Clara Benitez-Cortez Biography
Clara Benitez-Cortez is an American journalist working for KRIS as an evening anchor and reporter since joining the station in April 2023. Previously, she worked as a reporter at KSWB FOX 5 in her hometown of San Diego, California.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Education
Benitez joined the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in 2013 after finishing her high school education. In 2017, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with minors in Meteorology and Transborder Studies.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Career
Benitez works for KRIS as an evening anchor and reporter. She looks forward to returning to South Texas after reporting at KSWB FOX 5 in her hometown of San Diego, California. She began her journalism career as a reporter in Eugene, Oregon. While in Eugene, she broadcast the demolition of the historic Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.
Benitez worked in the Rio Grande Valley for three years, where she broadcast significant border issues, like asylum seekers living in Mexico under MPP and the Trump administration’s family separation policy. She recently shed light on the long route Ukrainian refugees took from Europe to the US/Mexico border in San Diego.
Benitez received an AP award for her investigation on a South Texas missing attorney, “El Gallito.” That investigation helped the Texas Rangers arrest and indict a family member of his disappearance and murder. Besides her work on TV, she serves as a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Age
Benitez likes to keep her personal life private and hence has not yet disclosed the year and month she was born. It is, therefore, not known when she celebrates her birthday. However, she might be in her 30s.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Height
Benitez stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 6 inches.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Family
Benitez has managed to keep her personal life away from the limelight; hence, she has not disclosed any information about her parents. It is also not known if Benitez-Cortez has any siblings.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Husband
Benitez got married to Marcus Cortez in November 2023 in Querétaro, Mexico. On December 5, 2023, she shared their wedding photo on her Instagram account and captioned “One month down, forever to go! 🤍 So blessed to have experienced the wedding of my dreams with my dream man. This is your sign to have a #destinationwedding ✨.” On June 14, 2023, she posted a photo of them on her Instagram account and captioned “Home is wherever I’m with you 🤍💍 #FutureMrsCortez.”
Benitez and Marcus met at Arizona State University, and he proposed to her in October 2022. On October 18, 2022, she posted a photo of the proposal on her Instagram account and captioned it “Something incredible happened this weekend! I said, ‘Yes!’ to my best friend! 💍🤍 We met during our time at ASU & ever-since then our bond only grew. I can’t wait to spend forever with you, Marcus…”
The couple has a son named Ezekiel. Ezekiel was born in March 2025 and is 1 year old as of 2026. On July 10, 2025, she posted a photo of herself and her son on her Instagram account and captioned“She is a working mama! 🤠So thankful to have been off for the first 4 months of Ezekiel’s life. Coming back to work has been an adjustment…I mean I just gave birth to a whole new human…”She spends her free time making Mexican food, getting coffee, or is with her husband and their dog, Fredrick.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Net Worth
Benitez has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 million – $5 million, which she has earned through being a journalist.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Salary
Benitez earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
Clara Benitez-Cortez KRIS
Benitez is working at KRIS, where she works alongside other famous anchors and reporters, including;
- Stefanie Lauber
- Larissa Liska
- Michelle Hofmann
- Steven Jones
- Diamond Dickson