Ronan Farrow
Born 1987 · Age 38
American journalist, former government adviser and UNICEF spokesperson known for investigative reporting (notably on Harvey Weinstein) and bestselling books.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in New York City
Born Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow to Mia Farrow and Woody Allen.
Began studies at Bard College at Simon's Rock
Enrolled at Bard College at Simon's Rock at age 11, attending as an unusually young college student.
Began service as UNICEF Spokesperson for Youth
Started serving as a UNICEF Youth Spokesperson, advocating for children and women in crisis areas including Darfur.
Graduated from Bard College (youngest graduate)
Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy; cited as the youngest graduate at the institution at age 15.
Entered Yale Law School (one of youngest entrants)
Entered Yale Law School; reported as among the youngest students to enter the program, at age 16.
Traveled to Darfur with UNICEF and Mia Farrow
Made joint trips to the Darfur region of Sudan to advocate for refugees and fundraise on behalf of UNICEF efforts.
Affiliated with Genocide Intervention Network
After Sudan advocacy, became affiliated with the Genocide Intervention Network (now part of Against Genocide).
Interned at Davis Polk & Wardwell and House Committee
Internships during Yale Law tenure included Davis Polk & Wardwell and the chief counsel's office at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Awarded McCall‑Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award (Refugees International)
Received Refugees International's McCall‑Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award for service to refugees and displaced people.
Worked as speechwriter for Richard Holbrooke
Served as a speechwriter for diplomat Richard Holbrooke prior to joining the Obama administration.
Passed New York State Bar Examination
Passed the New York State Bar exam following law school.
Joined Obama administration as Special Adviser for Humanitarian & NGO Affairs
Appointed Special Adviser in the Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; oversaw US relationships with civil society and NGOs in the region.
Named New York magazine 'New Activist' of the year
Recognized by New York magazine as a 'New Activist' and an individual on the verge of changing their world.
Received Juris Doctor from Yale Law School
Completed a JD degree at Yale Law School (graduation year 2009).
Co‑chaired youth working group (with David Barth)
Co‑chaired a working group on youth policy with USAID staffer David Barth, leading to the creation of a State Department youth office.
Began a relationship with Jon Lovett
Started dating Jon Lovett, a former presidential speechwriter and podcaster (relationship lasted until 2023).
Appointed Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues (State Department)
Appointed by Secretary Hillary Clinton as Special Adviser and Director of the Office of Global Youth Issues (office created following task-force on youth issues).
Voice role in English dub of 'From Up on Poppy Hill'
Provided a minor voice role in the English-language version of the Studio Ghibli film From Up on Poppy Hill.
Named a Rhodes Scholar
Announced as a Rhodes Scholar (presses list selection in late 2011; scholarship for study at Oxford).
Forbes '30 Under 30' — ranked #1 in Law and Policy
Appeared on Forbes' '30 Under 30' list, ranked number one in Law and Policy.
Awarded honorary doctorate by Dominican University of California
Received an honorary doctorate from Dominican University of California in recognition of his humanitarian and advocacy work.
Concluded term as Special Adviser at State Department
Ended his formal role as Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues; policies and programs continued under successors.
Began Rhodes DPhil studies at Oxford (Magdalen College)
Started DPhil (doctoral) studies in political science at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, researching US proxy wars and related topics.
Public paternity speculation reported (Mia Farrow interview)
Mia Farrow told Vanity Fair Ronan 'could possibly be' Frank Sinatra's biological son; the remark and subsequent reporting generated public speculation and responses.
Voice role in English dub of 'The Wind Rises'
Voiced a minor character in the English-language release of Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises.
Penguin Press acquired 'Pandora's Box' (book deal announced)
Penguin Press acquired Farrow's book (titled Pandora's Box in announcement) in October 2013, initially scheduled for 2015 publication.
Began hosting 'Ronan Farrow Daily' on MSNBC
Launched and hosted a weekday news program, 'Ronan Farrow Daily', on MSNBC beginning February 2014.
Received Reach the World Cronkite Award
Received the third annual Cronkite Award for 'Excellence in Exploration and Journalism' in February 2014.
Nancy Sinatra publicly dismisses paternity rumors
Nancy Sinatra dismissed the suggestion that Frank Sinatra was Ronan Farrow's biological father during a CBS Sunday Morning interview.
MSNBC show 'Ronan Farrow Daily' cancelled / left daytime slot
MSNBC ended the weekday show in February 2015; Farrow was moved to investigative reporting roles within NBC.
Launched 'Undercover with Ronan Farrow' segment on NBC's Today
Began hosting an investigative segment on NBC's Today show focused on underreported stories and crowd-sourced topics.
Received Stonewall Community Foundation's Vision Award
Awarded the Stonewall Community Foundation's 2016 Vision Award for reporting on transgender issues.
Guest column in The Hollywood Reporter on media silence over abuse
Published a guest column comparing the media's failure to investigate Bill Cosby with the silence around allegations against Woody Allen.
Revealed NBC chose not to air initial Weinstein findings
Reporting and subsequent disclosures revealed Farrow initially worked on the Weinstein story for NBC, which decided against airing his early reporting.
Published Harvey Weinstein exposé in The New Yorker
Published an investigative article detailing sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein; piece followed a NYT investigation and was central to the #MeToo movement.
Published series of follow‑up New Yorker pieces on Weinstein and related matters
Authored multiple follow-ups in The New Yorker including 'Weinstein's Army of Spies' and stories on secret settlements and related reporting.
Reported continued series of New Yorker investigations
Throughout 2017–2018 Farrow produced numerous investigative pieces for The New Yorker on topics including the National Enquirer payments, Rex Tillerson ouster, and surveillance issues.
Included in Time's '100 Most Influential People in the World'
Named to Time magazine's annual list of 100 Most Influential People.
Publicly identified as part of the LGBT community
Publicly identified as part of the LGBT community in 2018.
Signed three‑year deal with HBO for documentaries
Signed a three‑year overall deal with HBO to produce and develop documentary programming.
Woody Allen comments on paternity in New York magazine
Woody Allen commented that in his opinion Ronan is his child but he 'wouldn't bet' his life on it; part of ongoing family public discourse.
Received Point Foundation's Point Courage Award
Recognized by the Point Foundation in 2018 for in‑depth reporting on the #MeToo movement.
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (The New Yorker & NYT)
The New Yorker (for Farrow's reporting) shared the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service with The New York Times for reporting on sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
Published New Yorker article on Eric Schneiderman (with Jane Mayer)
Co‑authored an article alleging physical abuse by NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman; Schneiderman resigned within hours of the article's publication.
Named NLGJA Journalist of the Year
In July 2018 won the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association's Journalist of the Year award.
Published article on Leslie Moonves and CBS (The New Yorker)
Published reporting alleging sexual misconduct and intimidation by CBS executive Leslie Moonves.
Published 'The Echo Chamber' reporting (with Adam Entous)
Co‑published an article on a conspiracy memo about Obama aides that circulated in the Trump White House.
Published reporting on allegation about Brett Kavanaugh (with Jane Mayer)
Co‑published reporting relating to a sexual‑misconduct allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Submitted DPhil thesis at Oxford (Thesis: 'Shadow armies')
Submitted doctoral thesis titled 'Shadow armies: political representation and strategic reality in America's proxy wars' to the University of Oxford (Magdalen College).
Catch and Kill companion podcast debuted (Peabody‑nominated)
A companion podcast to the book debuted in 2019 and was nominated for a Peabody Award.
Reported extortion/blackmail demands from American Media, Inc.
Said he and another journalist received demands from American Media, Inc. that sought to extort or blackmail him concerning his reporting.
Investigated MIT Media Lab ties to Jeffrey Epstein; Joi Ito resigns
Reporting exposed concealment of MIT Media Lab's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, prompting director Joi Ito's resignation and an internal MIT investigation.
Guest co‑host appearance on The View
Appeared as a guest co‑host on ABC's daytime talk show The View on December 3, 2019.
Named to Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40 and Out100 Journalist of the Year
Recognized on Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40 list and named Out100 Journalist of the Year in 2019.
Engaged to Jon Lovett
Became engaged to Jon Lovett in 2019; Farrow has said he proposed in a draft of his book Catch and Kill.
Published 'Catch and Kill' (book)
Published Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, detailing his Weinstein reporting and attempts to bury stories.
Purchased Los Angeles home
With partner Jon Lovett, bought a home in Los Angeles for $1.87 million.
Resided on the Lower East Side (reported)
Reported residence on Manhattan's Lower East Side as of August 2019.
HBO documentary series 'Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes' launched
HBO launched a documentary series related to the Catch and Kill reporting/podcast with Farrow's involvement.
Audiobook 'Catch and Kill' nominated for Grammy (Best Spoken Word Album)
The audiobook of Catch and Kill, read by Farrow, was nominated for Best Spoken Word Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Published New Yorker reporting on Britney Spears conservatorship (with Jia Tolentino)
Co‑authored an investigative New Yorker piece detailing events related to Britney Spears's conservatorship and alleged abuses under her father's control.
Executive producer on 'Endangered' (documentary released)
Served as an executive producer on Endangered, a documentary about threats against journalists, released in June 2022.
Guest Judge on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7 (episode)
Appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7 'All Winners' episode alongside RuPaul and others.
Public separation from Jon Lovett
Jon Lovett stated on his podcast that he and Ronan Farrow had separated (March 2023).
Guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 episode
Appeared as a guest judge on the fourteenth episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 (episode 'Booked and Blessed').
Small motion‑capture role in 2024 remake of 'Riven' video game
Credited with a small motion‑capture role in the 2024 remake of the video game Riven.
Starred and produced 'Surveilled' (film) about NSO Group
Starred in and produced the 2024 project Surveilled, focusing on cyberintelligence firm NSO Group.
Continued investigative journalism and public presence
As of 2025 Farrow continues publishing investigative pieces and producing documentary projects; recognized in multiple encyclopedias and profiles.
Key Achievement Ages
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