Arianna Huffington

feminist author cultural critic blogger activist politician life balance advocate

She's best known for The Huffington Post. her upstart blog that's now one of the largest news sites in the country. But the ubiquitous Arianna Huffington has also been an author, radio show host, political commentator, failed gubernatorial candidate, ex-Congressional spouse + self-help guru during her 40-year career.

Why so fearless? Athens-born Arianna credits her parents

a newspaper editor dad who played by his own rules + a mom who had no use for hierarchy. "Ever since I can remember, I've loved starting conversations," she says. Her latest crusade? Helping us all redefine what "success" means.

media pioneer | founded The Huffington Post

first online news site using unpaid contributors | now 2nd largest news website

famous dinner parties | often invites critics

reinvention | she prefers "evolution" | "the most intellectually curious person I've ever met," says a former detractor

her accent | often mistaken for Hungarian a la Zsa Zsa Gabor

writing | 14 books

critical bios of Pablo Picasso + Maria Callas | politics + self help + spirituality

her politics | from Republican to left-learning progressive to the 4th dimension

three big moments +1

1974 | published first book, The Female Woman at 22 | critique of Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch

2005 | founded Huffington Post

2011 | sold the Huffington Post to AOL for $315 million

2012 | Pulitzer Prize awarded to the Huffington Post

fast facts

Greek expatriate turned Cambridge-educated writer + IT girl turned Republican political spouse | media mogul + outspoken liberal feminist

nickname | also known as

the Queen of Aggregation

by Bill Keller former editor in chief of the New York Times

The United States of America

journalist + management consultant

Elli Georgiadi Stasinopoulos

1 sister | Agapi