Peter K. McMahon is a British businessman best known as the husband of former White House press secretary and Fox News host Dana Perino. Their relationship has an unusual beginning: they met as strangers sitting beside each other on a flight from Denver to Chicago in August 1997. They married the following year and have remained together for more than 27 years. While Perino built a highly visible career in politics and television, McMahon developed his own career in international business and medical-product sales.
Quick Bio of Peter K. McMahon
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Peter McMahon |
| Also known as | Peter K. McMahon |
| Known for | Dana Perino’s husband |
| Nationality | British |
| Birthplace | United Kingdom |
| Reported birth year | 1954 |
| Age | Around 71–72 in 2026 |
| Profession | Businessman and sales executive |
| Industry | Medical products and manufacturing |
| Wife | Dana Perino |
| Met Dana | August 17, 1997 |
| Marriage date | September 30, 1998 |
| Age difference | About 18 years |
| Children | Two from a previous relationship |
| Children with Dana | None |
| Current reported role | President of GreenSleeve Medical Corporation |
| Public profile | Mostly private |
Who Is Peter K. McMahon?
Peter K. McMahon is a British businessman who became publicly known through his marriage to Dana Perino.
Perino served as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush and later became one of the most familiar personalities on Fox News.
Peter took a very different professional route.
According to PEOPLE, he built a career in medical manufacturing and sales and eventually started his own company. He later became president of GreenSleeve Medical Corporation.
Despite being married to a television personality, Peter has largely avoided becoming a celebrity himself.
How Old Is Peter K. McMahon?
Peter McMahon was born in 1954, according to multiple biographical sources.
IMDb gives his date of birth as June 6, 1954, and identifies Blackpool, Lancashire, England, as his birthplace.
That would make Peter 72 years old in June 2026.
PEOPLE’s 2025 interview with Dana Perino also described McMahon as 70 at the time, supporting a 1954 birth year.
Where Was Peter McMahon Born?
Peter is British.
Blackpool, Lancashire, England, is widely reported as his birthplace.
PEOPLE confirms that he was born and raised in the United Kingdom, although its profile focuses more on his career and relationship with Dana than on detailed childhood information.
His British background became an important part of the couple’s early relationship because Peter was living in the U.K. when they met.
Dana was living and working in the United States.
That meant their romance began across two countries.
What Does Peter K. McMahon Do for a Living?
Peter has spent much of his professional life in sales and international business.
PEOPLE reports that after his early plans to join the Royal Air Force did not work out, he went to Germany and began working in medical manufacturing sales.
This eventually developed into a long international business career.
Unlike some online biographies that describe him as a retail executive, the more recent PEOPLE profile specifically connects Peter with medical manufacturing and medical-product sales.
Did Peter McMahon Serve in the Royal Air Force?
No.
Peter considered joining the Royal Air Force when he was younger.
He discussed the experience on Dana Perino’s podcast and explained that officer training did not work out for him.
According to PEOPLE, Peter jokingly admitted that he did not take things seriously enough and was ultimately considered unsuitable.
That setback pushed him toward a completely different career.
He moved into business and sales instead.
What Is Icon Medical?
Peter founded Icon Medical in 1999.
According to PEOPLE, his career in medical manufacturing eventually led him to establish the company after years of experience in sales.
His reported professional history says he remained with Icon Medical until December 2016.
The business became an important part of his career after he and Dana married.
What Is Peter McMahon Doing Now?
The most reliable recent mainstream profile says Peter became president of GreenSleeve Medical Corporation in November 2019.
This is important because many older or lower-quality biographies online give different job titles.
Some describe him as a CEO of Shopko or connect him with major retail companies.
Those claims are often repeated without strong sourcing and may involve confusion with another executive named Peter McMahon.
The medical-sales career reported by PEOPLE is better supported by Peter’s own comments and professional information.
Is Peter K. McMahon the Former Shopko CEO?
This is one of the biggest sources of confusion surrounding Peter online.
Numerous biography websites claim Dana Perino’s husband worked for major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Walmart, and Shopko.
However, newer mainstream reporting from PEOPLE describes his career differently, focusing on medical manufacturing sales, Icon Medical, and GreenSleeve Medical Corporation.
There are multiple business executives named Peter McMahon.
For that reason, readers should be cautious about automatically combining every Peter McMahon business résumé found online with Dana Perino’s husband.
How Did Peter K. McMahon Meet Dana Perino?
Their meeting sounds like the beginning of a romantic movie.
On August 17, 1997, Dana boarded a flight from Denver to Chicago.
Peter was also on the flight.
They ended up sitting beside each other.
PEOPLE reports that Dana was 25 while Peter was 43.
Dana noticed that Peter was attractive, had a British accent, and was not wearing a wedding ring.
They began talking.
The conversation continued for the entire flight.
Where Were Dana and Peter Sitting?
The couple has even remembered their seat numbers.
According to PEOPLE’s account of their story, previous interviews identified them as sitting in 13A and 13C.
They were strangers when the flight began.
By the end, they had exchanged contact information.
Dana reportedly gave Peter several ways to reach her, including her phone numbers, fax number, and email address.
Remember, this was 1997.
Dating communication looked very different from today.
Was It Love at First Sight?
There was clearly immediate interest, but Dana had doubts about whether a relationship could realistically work.
Peter lived in Britain.
Dana had a promising career in Washington, D.C.
There was also a significant age difference.
She was 25.
He was 43.
PEOPLE reported in 2025 that Dana had never imagined marrying someone considerably older than herself.
Still, they continued communicating after the flight.
The relationship quickly became serious.
How Much Older Is Peter McMahon Than Dana Perino?
Peter is approximately 18 years older than Dana.
Dana was born in 1972, while Peter was born in 1954.
Wikipedia also notes the 18-year age difference in its discussion of Dana’s personal life.
The difference initially concerned Dana.
But decades later, she has repeatedly made clear that it did not prevent them from building a successful marriage.
What Advice Changed Dana Perino’s Mind?
Dana has spoken openly about wondering whether she should pursue the relationship.
Her career was moving forward.
Peter lived overseas.
He was significantly older.
A friend gave her advice that she later said changed the direction of her life: she should not reject an opportunity to be loved simply because it did not fit her original plan.
Dana eventually decided to take the chance.
That decision led to marriage.
How Did Peter McMahon Propose?
According to PEOPLE, Peter proposed less than a year after their first meeting.
The proposal happened in front of Washington National Cathedral.
Dana did not simply answer immediately in the usual way.
She later responded through a letter.
The message ended by accepting his proposal.
Their unusual courtship continued with a relatively quick wedding.
When Did Peter K. McMahon Marry Dana Perino?
Peter and Dana married on September 30, 1998.
IMDb confirms the exact wedding date.
Their marriage came just over a year after meeting on the airplane.
Dana’s political circumstances also helped make the move possible.
When the congressman she worked for announced his retirement, Dana had an opportunity to make a major life change.
She moved to England and married Peter.
Where Did Peter and Dana Live After Marriage?
After marrying, Dana moved to England.
This was a major adjustment for her.
She had been developing a political career in Washington but suddenly found herself beginning married life overseas.
Peter reportedly reassured her that if living abroad did not work for her, he would support another decision.
The couple later returned to the United States.
Dana eventually re-entered government work and moved toward the White House career that would make her nationally famous.
Did Peter McMahon Help Dana Perino’s Career?
Dana says yes.
She has repeatedly credited Peter with providing important support throughout her professional life.
In a 2022 podcast episode, she described him as her best friend and guide and said her accomplishments would not have been possible in the same way without their partnership.
Peter also had extensive international experience.
Dana told PEOPLE that his knowledge of international issues sometimes helped her research and understand subjects connected with her work.
Was Dana Perino Already Famous When They Married?
No.
This is one of the most interesting parts of their relationship.
Dana had a promising political career, but she was nowhere near the level of public recognition she has today.
They married in 1998.
Dana did not become White House press secretary until 2007.
So Peter was with her almost a decade before she took one of the most visible communications jobs in the American government.
Who Is Dana Perino?
Dana Perino is an American political commentator, author, and former government official.
She served as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush from 2007 until January 2009.
She later became a major television personality and co-host of Fox News’ The Five.
She has also written several books and hosted other television and podcast projects.
Peter has generally remained behind the scenes as Dana’s public profile grew.
Was Peter K. McMahon Married Before Dana Perino?
Yes.
PEOPLE confirms that Peter had been married before meeting Dana.
However, reliable mainstream reporting provides relatively little information about his previous marriage.
This is another area where online biographies often become unreliable.
Some websites provide names and detailed marriage histories without clearly showing where the information originated.
The safest confirmed fact is that Peter was previously married and already had children when he met Dana.
Does Peter K. McMahon Have Children?
Yes.
Peter has two children from a previous relationship, according to PEOPLE.
Dana and Peter do not have biological children together.
Dana therefore became part of an already existing family when she married him.
Because Peter’s children are not major public figures, detailed information about their private lives is limited.
Do Dana Perino and Peter McMahon Have Children Together?
No.
Dana and Peter have not had children together.
This sometimes creates confusion because online biographies describe Peter as a father.
Both statements can be true:
Peter has children from an earlier relationship.
Peter and Dana do not have children together.
Their pets, however, have become a very visible part of their family life.
Who Was Jasper?
Jasper was Dana and Peter’s beloved Hungarian Vizsla.
The dog became surprisingly famous among Dana’s television viewers and social-media followers.
Dana even wrote a book titled Let Me Tell You About Jasper: How My Best Friend Became America’s Dog.
Jasper died in September 2021.
His death was emotional for both Dana and Peter.
Wikipedia also records Jasper’s death and notes that the couple later welcomed another Vizsla.
Who Is Percy?
After Jasper died, Dana and Peter welcomed another Hungarian Vizsla named Percy.
PEOPLE reports that the couple have shared three Vizslas during their relationship: Henry, Jasper, and Percy.
Their dogs have become an unusually visible part of their marriage.
Dana frequently discusses them publicly and has described them as family.
Is Peter McMahon American?
Peter was born and raised in Britain.
Some online profiles describe him as British-American or say he later obtained U.S. citizenship.
However, mainstream profiles focus primarily on his British background.
The most confidently established fact is that Peter was born in the United Kingdom and spent significant parts of his adult life in both Britain and the United States.
Has Peter McMahon Lived in Other Countries?
Yes.
Peter has travelled extensively.
PEOPLE reports that he lived in Germany twice, spending about two years there on each occasion.
He also lived in Saudi Arabia for approximately a year.
His work took him through many parts of:
- Europe
- Asia
- South America
- The Middle East
Peter has said that extensive travel helped him understand how people in different places live.
Is Peter McMahon on Television?
Peter occasionally appears alongside Dana, but he is not a professional television personality.
He does not co-host The Five or work as a political commentator.
His public appearances generally happen because of Dana.
That distinction has helped him maintain a relatively private life despite being married to someone who appears on national television almost every day.
Is Peter McMahon on Instagram?
Peter does not maintain the kind of major public social-media presence associated with Dana.
Dana sometimes shares photographs and stories involving her husband through her own accounts.
As a result, fans see glimpses of Peter without him needing to build his own celebrity brand.
What Is Peter K. McMahon’s Net Worth?
Peter McMahon’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Some celebrity-biography websites claim figures ranging from several million dollars to more than $10 million.
These estimates should be treated cautiously.
There is no reliable public financial disclosure showing his:
- Investments
- Salary
- Property holdings
- Business ownership value
- Retirement assets
- Debts
Peter clearly had a long business career, but that does not allow outsiders to calculate his personal wealth accurately.
Is Peter McMahon Rich?
Peter has had a successful international business career, so it is reasonable to say he has been professionally successful.
However, describing someone as a multimillionaire requires stronger financial evidence.
Dana has also had a highly successful career in government, publishing, and television.
The couple’s combined finances remain private.
Where Do Peter McMahon and Dana Perino Live?
Dana has been associated with both New York and New Jersey because of her television career and personal life.
Wikipedia notes that she has been a resident of Bay Head, New Jersey.
However, precise current residential information should be treated as private.
What matters publicly is that the couple has spent much of their married life in the United States after their early period living in Britain.
Are Peter McMahon and Dana Perino Still Married in 2026?
Yes.
There is no credible report that Peter and Dana have separated.
They married on September 30, 1998, meaning their 28th wedding anniversary will fall in September 2026.
PEOPLE’s recent coverage also presents their relationship as strong and enduring.
Dana has repeatedly described marrying Peter as one of the most important decisions of her life.
What Has Dana Perino Said About Peter?
Dana has described Peter as:
- Her best friend
- Her guide
- Supportive
- Intelligent
- Steady
- Important to her career success
She has spoken particularly warmly about how Peter supported her ambitions rather than asking her to choose between marriage and a demanding career.
Their relationship has become part of the advice Dana gives younger professionals about balancing work and personal life.
Why Does Peter K. McMahon Keep a Private Life?
Peter built his career outside politics and entertainment.
Even after Dana became White House press secretary and later a television star, he did not attempt to turn himself into a public personality.
He occasionally participates in Dana’s podcasts, interviews, and public stories.
But most of his daily life remains private.
That has allowed the couple to maintain some separation between Dana’s public career and their marriage.
Why Are People Searching for Peter K. McMahon?
Interest in Peter usually comes from people who watch Dana Perino and want to know more about her personal life.
Common searches include:
- Who is Peter K. McMahon?
- Who is Dana Perino’s husband?
- How old is Peter McMahon?
- What does Peter McMahon do?
- How did Dana Perino meet her husband?
- What is their age difference?
- Was Peter married before?
- Does Peter have children?
- Do Dana and Peter have children together?
- What is Peter McMahon’s net worth?
- Are Dana and Peter still married?
Their airplane meeting is especially popular because it is such an unusual beginning to a long marriage.
Common Misunderstandings About Peter K. McMahon
One major problem online is mixing Peter with other businessmen who share his name.
Many biography websites give him long retail-management histories that conflict with more recent mainstream reporting about his medical manufacturing and sales career. PEOPLE identifies his work with Icon Medical and GreenSleeve Medical Corporation.
Another mistake is saying Dana and Peter have two children together.
Peter has two children from an earlier relationship. Dana and Peter do not have children together.
Some sites also publish exact multimillion-dollar net-worth estimates without financial evidence.
Finally, their age difference is sometimes exaggerated. Reliable sources describe Peter as approximately 18 years older than Dana.
Final Thoughts
Peter K. McMahon’s story is much more than simply being Dana Perino’s husband.
He was a British businessman travelling from Denver to Chicago when chance placed him beside a 25-year-old American political staffer named Dana Perino on August 17, 1997.
They talked during the flight.
They exchanged contact information.
And despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic and having an 18-year age difference, the relationship continued.
They married on September 30, 1998.
Peter continued building his business career, including founding Icon Medical and later becoming president of GreenSleeve Medical Corporation, while Dana eventually became White House press secretary and a major television personality.
More than 27 years after their wedding, they remain together.
Dana has credited Peter’s support with helping her pursue opportunities she might otherwise have missed.
Their relationship therefore remains one of the most interesting parts of her personal story: two strangers met by accident on an airplane, took a chance on a difficult long-distance relationship, and ultimately built a marriage that has lasted for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Peter K. McMahon?
Peter McMahon is a British businessman best known as the husband of former White House press secretary and Fox News host Dana Perino.
How old is Peter K. McMahon?
Peter was born in 1954 and turns approximately 72 in 2026. IMDb lists June 6, 1954 as his birth date.
Where is Peter McMahon from?
He was born and raised in the United Kingdom. Blackpool, Lancashire, is widely reported as his birthplace.
Who is Peter McMahon married to?
He is married to Dana Perino.
How did Peter McMahon meet Dana Perino?
They met while sitting beside each other on a flight from Denver to Chicago on August 17, 1997.
When did Dana Perino marry Peter McMahon?
They married on September 30, 1998.
How much older is Peter McMahon than Dana Perino?
Peter is approximately 18 years older than Dana.
Was Peter McMahon married before Dana?
Yes. PEOPLE reports that Peter was previously married.
Does Peter McMahon have children?
Yes. He has two children from a previous relationship.
Do Dana Perino and Peter McMahon have children together?
No. They do not have children together.
What does Peter McMahon do for a living?
He has worked in medical manufacturing and sales. PEOPLE reports that he founded Icon Medical and later became president of GreenSleeve Medical Corporation.
What is Peter McMahon’s net worth?
His personal net worth has not been reliably verified.
Are Peter McMahon and Dana Perino still married?
Yes. They have been married since September 1998.
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