Greg Gutfeld’s Adopted Son Makes Surprise Debut on Fox News — But It’s His Last Name That Has Viewers Asking Questions
Greg Gutfeld, the razor-sharp host of Gutfeld! and co-host of The Five, has long been Fox News’ king of contrarian comedy, topping late-night ratings with over 3.3 million viewers nightly. Known for his unapologetic humor and libertarian streak, Gutfeld has kept his personal life under wraps, sharing only glimpses of his life with wife Elena Moussa and their newborn daughter, Mira, born in December 2024. But on May 19, 2025, during a taping of his new Fox Nation game show, What Did I Miss?, Gutfeld stunned audiences by introducing his adopted son, 16-year-old Ethan—whose last name, revealed on air, sent the internet into a frenzy of speculation and awe.
Gutfeld’s private life has always been a contrast to his public bravado. While he’s open about his love for his French bulldog, Gus, and his $10.5 million SoHo apartment, family details are scarce. After Mira’s birth, Gutfeld took 46 days of paternity leave, returning to The Five in January 2025 with quips about fatherhood’s challenges at 60. Yet, he never mentioned Ethan, a teen he and Elena quietly adopted in 2022 after years of fostering. The decision, Gutfeld later shared, stemmed from a desire to give a child a stable home, inspired by his own upbringing by a Catholic mother and atheist father, which taught him to embrace diverse perspectives.
The surprise came during the finale of What Did I Miss?, a three-part Fox Nation series where contestants, isolated for 90 days, guess real versus fake headlines from Trump’s first three months back in office. With regulars Kat Timpf and Jamie Lissow on the panel, the show was already a hit, with winner Mike Brown pocketing $28,000. But the final episode, taped before a live audience, took an unexpected turn when Gutfeld announced a special guest: “Someone who’s been part of my life but not my spotlight—my son, Ethan Carter.”
Ethan, a lanky teen with a quick smile, walked onto the set to cheers. Dressed in a hoodie and jeans, he joined Gutfeld to present a bonus round, reading headlines with a dry wit that echoed his father’s. The audience loved his charm, but it was his introduction as “Ethan Carter” that sparked a wildfire of questions online. Why not Gutfeld? Social media, particularly X, lit up with theories. “Is Carter a tribute to someone?” one user posted. Another speculated, “Did Gutfeld adopt a kid with a famous connection?” The mystery of Ethan’s last name became the story, but the truth was far more inspiring.
Ethan, as Gutfeld later explained on The Five, kept his birth surname, Carter, at his own request. “It’s who he is,” Gutfeld said. “Elena and I adopted him, but we didn’t want to erase his story.” Ethan was born to a single mother who passed away when he was 10, leaving him in foster care. Gutfeld and Moussa, who met Ethan through a New York fostering program, felt an instant bond. “He’s got this fire, this curiosity,” Gutfeld told Variety in February 2025. “He challenges me every day, and I love it.” Ethan’s choice to keep Carter honored his late mother, a fact Gutfeld respected deeply.
On the What Did I Miss? set, Ethan didn’t just read cues—he stole the show. When a contestant guessed a fake headline about “Trump banning kale,” Ethan deadpanned, “Dad would’ve written that one.” The line drew roars, and Kat Timpf joked, “Greg, he’s funnier than you!” But it was Ethan’s off-script moment that sealed his impact. Handed the mic to close the show, he said, “I learned from my dad that truth matters, but so does kindness. You can laugh at the world, but don’t forget to lift it up too.” The audience fell silent, then erupted. Gutfeld, visibly moved, muttered, “Kid’s gonna put me out of a job.”
X exploded with reactions. “Ethan Carter just dropped a life lesson on Fox News,” one user wrote. “Greg Gutfeld’s son is 16 and wiser than most pundits,” another posted. The hashtag #EthanCarter trended as viewers debated his last name, with some digging for clues about his origins. A few conspiracy theorists linked “Carter” to distant celebrities, but most were captivated by Ethan’s poise and message. “He’s proof you can be funny and deep,” one fan tweeted. “Gutfeld raised a good one.”
Ethan’s debut wasn’t planned as a spectacle. Gutfeld had invited him to the set to see the game show’s inner workings, hoping to spark his interest in media. Ethan, an aspiring writer, had been journaling about his foster care experiences, blending humor with raw honesty. His appearance was a last-minute decision when a segment ran short. “He was just supposed to watch,” Gutfeld said on Gutfeld! the next night. “Then he grabbed the mic and owned it.”
The real story behind Ethan’s last name quelled the speculation but amplified the admiration. On The Five, Gutfeld shared how Ethan’s choice to keep Carter inspired him. “It’s a reminder that family isn’t about changing someone—it’s about embracing them,” he said. Co-host Jesse Watters, usually quick with a jab, added, “Your kid’s got heart, Greg. And better delivery.” The revelation shifted the narrative from mystery to meaning, with fans praising Gutfeld’s quiet compassion.
Ethan’s words about truth and kindness resonated beyond Fox News. Schools invited him to speak, and a publisher offered a deal for his journal entries, tentatively titled Keeping Carter. The teen, shy about the spotlight, told Gutfeld he just wanted to “make people think and smile.” At their SoHo home, where Gutfeld and Moussa juggle parenting Mira and Ethan, the family found new purpose. Gutfeld, who once called himself “selfish” on The Five, admitted Ethan taught him to prioritize others.
Ethan’s debut, and the questions about his last name, did more than buzz the internet—it sparked a conversation about identity, family, and the power of authenticity. For Greg Gutfeld, the man who’s outrated Colbert and Fallon, his proudest moment wasn’t a ratings win but the son who stepped into his world and left it brighter. As Ethan Carter’s name echoed online, it stood for something simple yet profound: a kid who honored his past while inspiring a future.