Who is E. Jean Carroll? Career, books, family, net worth…

President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his attacks on social media against the columnist.

Trump had already been found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, with the jury awarding her $5 million in damages. The president had appealed the verdict, but a federal appeals court has upheld the civil jury’s finding today, Sep. 8, 2025.

Who is E. Jean Carroll?

Elizabeth Jean Carroll is a journalist, advice columnist, and author. She is best known for her long-running column called “Ask E. Jean,” which was a prominent feature in Elle magazine from 1993 until 2020.

In her column, she provided advice to readers on a wide range of topics, including relationships, careers, and personal development.

Carroll’s personal life

Carroll was born on Dec. 12, 1943 to a father who was an inventor, and a mother who was a Republican politician. She went to Indiana University, where she earned a degree in English literature.

Carrol began writing professionally after her studies. She lived in Montana with her first husband Steve Byers until she moved to New York to pursue her journalism career. The couple eventually filed for divorced.

She got married again a few years later to anchor John Johnson, and their union once more ended in divorce. Carroll has remained unmarried since.

Carroll accusations against Trump

The writer gained additional public attention in 2019 when she came forward with an allegation of sexual assault against Trump, who was the country’s president at the time.

Carroll accused him of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the charges, stating that he had never met Carroll and dismissing her account.

A decades-long and fruitful writing career

Carroll’s allegations were detailed in her book “What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal,” which was published in 2019. The book explores her life and experiences, including the alleged incident with Trump.

Aside from her memoir, Carroll also wrote the biography of author Hunter S. Thompson entitled “Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson”.

Related stories

Politics

Karoline Leavitt's dramatic makeovers spark debate

White House

Trump vows to deal with "hell hole" Chicago

A prolific writer, her work appeared in various publications including The Atlantic and Vanity Fair. She has also written for television, and was nominated for an Emmy for her contribution to Saturday Night Live.

The journalist’s net worth is estimated by several financial websites to range from $1.5 million to $7 million. Ithas just drastically increased in size.