Jann Wenner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jann Wenner
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Wenner in 2022
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| Born |
Jann Simon Wenner
January 7, 1946 New York City, U.S.
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| Spouse(s) |
Jane Schindelheim
(m. 1967; div. 1995) |
| Partner(s) | Matt Nye (1995–present) |
| Children | 6 |
Jann Simon Wenner (born January 7, 1946) is an American businessman. He is best known for co-founding Rolling Stone magazine. This magazine focuses on popular culture, especially music. Wenner also helped start the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He used to own Men's Journal magazine too.
When he was in college, Wenner was part of the Free Speech Movement. This movement was about students being able to express their ideas freely. He started Rolling Stone in 1967 with his friend and mentor, Ralph J. Gleason.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Jann Wenner grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. His parents, Sim and Edward Wenner, divorced in 1958. After their divorce, Jann and his two sisters, Kate and Merlyn, went to boarding schools.
He finished high school at the Chadwick School in 1963. Then, he went to the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkeley, Wenner was active in the Free Speech Movement. This group worked to protect students' rights to speak freely on campus. He also wrote a column called "Something's Happening" for the student newspaper, The Daily Californian. He left Berkeley in 1966.
Starting a Career in Media
After college, Wenner got a job at Ramparts magazine. This magazine was known for its investigative reporting. His mentor, Ralph J. Gleason, who was a jazz critic, helped him get this job. Wenner worked on a newspaper that was connected to Ramparts.
Founding Rolling Stone Magazine
In 1967, Jann Wenner and Ralph J. Gleason started Rolling Stone magazine in San Francisco. To begin, Wenner borrowed $7,500 from his family and his future wife's family. This money helped them launch the magazine.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, Wenner helped many writers become famous. These writers included Hunter S. Thompson, Cameron Crowe, and Joe Eszterhas. He also discovered the photographer Annie Leibovitz. She was only 21 years old when he found her. Many people he helped, like Cameron Crowe, say Wenner gave them their big chance.
In 1977, Rolling Stone moved its main office from San Francisco to New York City. The magazine's popularity changed over time. It faced challenges when punk rock music became popular and later with hip hop. In May 2006, Rolling Stone published its 1,000th issue. It had a special 3-D cover, like The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
Wenner has also interviewed many famous people for the magazine. He interviewed presidents like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama during their election campaigns. In 2005, he interviewed U2 rock star Bono. This interview was about music and politics. Wenner's interview with Bono was even nominated for a special award.
Other Magazines and Ventures
Wenner started another magazine called Outside in 1977. He sold it a year later. In 1993, he launched Family Life magazine.
In 1985, he bought a part of Us Weekly magazine. The next year, he bought the magazine together with The Walt Disney Company. Us Weekly changed from being a monthly magazine to a weekly one in 2000. In 2006, Wenner bought out Disney's share, so he owned the whole magazine.
From 2004 to 2006, Wenner gave about $63,000 to Democratic political candidates and groups.
In 2016, Wenner sold a part of Rolling Stone to a company from Singapore. This new investor would not be involved in what the magazine wrote. In 2017, Wenner Media announced that the rest of Rolling Stone was for sale. Another company, Penske Media Corporation, bought the remaining part of the magazine.
In 2022, Wenner wrote a book about his life called Like a Rolling Stone.
Personal Life and Family
Jann Wenner married Jane Schindelheim in the summer of 1967, after Rolling Stone was founded. They had a small Jewish ceremony.
Wenner and his wife separated in 1995. They have three sons together. One of their sons, Edward Augustus (Gus), became the head of Wenner Media's digital operations in 2014.
Since 1995, Wenner's partner has been Matt Nye, who is a fashion designer. Wenner and Nye have three children.
Awards and Recognitions
- 2010: Norman Mailer Prize, for his achievements in magazine publishing
- 2014: Lennon-Ono Grant for Peace
See also
In Spanish: Jann Wenner para niños
- LGBT culture in New York City
- List of LGBT people from New York City
