Carole Radziwill built a public career as an award-winning ABC News producer, then became a bestselling author and a familiar face on The Real Housewives of New York City. Her marriage to a Polish prince and her in-law ties to the Kennedy family made her a figure of fascination. This article lays out the verified biographical facts, explains her royal and Kennedy connections, and answers the most common questions about her life today.
Last checked: 2026-06-07
Profession: Journalist, author, television personality · Known for: The Real Housewives of New York City (2012–2018) · Instagram followers: 668K · Substack newsletter: The Voice of Reason
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-06-07.
Sources reviewed: official website, social media profiles, encyclopedia, discussion forum, news/press release, TV network page.
No direct interview or primary sourcing from Carole Radziwill was conducted. No verified net worth figure is available.
Snapshot
- August 20, 1963, in Suffern, New York (Wikipedia)
- Earned three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, a Robert F. Kennedy Humanitarian Award, and a GLAAD Media Award (Bravo TV)
- Joined The Real Housewives of New York City in season 5 (2012) and stayed for six seasons (Carole Radziwill Substack)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Profession | Journalist, author, television personality |
| Known for | The Real Housewives of New York City (2012–2018) |
| Instagram followers | 668K |
| Substack newsletter | The Voice of Reason |
| Date of birth | August 20, 1963 |
| Place of birth | Suffern, New York |
| Education | B.A. from Hunter College; master’s from New York University |
| Career start | 1986 as unpaid intern on ABC’s 20/20 |
| Marriage | Anthony Radziwill, August 27, 1994; widowed August 10, 1999 |
| Books | What Remains (2005) and The Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating (2014) (Carole Radziwill official site) |
| Awards | Three Emmys, Peabody, RFK Humanitarian Award, GLAAD Media Award |
Did Carole Radziwill inherit anything from Lee Radziwill?
Lee Radziwill, the younger sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, was the mother of Anthony Radziwill, Carole’s late husband (Town & Country). Anthony Radziwill died in 1999, years before his mother passed away in 2019. Public records of Lee’s probated will show that her estate passed to her surviving descendants—her daughter Christina Radziwill and grandchildren—not to her daughter-in-law. There is no publicly available evidence that Carole Radziwill received any inheritance from Lee Radziwill.
The bottom line: Carole Radziwill’s financial independence appears to stem from her own journalism career, book deals, and reality TV income, not from a Radziwill inheritance.
How is Carole Radziwill a princess?
Carole Radziwill held the title of princess by marriage. Her husband, Anthony Radziwill, was the only son of Prince Stanislas Radziwill, a member of the Polish princely Radziwill dynasty (Hudson River Valley Institute). Upon their marriage on August 27, 1994, Carole became entitled to use the courtesy title “Princess” in social and formal settings, though she has largely chosen to use “Carole Radziwill” professionally.
The Radziwill family is one of the oldest noble houses of Eastern Europe, with a lineage that includes princes, magnates, and political figures. Carole’s marriage brought her into that world, but after Anthony’s death she has rarely emphasized the title in her public persona.
Why this matters: Carole Radziwill’s royal connection is a recurring point of curiosity, but it was a marriage-based title, not a birthright, and she has never used it as a primary identifier.
How is Carole Radziwill related to the Kennedys?
Carole Radziwill’s tie to the Kennedy family came through her marriage to Anthony Radziwill. Anthony’s mother, Lee Bouvier Radziwill, was the sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, making Carole a relative by marriage to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and to John F. Kennedy Jr.
Beyond the formal connection, Carole developed a close personal friendship with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s wife. The two were often seen together in the 1990s. In her memoir What Remains, Carole describes the devastating summer of 1999 when both Carolyn and John died in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard and Anthony died of cancer weeks later.
The implication: Carole Radziwill is not a blood relative of the Kennedys but was a member of the extended family orbit through marriage and friendship, a connection that has shaped much of her public narrative.
What is Carole Radziwill doing now?
Carole Radziwill remains active in writing and social media. She launched a Substack newsletter called The Voice of Reason, where she shares personal essays, commentary, and updates on her life. On Instagram she has 668K followers and regularly posts about travel, books, and her daily activities.
She has not returned to full-time television but has made guest appearances on podcasts and interview shows. She continues to write; her novel The Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating (2014) was optioned for television development, though no series has been produced yet. Her memoir What Remains remains a staple of grief and survival literature.
What to watch: Carole’s Substack is her primary outlet today; it is the best place to hear directly from her.
Related public figures
| Name | Known for | Relation to Carole Radziwill |
|---|---|---|
| Carole Radziwill | Journalist, author, RHONY star | — |
| Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis | First Lady of the United States, style icon | Mother-in-law’s sister (aunt by marriage) |
| Lee Radziwill | Socialite, sister of Jackie, mother of Anthony | Mother-in-law |
Our pick for the best source to learn more
For first-hand information, Carole Radziwill’s official website and her Substack newsletter provide the most direct insight into her life and writing. For a concise biography, the Bravo TV profile is also reliable.
“Carole Radziwill is an award-winning journalist, author, and TV personality.”
– Carole Radziwill (third‑person self‑description), Author and subject of official biography
“She starred on the drama-filled reality show for six seasons and established herself as the ‘voice of reason’ among a cast of eccentric characters.”
– Carole Radziwill official biography, Biographical copywriter on her site
imdb.com, imdb.com, goodreads.com, allamericanspeakers.com, slugmag.com, en.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
What book did Carole Radziwill write?
Carole Radziwill wrote two books: the memoir What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love (Scribner, 2005), which became a New York Times bestseller, and the novel The Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating (2014), later optioned for television development.
Does Carole Radziwill have a Substack?
Yes, she runs the Substack newsletter The Voice of Reason, launched in 2022, where she writes personal essays and commentary.
How many Instagram followers does Carole Radziwill have?
As of March 2025, Carole Radziwill has 668K followers on Instagram.
Is Carole Radziwill still on Real Housewives?
No, she left The Real Housewives of New York City after season 10 in 2018. She was a main cast member from season 5 (2012) through season 10.
How does Carole Radziwill have so much money?
Carole Radziwill’s wealth comes from her career as an ABC News producer (she worked on major newsmagazines and earned multiple Emmys), a bestselling book deal, a six-season run on reality television, and a Substack subscription revenue. No verified net worth figure is available, but she has never claimed inherited wealth.