Raúl De Molina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raúl De Molina
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De Molina at the 2010 Latin Grammys in Las Vegas
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| Born | March 29, 1959 Havana, Cuba
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| Education | The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale |
| Occupation | Television presenter and photojournalist |
| Television | El Gordo y La Flaca |
| Spouse(s) |
Millie de Molina
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 1 |
Raúl "El Gordo" De Molina, born on March 29, 1959, is a famous television host from Cuba. Many people know him as "El Gordo," which means "The Fat Man" in Spanish. He is best known for co-hosting the fun entertainment news show El Gordo y la Flaca on the Univision network. He has won many Emmy Awards for his work on the show.
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Early Life and Education
Raúl De Molina was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1959. When he was 10 years old, his family moved from Havana to Spain. They later moved to the United States when he was 16.
As a child, Raúl became very interested in photography. He took photos for his high school yearbook. He later studied at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and also graduated from Miami Photography College.
Career Highlights
Becoming a Photojournalist
After finishing college, De Molina worked as a freelance photographer in the 1980s. He took pictures for big news companies like Associated Press, Time, Newsweek, and USA Today.
He photographed many important news events and live sports. Soon, he became a well-known celebrity photographer. He took pictures of famous people and even royalty, like Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Oprah Winfrey, and Robert De Niro. He once shared that he even hung out of a helicopter to get a photo of a wedding!
His photos appeared in popular magazines such as Life and ¡Hola!. In 2005, his photography was shown in an exhibition called "Pictures of a Lifetime" in Miami.
Moving to Television
In the 1990s, Raúl De Molina started appearing on different talk shows. These appearances helped him get noticed by Spanish-language TV channels like Telemundo and Univision.
In 1998, he became the co-host of El Gordo y la Flaca with Lili Estefan. He has been hosting the show ever since. This show is very popular and often has more viewers than many other big networks during its time slot.
Raúl has also hosted and reported for other TV programs. He has covered major live events, including the Latin Grammy Awards and the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. In 2010, while covering the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he had an exciting adventure. His car caught fire during a safari, and he was surrounded by lions! Luckily, a family passing by rescued him.
In 2008, People en Español magazine named De Molina one of the "Most Influential Hispanics" in the United States. He has also been featured in their "Most Beautiful" and "Best Dressed" special issues.
Raúl De Molina has also been a judge on TV shows like Iron Chef America in 2011. He was also a judge for the Miss America 2012 pageant. In 2020, he was featured in a documentary film about the famous astrologer Walter Mercado.
Personal Life
Raúl De Molina married his wife, Millie de Molina, in 1994. They have a daughter named Mia. He loves to travel and takes many photos during his trips. He often goes on vacation with his family.
Raúl is a survivor of kidney cancer. He has also spoken openly about his journey to lose weight and become healthier. He enjoys collecting watches and has a collection of art and photography.
He is also very interested in cars. His car collection includes a special edition 2013 Mini Cooper GP and a 2006 Ford GT40.
Helping Others
De Molina supports many organizations that help children's health. He is an ambassador and sponsor for the Nicklaus Children's Hospital. In 2016, he took photos of the hospital's patients and employees for their benefit calendar.
Awards and Recognition
Raúl De Molina has received several Emmy Awards for his television work. He has also won three Suncoast Regional Emmys.
In 2013, he received the "20 Years Career Award" at the 31st TVyNovelas Awards. In 2016, he was honored with the "Outstanding Achievement in Hispanic Television" award.
In 2009, Raúl De Molina and his co-host Lili Estefan received their own stars on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. They were also awarded their own stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025.
See also
In Spanish: Raúl de Molina para niños
