including the Olympics and the College Football Playoff, and is a trusted voice on various national platforms.
Kris Budden Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Kristen Lee |
| Birth Date: | March 9, 1984 |
| Age: | 41 Years |
| Birth Place: | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Height: | – |
| Who is Kris Budden’s husband? | Mario Toledo |
Early Life
Kris Budden was born on 9th March 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia, and was exposed to great media and sports influences at an early age. The love of storytelling was ignited in her by her godfather, a television news anchor in Dallas, whose profession made her develop an interest in broadcasting.
When she was ten years old, the family moved to Dallas, Texas, and she studied at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison. During her time in school, Budden was not only an overachiever in academics—she was also a competitive athlete.
She was a two-time state champion in tennis and learned the discipline and work ethic that would characterize her future career in journalism. She has always been confident and good at communication, even during her teenage years, so it did not take long before people noticed her articulate nature and ability to lead.
These assets led her to a future career in broadcast media. She subsequently attended the University of Missouri, where she received her degree with honors in 2006, establishing a solid foundation in reporting, editing, producing, and anchoring at the renowned Missouri School of Journalism.
Kris Budden Career
Kris Budden started her career in 2007 as a weekend sports anchor at WCAV in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she received important on-camera experience by covering local high school and college sports. Only one and a half years later, she was promoted to WBIR in Knoxville, Tennessee, which was a big breakthrough in her career.
She was hired there as the sports anchor and reporter of the station, where she got to cover the big events like the SEC football, March Madness, and the University of Tennessee athletics. Her detailed reporting on the last seasons of legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt and her emotional retirement made a lasting impact, and Kris Budden was praised far and wide.
The Tennessee Associated Press honored her with an award in the category of Best Breaking Sports News, and she was a four-time second-place finisher in the category of Best Sports Feature. In 2013, Budden relocated to San Diego to work at Fox Sports San Diego; his position was described as multifaceted, serving as a sideline reporter for the San Diego Padres as well as hosting post- and pre-game shows.
Her charisma on air and professionalism soon made her a name to be trusted with live coverage. In 2014, she also started working nationally with Fox Sports as a college football sideline reporter, traveling the country covering Power Five conference games.
In August 2016, her next major step was to join ESPN as a college football and basketball sideline reporter. Kris Budden easily moved into national broadcasting, calling the biggest college games with some of the most prominent analysts and play-by-play announcers.
Her reports were characterized by extensive interviews with players, informative injury reports, and interesting human-interest pieces. She also covered tennis in addition to football and basketball and was included in the ESPN Grand Slam broadcast team, covering events such as the US Open and Australian Open.
Kris Budden has been described as an anchor with a cool demeanor in stressful situations, a tireless preparer, and a reporter who can simplify a complicated story and get it on the air in a short time. Her consistent ascendancy and her ability to excel in different mainstream sports have made her a reliable and authoritative voice in American sports broadcasting.
Personal Life
Kris Budden is the wife of Mario Toledo, who was a tennis player at the University of Tennessee (2000-2002), and they got married in April 2014 in Charleston, South Carolina. The two first met in 2012 when she attended a tennis lesson given by him in Knoxville.
The couple resides in Dallas and has two children, a son (born 2016) and a daughter (born 2019). Kris Budden has been vocal about her motherhood experience, such as how she had to continue her pregnancy on the road and recently suffered a miscarriage, to connect and provide support to other women going through the same issues.
Social Media
Kris Budden has a vast following on Instagram at @krisbudden, with more than 19.9K followers. Her feed is filled with unposed sideline shots, behind-the-scenes glimpses into her travels to cover major events such as the Australian Open, and loving moments with her family, showing that she takes pride in being a working mother. She also includes inspirational thoughts and on-camera behind-the-scenes looks, which further solidify her authenticity and reliability.
Kris Budden Net Worth
The net worth of Kris Budden is estimated to be $2 million to $4 million, which is the result of almost 2 decades of success on various networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports. Her ESPN salary is estimated to range between $80,000 and 100,000 annually, with additional income generated through endorsements and public speaking. Her professional achievements show a consistent expansion and career-long integrity in the competitive business of sports media.