Michelle Wolf
Born 1985 · Age 40
American comedian, writer, producer and television host known for Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Daily Show, the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner set, Netflix series The Break, and multiple stand-up specials.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Michelle Wolf and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Michelle Wolf is born in Hershey, Pennsylvania; grew up with two older brothers.
Graduated Hershey High School
Completed high school in Hershey, Pennsylvania; was a track & field athlete (high jump, 400m, 800m).
Ran Las Vegas Marathon
Participated in the Las Vegas marathon while in her early adult years.
Hired at Bear Stearns (private client services)
Began finance career at Bear Stearns shortly after college, working in private client services.
Graduated College of William & Mary (BS, kinesiology)
Earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology; member of a cardiovascular physiology lab and former collegiate track athlete.
Finance career spans 'almost four years' across Bear Stearns and JPMorgan
Overall approximately four years in financial services (mutual funds, account management) between the two banks.
Started improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade & PIT (approx.)
Around the time of the Bear Stearns buyout and JPMorgan transition, began taking improv classes at UCB and Peoples Improv Theater (PIT).
Bear Stearns buyout / transition to JPMorgan Chase
Worked at Bear Stearns through its 2008 crisis; moved to JPMorgan Chase thereafter and worked in mutual funds/managing accounts.
Began performing stand-up comedy
Started doing stand-up in clubs and open mics (Biography.com states she started in 2011).
Used severance and savings to pursue comedy full time
In January 2013 she used a severance package from her prior job and savings to devote a year to comedy.
Hired as writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers
Joined Late Night as a writer in January 2014; also performed recurring bits (e.g., Grown-Up Annie) and later served as writing supervisor.
Selected as a 'New Face' for Just For Laughs Montreal (New Faces of Comedy)
Chosen as part of the New Faces showcase at the Just For Laughs comedy festival (selection year reported as 2014).
Selected as one of 'New Faces of Comedy' (Just For Laughs 2014)
Recognition as one of the noteworthy emerging comedians at Just For Laughs (appears in multiple profiles and speaker bios).
Recurring character 'Grown-Up Annie' on Late Night with Seth Meyers
Created and performed the recurring persona 'Grown-Up Annie' on Late Night, boosting her on-screen profile.
Late-night television stand-up debut (Late Night with Seth Meyers)
Made her first late-night TV stand-up appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers in July 2014.
Began working regularly at the Comedy Cellar; Louis C.K. mentorship (approx.)
Around 2015 she worked sets at the Comedy Cellar, performed with and received mentorship/support from Louis C.K.; later appeared on his show and opened on his tour.
Named to Vulture's '50 Comedians You Should Know' and TimeOut NY lists (approx.)
Recognized by outlets (Vulture, TimeOut NY, Rolling Stone lists) as an emerging comedic talent around 2014–2015.
Comedy Central released web series 'Now Hiring' on YouTube
Comedy Central released the entirety of Michelle's web series Now Hiring to YouTube in November 2015.
Nominated for Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer
Received a nomination (Best Newcomer Prize) for her debut hour-long show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2016.
Emotional Daily Show segment on post-2016-election feelings (Nov 9, 2016)
Appeared on The Daily Show in a memorable segment discussing disappointment and fury after the 2016 presidential election.
Appeared on UK shows 'Live at the Apollo' and '8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown' (late 2016–2017)
Expanded UK television appearances including Live at the Apollo and multiple 8 Out of 10 Cats episodes with British comedians.
Wrote jokes for Chris Rock for the 88th Academy Awards
Contributed joke writing for Chris Rock's hosting of the 88th Academy Awards (Oscars in Feb 2016).
Joined The Daily Show with Trevor Noah as on-air correspondent
Became a contributor/correspondent and writer for Comedy Central's The Daily Show in April 2016.
Performed 'So Brave' at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (first non-North America performance)
Took her stand-up show So Brave to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2016; this was her first performance outside North America.
Guest on 'Frankie Boyle's American Autopsy' (BBC2)
Appeared on BBC2 reflecting on the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Appeared in 'Horace and Pete' (Louis C.K.) and opened on Louis C.K. tour (approx.)
Worked with Louis C.K., appearing in his show Horace and Pete and opening for him on tour; cited as an influential relationship in her comedy growth.
Performed at major comedy festivals (Just For Laughs, Bonnaroo, Dublin, JFL42)
Headlined and performed at multiple prominent festivals, expanding her touring and festival profile in 2016–2017 and beyond.
Taped HBO stand-up special 'Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady' (mid-August 2017)
Taped her first hour-long stand-up special, Nice Lady, at the Skirball Center in NYC in mid-August 2017.
HBO premieres 'Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady'
Nice Lady premieres on HBO on December 2, 2017, bringing wider recognition.
Completed 50-mile ultramarathon at Bonneville Salt Flats
Ran a 50-mile ultramarathon at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in 2018, demonstrating long-distance running commitment.
Primetime Emmy nomination (Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special) for 'Nice Lady' (approx.)
Nice Lady garnered a Primetime Emmy nomination (source states she received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special).
C-SPAN partially stopped broadcasting WHCD monologue (concern over FCC indecency rules)
C-SPAN Radio managers halted broadcast of portions of her WHCD set out of concern about 'indecency' guidelines; part of the controversy record.
Major media & public reaction to WHCD set (both praise and criticism)
Her WHCD performance sparked widespread media commentary, social media debate, and defense from many comedians and commentators; increased national profile.
Netflix ordered 'The Break with Michelle Wolf' (10-episode season announced)
Netflix ordered a 10-episode weekly talk show hosted and executive produced by Michelle Wolf (announcement reported Feb 12, 2018).
Sold out Carolines on Broadway show (boosted by WHCD publicity)
Following the WHCD controversy, she sold out a March 2018 stand-up show at Carolines on Broadway.
Featured entertainer at the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner
Delivered a 19-minute roast-style monologue that targeted the Trump administration, Sarah Sanders and the media; generated major national controversy and debate.
Premiere of Netflix series 'The Break with Michelle Wolf'
The Break premiered on Netflix on May 27, 2018; weekly episodes ran for ten weeks.
Season finale of 'The Break with Michelle Wolf'
The 10-episode season concluded on July 29, 2018.
Netflix cancels 'The Break' after one season
Netflix discontinued The Break on August 18, 2018; reported reason was insufficient viewership to secure renewal.
'Joke Show' discussed abortion and social reaction
In Joke Show she discussed personal experiences including abortion and commented on the social responses to her WHCD set.
Netflix releases stand-up special 'Joke Show'
Released Joke Show, a full-length stand-up special written and performed by Wolf, on Netflix in December 2019.
Continued touring & festival headlining post-Netflix specials
Despite The Break cancellation, continued headlining clubs, colleges and festivals (ongoing career milestone through 2020s).
Featured on Netflix's 'Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill'
Appeared in the 2022 Netflix series Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill.
'It's Great to Be Here' reaches Netflix Top 10 (reported)
The series rose to the Top 10 most-watched TV on Netflix shortly after release (as reported on her official site).
Gave birth to first child (fall 2023)
Announced/reported to have given birth to her first child in the fall of 2023.
Released comedy mini-series 'It's Great to Be Here' on Netflix
Released a three-episode, 30-minute-each comedy mini-series; it premiered in September 2023 and debuted to strong reviews and high viewership.
Guest hosted The Daily Show (week of Nov 27, 2023)
Served as a guest host for The Daily Show during the week of November 27, 2023.
Podcast report: pregnant with second child (summer 2025)
Reported on podcast that as of summer 2025 she is pregnant with her second child.
Podcast report: confirmed married (May 2025)
On her podcast 'Thought Box' Michelle reported that she has a husband (May 2025 episode).
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Michelle Wolf and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Zoe Sugg
Born 1990 · Age 35
English media personality, entrepreneur and author (aka Zoella). Began blogging/YouTube in 2009; built beauty/homeware brands; bestselling novelist and co-author of YA duology.
John Collison
Born 1990 · Age 35
Irish entrepreneur; co‑founder and president of Stripe. Co-founded multiple startups with brother Patrick Collison; became the world's youngest self-made billionaire in 2016.
Bowen Yang
Born 1990 · Age 35
Bowen Yang (b. Nov 6, 1990) is a Chinese-American comedian, actor, writer and podcaster known for Saturday Night Live, the podcast Las Culturistas, and film roles including Fire Island, Bros and Wicked.
Evan Spiegel
Born 1990 · Age 35
American entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., creator of Snapchat. Known for founding Snapchat as a Stanford class project, leading Snap through fundraises and IPO, philanthropy (Snap Foundation) and high-profile personal life (marriage to Miranda Kerr).
Daniel Sloss
Born 1990 · Age 35
Scottish comedian, actor and writer known for dark, socially incisive stand-up; multi‑special Netflix and HBO performer and international touring artist.
Graham Stephan
Born 1990 · Age 35
American real estate investor, YouTuber, and financial commentator known for content on real estate investing, frugal living, and personal finance.