Carole Radziwill is an acclaimed American journalist, author, and television personality. She is widely recognized for her distinguished career at ABC News, her best-selling memoir, and her role as a main cast member on Bravo’s reality series, The Real Housewives of New York City. Throughout her nearly two-decade-long journalism career, she earned several prestigious awards, including three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a GLAAD Media Award. Her work often took her to the front lines of major global events, establishing her as a respected figure in news production.
Carole Radziwill Overview
| Full Name | Carole Ann DiFalco |
| Date of Birth | August 20, 1963 |
| Age | 61 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Suffern, New York, U.S. |
| Family | Spouse: Anthony Radziwill (m. 1994; d. 1999) |
| Profession | Journalist, Author, Television Personality |
| Net Worth | Estimated $5 million to $50 million |
Early Life and Education of Carole Radziwill
Carole Ann DiFalco was born on August 20, 1963, in Suffern, New York, and grew up in a working-class family. She is of Italian descent. From a young age, Radziwill was driven and ambitious. At 19, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in journalism. She attended Hunter College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She later went on to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from New York University.
Carole Radziwill’s Career
Journalism at ABC News
Carole Radziwill’s journalism career began in 1985 as an intern in post-production for the ABC news magazine show 20/20. She later became a production secretary for the show Close-Up. Her talent and dedication led her to a position with Peter Jennings’ documentary unit, where she produced segments on a wide range of topics, including abortion, gun control, and foreign policy stories in countries like Cambodia, Haiti, and India. Her international reporting was extensive and impactful. In 1991, Radziwill was stationed in Iraq, reporting on the SCUD missile attacks during the Gulf War. She also traveled to the Thai-Cambodian border, filming in refugee camps for the award-winning documentary “From the Killing Fields.” In 2003, she spent six weeks embedded with the 101st Airborne Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan, producing the ABC series Profiles from the Frontline.
Throughout her time at ABC, Radziwill produced stories for various magazine shows, including Primetime Live and Day One, covering everything from celebrity profiles to the Menendez brothers murder trial. Her work earned her numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a GLAAD Media Award for her profile on The first openly gay baseball player, Billy Bean.
Author and Television Personality
After the death of her husband, Anthony Radziwill, in 1999, Carole left ABC News to focus on writing. Her memoir, What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love, was published in 2005 and became a New York Times bestseller, spending twenty weeks on the list. The book is a poignant account of her life, her career, her marriage, and her husband’s battle with cancer. Following the success of her memoir, Radziwill wrote a monthly column for Glamour magazine called “Lunch Date,” where she interviewed prominent figures from politics, film, and fashion. In 2014, she published her first novel, The Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating.
In 2011, Radziwill joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City. She was a main cast member for six seasons, from season five to season ten, and became known as the “voice of reason” among the cast. She announced her departure from the show in 2018, stating her desire to return to journalism and producing.
Carole Radziwill Personal Life & Family
On August 27, 1994, Carole married fellow ABC News producer Anthony Radziwill in East Hampton, New York. Anthony was the son of Polish Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill and Lee Radziwill, the younger sister of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. This marriage brought Carole into a world of American aristocracy and European nobility. Tragically, Anthony was diagnosed with cancer shortly before their wedding and passed away on August 10, 1999. Just weeks before his death, Carole’s close friends, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, died in a plane crash. Radziwill has spoken about the profound impact of these losses on her life.
Following her husband’s death, Radziwill dated Aerosmith producer Russ Irwin and later, chef Adam Kenworthy. She does not have any children. She currently resides in New York City with her pets.
Awards and Achievements of Carole Radziwill
- Three Emmy Awards for her work at ABC News.
- A Peabody Award.
- A GLAAD Media Award.
- A Robert F. Kennedy Humanitarian Award.
- Her memoir, What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love, was a New York Times Bestseller.
Carole Radziwill Net Worth and Income
Carole Radziwill’s net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $50 million. Her wealth comes from her successful career as a journalist and author, her inheritance from her late husband, and her earnings from The Real Housewives of New York City.
Legacy and Influence
Carole Radziwill has built a multifaceted career, transitioning from a highly respected, award-winning journalist to a successful author and well-known television personality. Her memoir, What Remains, has been praised for its honesty and emotional depth, resonating with many readers. On The Real Housewives of New York City, she was often seen as a grounded and intelligent presence. She continues to be a public figure, engaging with her audience through various media platforms.
Interesting Facts about Carole Radziwill
- She was a close friend of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
- She was a finalist for the prestigious John C. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University.
- Her first job at ABC News was as an unpaid intern.
- She once owned a Cartier tank wristwatch that had belonged to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Controversies
Following the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, images of Radziwill with Maxwell from the early 2000s resurfaced. Radziwill stated that she was friendly with Maxwell at the time but had not been in contact with her for over a decade and was unaware of any misconduct.
Social Media Presence
Carole Radziwill maintains an active presence on social media, where she interacts with her followers and shares updates on her life and work. She has a significant following on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Final Words about Carole Radziwill
Carole Radziwill’s life has been marked by both incredible success and profound loss. From her working-class roots, she forged a remarkable career in journalism, covering some of the most significant events of her time. Her journey into the world of aristocracy through her marriage to Anthony Radziwill brought both joy and heartbreak. Today, she continues to be a respected voice, leveraging her experiences to connect with a broad audience. She is reportedly working on her next book and developing a television series. Recently, in August 2025, she made a surprise appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, her first time back on the network since leaving The Real Housewives of New York City.
