Ted Pretty is an American meteorologist, television personality and drone pilot best known for his long-running career at FOX5 Las Vegas (KVVU-TV). Over more than two decades, Pretty has become a familiar face to viewers across Southern Nevada, combining traditional television weather forecasting with aviation technology and aerial photography.

Today, FOX5 identifies Pretty as its Chief Drone Pilot & Meteorologist, a role that reflects the unusual combination of skills he has developed throughout his career. He is also the station’s first FAA-licensed drone pilot and has incorporated aerial technology into local news and weather coverage.

Pretty has spent most of his professional life in television. He joined FOX5 in 1999, initially helping launch the station’s morning show. After approximately 14 years of waking up in the early hours for morning television, he moved into the station’s nighttime chief meteorologist role in 2013.

Away from television, Pretty is married to Heidi and is the father of two children, Jack and Kinsey. His son Jack became unexpectedly famous in 2017 after appearing in a humorous FOX5 segment that went viral on the internet.

Who Is Ted Pretty?

Ted Pretty is a veteran American television meteorologist who has spent the majority of his career at FOX5 Las Vegas. FOX5 currently lists him as Chief Drone Pilot & Meteorologist, while his author page describes him as a meteorologist who can be seen on FOX5 News.

His career is somewhat unusual because his professional responsibilities extend beyond conventional weather forecasting. In addition to preparing and presenting forecasts, Pretty has developed expertise in unmanned aerial systems and drone photography. His long association with Las Vegas has made him one of the more recognizable weather personalities in the Southern Nevada television market.

He has covered everything from extreme heat and monsoon thunderstorms to winter weather, high winds and changing desert conditions. FOX5’s current weather archive continues to feature forecasts and weather reports written by Pretty, demonstrating that he remains actively involved in the station’s weather coverage.

Ted Pretty Age

Ted Pretty’s exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed by FOX5, and there is no reliable official source giving his precise age. However, his professional history provides some context. Pretty graduated from the University of Illinois in 1995, and he had already established himself as a television professional before joining FOX5 in 1999.

Based on his education and career timeline, the best available estimate places Ted Pretty in his mid-to-late 50s in 2026. Because his birth date has not been publicly confirmed, it would be misleading to state a specific birthday as fact.

Pretty grew up in a small Illinois community. In a University of Illinois alumni profile, he described himself as a child from a small Illinois town of approximately 2,000 people who arrived at the large university with an ambition to build a career in television. His early experiences at the university played an important role in turning that ambition into a profession.

Ted Pretty Family and Background

Pretty has kept details about his childhood family relatively private. Public sources do not provide reliable information about the names or occupations of his parents or about siblings. His own immediate family is better documented. Pretty is married to Heidi, and the couple has two children: a son named Jack and a daughter named Kinsey. FOX5’s official biography says that the family lives in Henderson, Nevada.

His family has occasionally appeared in his professional story, most famously when his son Jack became part of a viral television moment in 2017. Pretty has also described himself publicly as a husband and father, while generally maintaining a distinction between his professional life and his family’s private life.

Ted Pretty Education

Pretty attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 1995 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. The university’s 150th-anniversary alumni profile specifically identifies him as a member of the 1995 class and notes that he studied broadcast journalism.

His education was particularly important because Pretty entered television at a time when broadcasting was still largely driven by traditional newsroom and studio production. He credits University of Illinois professors Robin Kaler and Mitch Kazel with helping shape his career. Pretty said their passion for writing, reporting and television gave him confidence and helped establish the foundation for his professional path.

In addition to his journalism education, Pretty later pursued formal meteorological training. Industry profiles list a certificate in meteorology from Mississippi State University, adding scientific weather training to his original broadcast-journalism background. That combination of communication and atmospheric-science education became central to his career.

Ted Pretty’s Early Broadcasting Career

Before becoming a familiar Las Vegas television personality, Pretty worked in several smaller television markets. Available professional profiles indicate that he worked as a reporter and photographer at KHGI-TV in Kearney, Nebraska, before moving to KPVI-TV in Pocatello, Idaho, where he worked as a morning-show reporter and backup news anchor.

These early positions allowed him to develop skills in reporting, photography, live television and newsroom production. They also gave him an important foundation for his later work in meteorology. Television weather presenters need more than scientific knowledge; they must also understand how to communicate information quickly and clearly to viewers. Pretty’s early broadcasting experience helped him develop that ability.

Ted Pretty’s Career at FOX5 Las Vegas

Pretty joined FOX5 Las Vegas in June 1999. According to his official FOX5 profile, he helped launch the station’s morning show and spent approximately 14 years waking up at 2 a.m. for his work on the program. That schedule demonstrates the demands of local television broadcasting. Morning meteorologists often begin work long before viewers wake up, reviewing overnight weather data, preparing graphics and updating forecasts throughout the broadcast.

After more than a decade on the morning shift, Pretty moved into a nighttime weather role. In the fall of 2013, he assumed the position of nighttime Chief Meteorologist. The move represented a major career progression and established him as one of the station’s principal weather personalities.

Ted Pretty as Chief Meteorologist

As a chief meteorologist, Pretty’s responsibilities go beyond appearing on television. He analyzes weather models, radar information, satellite imagery and atmospheric conditions to develop forecasts for Southern Nevada. The Las Vegas climate creates its own unique forecasting challenges. Extreme summer heat, sudden monsoon storms, flash-flood threats, strong winds and rapidly changing desert conditions all require careful monitoring.

Pretty continues to contribute weather forecasts to FOX5’s website. In 2026, for example, he has written forecasts covering unusually warm temperatures, dry weather patterns and extreme heat conditions across Southern Nevada. His work therefore combines scientific forecasting with practical public communication.

Ted Pretty and His Drone Career

One of the most distinctive aspects of Pretty’s professional career is his work with drones. FOX5 identifies him as its Chief Drone Pilot & Meteorologist, and the station describes him as its first-ever FAA-licensed drone pilot. His interest in aerial technology eventually expanded beyond his work at the television station.

Professional profiles indicate that Pretty has worked in aerial drone photography and operates Las Vegas Sky Cam LLC, a business providing FAA-compliant aerial services. Drones have become increasingly valuable to television news because they allow stations to obtain aerial perspectives of events that would otherwise be difficult or expensive to film.

For a meteorologist, aerial imagery can also provide another way to communicate the effects of weather, including flooding, storms, snow, fires and changes to the landscape. Pretty’s combination of meteorology, journalism and drone technology therefore makes his professional background relatively distinctive.

Ted Pretty’s Viral “Weather Boy” Moment

One of the most memorable moments of Pretty’s career happened in 2017, when a seemingly ordinary FOX5 segment unexpectedly became an internet sensation. Pretty was reporting from a fireworks location ahead of Independence Day when he approached a young boy and asked him about the best type of fireworks to buy.

The boy responded with the now-famous line, “Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?” The brief exchange quickly spread across social media and became a viral video. What viewers initially believed was an awkward encounter with a random child turned out to be something very different: the boy was actually Pretty’s own 12-year-old son, Jack.

Pretty later confirmed that the interaction had been staged as a joke. In interviews, he explained that the family was not attempting to deceive viewers and that many regular FOX5 viewers already knew he was a father of two. The video was covered by major publications, including TIME and Esquire, and became one of the most recognizable viral moments involving a local television meteorologist. The incident also gave audiences a glimpse of Pretty’s personality away from conventional weather reporting.

Ted Pretty Wife

Ted Pretty is married to Heidi Pretty, who is also known publicly as Heidi Hayes. The couple has maintained a relatively private family life despite Pretty’s public career. FOX5 confirms that Pretty lives in Henderson with his wife, Heidi, and their two children.

Unlike many television personalities, Pretty does not frequently discuss his marriage in extensive detail on air. His public profile tends to focus primarily on weather, broadcasting and his drone work. Heidi has nevertheless occasionally appeared in public references to Pretty’s family life, particularly through his social-media presence.

Ted Pretty Children

Ted and Heidi Pretty have two children: son Jack and daughter Kinsey. Jack became particularly well known after the 2017 “Weather Boy” incident. At the time, Jack was 12 years old, and the interaction with his father became a viral sensation. TIME and Esquire both confirmed that the child in the video was Pretty’s son.

Pretty has generally protected his children’s privacy and has not turned them into regular media personalities. The viral incident remains an unusual exception because it involved his son appearing directly in a FOX5 segment.

Ted Pretty Height

Ted Pretty’s official FOX5 profile does not provide a height measurement, and there is no reliable public source confirming his exact height. Several biography websites publish estimated measurements, but these figures are not supported by an official source. For that reason, it is safer to describe his height as not officially disclosed rather than present an unsupported number as fact. Ted has an estimated net worth of approximately 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters).

Ted Pretty Salary

Ted Pretty’s exact salary is not publicly disclosed by FOX5 or Gray Media. Some online biography sites estimate the annual salaries of television meteorologists in a broad range of approximately $42,000 to $142,000, but these figures are not a verified salary for Pretty specifically.

Pretty’s long tenure, chief-meteorologist responsibilities and specialized drone-pilot role suggest that his compensation would likely be toward the higher end of the range associated with experienced television meteorologists in a major U.S. media market.

Ted Pretty Net Worth

His income has likely come from several sources over a long career, including television broadcasting, meteorology, drone-related work and other professional activities. His long tenure at FOX5 since 1999, combined with his separate aerial-services business, indicates that he has built a stable professional career. Ted has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million.

Ted Pretty’s Current Career

Ted Pretty remains active at FOX5 Las Vegas, where the station currently identifies him as Chief Drone Pilot & Meteorologist. His recent FOX5 work demonstrates that he continues to contribute actively to weather coverage. In 2026, he has reported on Southern Nevada’s extreme summer heat, dry weather patterns and changing temperatures.

His role also continues to incorporate drone technology, giving FOX5 access to aerial imagery for news and weather-related coverage. After more than 25 years at the station, Pretty’s career is notable for its longevity. He has remained with the same Las Vegas television organization since 1999 while adapting to major changes in broadcasting technology.

His career has moved from traditional television reporting and early-morning weather broadcasts to advanced drone operations and digital weather coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Ted Pretty?

Ted Pretty’s exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed. Based on his 1995 college graduation and career history, he is estimated to be in his mid-to-late 50s in 2026.

Who is Ted Pretty’s wife?

Ted Pretty is married to Heidi Pretty, also publicly associated with the name Heidi Hayes. The couple lives in Henderson, Nevada, with their two children.

Does Ted Pretty have children?

Yes. Ted Pretty and his wife have two children, Jack and Kinsey.

What happened with Ted Pretty’s son?

Pretty’s son Jack became famous online in 2017 after appearing in a FOX5 fireworks segment in which he jokingly told his father, “Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?” The segment was staged, and Pretty later confirmed that Jack was his son.

Where does Ted Pretty work?

Ted Pretty works for FOX5 Las Vegas (KVVU-TV), where he is currently Chief Drone Pilot & Meteorologist.

How long has Ted Pretty worked at FOX5?

Pretty joined FOX5 in 1999 and has spent more than 25 years with the station. He initially helped launch its morning show before moving to nighttime chief meteorologist duties in 2013.

What is Ted Pretty’s net worth?

His finances have not been publicly verified. A reasonable 2026 estimate is approximately $2 million, based on his long television career and additional professional work.

What is Ted Pretty’s salary?

His exact salary is private. Based on his senior position and experience, a reasonable 2026 estimate is approximately $120,000 per year.

Is Ted Pretty a licensed drone pilot?

Yes. FOX5 identifies him as the station’s first-ever FAA-licensed drone pilot and currently lists him as Chief Drone Pilot & Meteorologist.