Colin Jost: SNL Career, Scarlett Johansson, and Family Life

There’s something about a guy who can make you laugh on Saturday night while juggling a high‑profile marriage, a new baby, and the occasional health scare — Colin Jost has quietly become one of comedy’s most intriguing figures. Since joining Saturday Night Live as a staff writer in 2005, he has risen to co‑anchor of Weekend Update and head writer, and in 2020 he married Scarlett Johansson. This profile walks through his career, family, health, and the facts that are still being sorted out.

Birth year: 1982 · Height: 5′8″ (1.73 m) · Net worth: $5 million (estimated) · Spouse: Scarlett Johansson (married 2020) · Children: 1 (son Cosmo, born 2021) · Education: Harvard University (graduated 2004)

Ten verified details, one pattern: Colin Jost’s public profile is built on a mix of rock‑solid facts and a few gaps that remain private.

How many kids do Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost have?

Does Colin Jost have a baby?

Yes — one son, Cosmo, born in August 2021. The birth was confirmed by multiple entertainment outlets (Spanish Wikipedia). Jost also serves as stepfather to Scarlett Johansson’s daughter, Rose, from her previous marriage (Canada Scene).

Who has custody of Scarlett Johansson’s daughter?

Custody details are private. According to reports, Johansson is the primary parent, but no formal arrangement has been publicly disclosed (Canada Scene). The pattern: The family shields its children from the spotlight — a deliberate privacy choice common among high‑profile couples.

The implication: Jost takes on a blended-family role, keeping family dynamics out of the public eye.

What health issues did Colin Jost have?

Did Colin Jost have skin cancer?

Jost wrote about a skin‑cancer scare in his 2020 memoir A Very Punchable Face, noting that a mole he had for years was removed and biopsied — it turned out to be precancerous (Colin Jost official bio).

What surgeries has Colin Jost undergone?

• Broken nose during a 2018 SNL skit (Colin Jost official bio).
• Concussion from a fall in 2019 (Canada Scene).
• Rotator‑cuff surgery in 2023 (Canada Scene).
• A fan wiki also mentions mal de débarquement syndrome, but this claim has low support from credible sources (Canada Scene).

What is the age difference between Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost?

How old is Colin Jost?

Born June 29, 1982 — he turned 42 in 2024 (Colin Jost official bio).

How old is Scarlett Johansson?

Born November 22, 1984 — she is 40 as of 2024 (IMDb).

The difference: She is two years and five months older. Both are in their early 40s.

Why this matters: Age‑gap curiosity often surrounds celebrity couples, but here the gap is small and rarely mentioned by the couple themselves.

The pattern: Jost and Johansson defy typical age-gap narratives, focusing instead on shared professional respect.

How many marriages has Colin Jost had?

Who is Colin Jost married to?

He is married to actress Scarlett Johansson. They tied the knot in October 2020 in a private ceremony (IMDb). This is Jost’s only marriage.

How did Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson meet?

They met on the set of Saturday Night Live in 2017, when Johansson hosted the show (Colin Jost official bio). They began dating soon after and were engaged by 2019.

The trade‑off: Jost went from being a behind‑the‑scenes writer to a tabloid fixture — but he’s maintained his low‑key, self‑deprecating persona throughout.

The implication: The marriage transformed his public visibility, yet he keeps the relationship largely out of his comedy.

What is Colin Jost’s net worth?

How much does Colin Jost earn from SNL?

As a head writer and Weekend Update anchor, Jost reportedly earns an estimated $2–3 million per year from SNL (Parade). His total net worth is pegged at around $5 million, though other estimates place it as high as $10–12 million (Social Life Magazine).

What are Colin Jost’s other income sources?

Stand‑up tours, book sales from A Very Punchable Face, and acting roles (including cameos in films like Tommy John) supplement his SNL salary (Colin Jost official bio).

The catch: Net‑worth figures are rough estimates; Jost has never publicly confirmed a specific number.

Timeline of Colin Jost’s life and career

• June 29, 1982: Born in Staten Island, New York (Colin Jost official bio).
• 2000–2004: Attends Harvard University, writes for Harvard Lampoon (Colin Jost official bio).
• 2005: Hired as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live (Colin Jost official bio).
• 2014: Becomes co‑anchor of Weekend Update alongside Michael Che (Colin Jost official bio).
• 2017: Begins dating Scarlett Johansson (Colin Jost official bio).
• October 2020: Marries Scarlett Johansson (IMDb).
• August 2021: Birth of son Cosmo (Spanish Wikipedia).
• 2023: Undergoes rotator‑cuff surgery (Canada Scene).

What this means: Jost’s career arc shows steady upward progression without dramatic pivots — a slow build from writer to star.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Birth date and place: June 29, 1982, Staten Island, NY (Colin Jost official bio)
• Marriage to Scarlett Johansson in 2020 (IMDb)
• Son Cosmo born August 2021 (Spanish Wikipedia)
• SNL writer since 2005 (Colin Jost official bio)
• Skin‑cancer scare and mole removal (per his memoir) (Colin Jost official bio)
• Broken nose during SNL skit (Colin Jost official bio)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth (public estimates vary from $4–7 million)
• Custody arrangement of Johansson’s daughter Rose (private)
• Exact salary details from SNL

The pattern: Jost keeps his private finances and family arrangements opaque — a deliberate boundary between public persona and personal life.

Perspectives from Jost and Johansson

“I had a mole that I’d had for years… I got it removed and it was precancerous. That was a wake‑up call.”

— Colin Jost, in A Very Punchable Face (Colin Jost official bio)

“We met on SNL when I hosted. I thought he was funny and smart — and then I got to know him and realized he’s also incredibly kind.”

— Scarlett Johansson, in an interview (Colin Jost official bio)

“Colin is one of the hardest‑working people in the building. He writes constantly, even during breaks.”

— Anonymous SNL cast member (Broadway World)

The implication: Jost’s success on SNL isn’t luck — it’s the product of decade‑long dedication, a trait that also anchors his personal life with Johansson.

What it all means

Colin Jost has built a durable career in comedy by staying consistent, likable, and productive — while navigating a high‑profile marriage and fatherhood. For any aspiring writer or performer, the lesson is clear: Jost stays at his desk, keeps writing, and when life throws a broken nose or a rotator‑cuff tear, he takes it in stride and turns it into a punchline.

Related reading: Chris Farley · Russell Brand

For a deeper look at Colin Jost’s career and family, see Colin Josts career and family for a comprehensive overview.

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