Phyllis Minkoff is best known as the first wife of famous American television host Maury Povich. She was married to him from 1962 to 1979, a period that covered the early years of his broadcasting career. Together, they had two daughters, Susan Anne and Amy Joyce Povich. Unlike her ex-husband, who spent decades in the public eye, Phyllis Minkoff has lived a very private life away from the media spotlight. Public records about her are limited, and most of what is known comes from brief mentions in profiles about Maury Povich. She is often described as a communications and public relations professional, though details about her specific work remain unclear.
Phyllis Minkoff Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Phyllis Minkoff |
| Born | February 15, 1941 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Communications and Public Relations Professional (reported) |
| Known For | First wife of television host Maury Povich |
| Spouse(s) | Maury Povich (m. 1962 – div. 1979)Philip Baskin (remarried after divorce) |
| Children | Susan Anne Povich (born 1963)Amy Joyce Povich |
| Grandchildren | Yes (through daughter Amy Joyce Povich) |
| Residence | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (after divorce) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Around $1 million (unverified) |
| Education | Not publicly known |
| Political Activism | Not publicly documented |
Early Life and Family Background
Very little is publicly known about Phyllis Minkoff’s early life and family background. She was born on February 15, 1941, in Washington, D.C., and is reported to have been Maury Povich’s college sweetheart.
Details about her parents, siblings, or childhood have not been widely documented in public sources. Her surname, Minkoff, is associated with other prominent figures in entertainment and fashion, but there is no confirmed public connection between Phyllis and those individuals. Her early life remains largely private, which is consistent with how she has chosen to live her life away from public view. Most available information focuses on her marriage and family rather than her upbringing.
Career in Communications and Public Relations
Phyllis Minkoff is often described in short-form biographies as a communications and public relations professional.
However, specific details about her career—such as the companies she worked for, the campaigns she managed, or the clients she served—are not publicly documented. Some sources suggest she may have been involved in political or advocacy consulting, but this remains unverified. After her divorce from Maury Povich, she did not pursue a public career in broadcasting or entertainment, choosing instead to maintain a low profile. Her professional life, like much of her personal history, has been kept largely out of the public eye, leaving only broad descriptions rather than concrete details.
Political Activism and Social Advocacy
There is no verified public information confirming Phyllis Minkoff’s involvement in political activism or social advocacy.
Some online profiles hypothesize that she may have been involved in community philanthropy or charitable causes, given her social standing, but these are speculative. The search results for her political activism do not yield any reliable sources connecting her to specific movements or organizations. It is possible that she engaged in charitable work privately, as many individuals in her position do, but without concrete evidence, her political and social advocacy remains undocumented. Her public identity is primarily tied to her role as Maury Povich’s first wife rather than any independent activist work.
Phyllis Minkoff and Maury Povich’s Marriage
Phyllis Minkoff married Maury Povich in 1962. The marriage lasted 17 years and ended in divorce in 1979.
During their time together, Povich was building his career in journalism and broadcasting, moving from print to local and then national television news. The couple had two daughters, Susan Anne and Amy Joyce. Their marriage is often mentioned in profiles of Maury Povich as an important part of his personal history. In a 2022 interview, Povich admitted that his dedication to his career during those early years negatively impacted his family life. This period was foundational for his eventual success as a television host.
Who is Maury Povich?
Maury Povich is a well-known American television personality and journalist.
He is best known for hosting the daytime talk show Maury for 31 seasons, from 1991 until his retirement in 2022. Born in 1939, he began his career as a news reporter and anchor before transitioning to talk shows. He was married to Phyllis Minkoff from 1962 to 1979, and later married news anchor Connie Chung in 1984. Povich became famous for his show’s paternity tests and dramatic reveals, which made him a household name. His long career in television has made him one of the most recognizable figures in American daytime TV.
Phyllis Minkoff and Maury Povich Divorce
Phyllis Minkoff and Maury Povich divorced in 1979 after 17 years of marriage.
While the exact reasons for the divorce have not been publicly detailed, Maury Povich himself has spoken about the breakdown of the marriage. In a 2022 interview, he admitted, “I made the terrible mistake of not being with my family, worried about my career, and that ended in a divorce”. He called putting his job before his family “the biggest mistake” he ever made. This suggests that his intense focus on his broadcasting career during the 1960s and 1970s played a significant role in the end of the marriage.
Phyllis Minkoff Live After Her Divorce
After her divorce from Maury Povich in 1979, Phyllis Minkoff eventually settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Public records from Florida corporate filings list a Phyllis Minkoff Baskin with an address on Schenley Road in Pittsburgh. This suggests that she moved to Pittsburgh after her remarriage to Philip Baskin. The city became her home base for at least part of her life after the divorce. Her connection to Pittsburgh is one of the few geographic details available about her post-divorce life. She appears to have lived a quiet, private life there, away from the media attention that followed her ex-husband.
Phyllis Minkoff Second Husband
After her divorce from Maury Povich, Phyllis Minkoff remarried.
Her second husband was Philip Baskin. Public records from Florida show that a woman named Phyllis Minkoff Baskin served as treasurer for a not-for-profit corporation, with an address listed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This aligns with the information about her connection to Pittsburgh. Very little else is publicly known about Philip Baskin or the details of their marriage. The surname Baskin appears in official filings, confirming her remarriage, but the couple has maintained a private life away from media attention.
Phyllis Minkoff’s Life With Philip Baskin
Phyllis Minkoff’s life with her second husband, Philip Baskin, has been kept very private.
Public records list a “Phyllis Minkoff Baskin” as an officer of a not-for-profit corporation, with an address on Schenley Road in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This suggests that after her divorce from Maury Povich, she built a new life in Pittsburgh with Philip Baskin. The couple appears to have been involved in community or charitable activities, as indicated by the corporate filing. However, details about their daily life, Philip Baskin’s career, or the duration of their marriage are not publicly documented. Like much of Phyllis’s life, this chapter remains largely out of the public eye.
Meet Susan Anne Povich and Amy Joyce Povich
Phyllis Minkoff and Maury Povich have two daughters together: Susan Anne Povich and Amy Joyce Povich. Susan Anne Povich, the elder daughter, was born in June 1963. She attended the University of Michigan and later Harvard Law School. After practicing law in New York, she went to culinary school and eventually founded Red Hook Lobster, a popular lobster restaurant in Brooklyn. Amy Joyce Povich, the younger daughter, is married to Dr. David B. Agus, a well-known physician and author. Both daughters have established successful careers and have maintained a relatively private life despite their father’s fame.
Phyllis Minkoff’s Connection to Pittsburgh
Phyllis Minkoff’s connection to Pittsburgh is confirmed through public records that list her address on Schenley Road in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This address appears in Florida corporate filings where she is listed as treasurer of a not-for-profit corporation under the name Phyllis Minkoff Baskin. Pittsburgh appears to be the city where she built her post-divorce life after marrying her second husband, Philip Baskin. The Schenley Road address is in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a historic Jewish area of Pittsburgh. Beyond this, little is known about her activities or involvement in the Pittsburgh community, as she has maintained a very private life.
Phyllis Minkoff Estimated Net Worth
Phyllis Minkoff’s estimated net worth is often listed around $1 million, though these figures are unverified and based on online estimates.
Her wealth is believed to come from her career in communications and public relations, as well as potential alimony from her divorce from Maury Povich. For comparison, Maury Povich’s net worth is estimated at around $40 million. Since Phyllis has kept her financial affairs private, these net worth figures should be treated as rough estimates rather than confirmed facts. Her actual financial situation remains unknown to the public.
Legacy and Current Life
Phyllis Minkoff’s legacy is primarily seen through her two daughters, Susan Anne and Amy Joyce, who have both built successful careers in law, culinary arts, and healthcare.
She has maintained a remarkably private life since her divorce from Maury Povich in 1979, avoiding the public eye that her ex-husband has inhabited for decades. Now in her later years, she is believed to be a grandmother through her daughter Amy’s marriage to Dr. David Agus. Her choice to remain out of the spotlight reflects a commitment to privacy and discretion. Her story is one of quiet influences behind a very public family.
Conclusion
Phyllis Minkoff is a figure defined by her privacy. As the first wife of Maury Povich, she shared 17 years of marriage with one of America’s most recognizable television hosts, yet she chose to live her life away from the cameras. Together they raised two successful daughters, Susan Anne and Amy Joyce, who carry forward her legacy. After the divorce, she remarried Philip Baskin and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she has continued to live quietly. While public information about her remains limited, her story is a reminder that not everyone connected to fame seeks it for themselves. Her legacy lives on through her family and her commitment to a private life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Maury Povich’s first wife?
Maury Povich’s first wife was Phyllis Minkoff. They married in 1962 and had two daughters, Susan and Amy, before divorcing in 1979. Povich later married journalist Connie Chung in 1984.
What is Maury Povich doing now?
Maury Povich retired from his long-running daytime talk show Maury in 2022 after 31 seasons. He has remained active in media and launched the On Par with Maury Povich podcast, where he interviews guests and discusses topics including sports, entertainment, and his own experiences.
What did Connie Chung’s husband do?
Connie Chung’s husband, Maury Povich, is a television host and former broadcast journalist. Before becoming famous for Maury, he worked in television news and hosted A Current Affair. He later became known for his long-running daytime talk show Maury.
How many children does Connie Chung have?
Connie Chung has one child, her son Matthew Jay Povich, whom she and Maury Povich adopted in 1995. Maury also has two daughters, Susan and Amy, from his first marriage to Phyllis Minkoff.
Is Connie Chung Korean or Chinese?
Connie Chung is Chinese American. She was born in Washington, D.C., and is the daughter of Chinese immigrants who came to the United States from China in 1945.
What ended Connie Chung’s career?
Connie Chung’s career was not simply “ended”; she continued working in television after leaving major network news. A significant turning point came in 1995, when she was let go from CBS Evening News while she and Maury Povich were preparing to adopt their son, Matthew. Chung later described this period as a transition toward focusing more on family life.
