Rikki Schlott was born on June 10, 2000, in Bernardsville, New Jersey. She is an American journalist, author, and free speech advocate.
Schlott writes as a columnist for the New York Post and co-authored the bestselling book The Canceling of the American Mind.
Who is Rikki Schlott?
Rikki Schlott is a New York Post columnist and news features reporter based in New York City. She covers higher education, campus culture, Generation Z issues, women’s topics, and free speech.
Schlott first drew national attention while she was still a student at NYU.
She left the university during the pandemic, saying she felt the campus lacked a real culture of free speech. That decision pushed her toward journalism full time, and she soon built a byline across major outlets.
Beyond the Post, her writing has appeared in Reason, Newsweek, National Review, The Spectator, Quillette, and The Free Press. She also became the youngest ever panelist on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, appearing on the show in August 2022.
Schlott returned to Real Time again in 2025, discussing free speech and generational politics.
Early Life of Rikki Schlott
Schlott grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey. Her mother, Kim McMahon Schlott, works as a private investor, while her father, Dick Schlott, built a career in real estate.
She attended The Peck School before moving on to The Lawrenceville School.
Schlott graduated from Lawrenceville summa cum laude in 2018. She then enrolled at New York University as a history major, where she maintained a 4.0 GPA before leaving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That departure from NYU became a turning point in her career.
She later returned to school part time, taking history and politics courses at Columbia University’s School of General Studies in 2024 while continuing to build her journalism career.
Rikki Schlott Age
Rikki Schlott is 26 years old as of 2026, born on June 10, 2000. Her zodiac sign is Gemini, a sign often linked to curiosity and sharp communication.
She became the youngest-ever panelist on Real Time with Bill Maher at age 22.
Schlott is around 5 feet 5 inches, 165 cm, or 1.65 m tall, and weighs about 55 kg, or 120 pounds. She has a lean, athletic build, with an estimated body measurement of 33-25-34 inches.
She looks vibrant and youthful because of her blond hair, which typically appears shoulder-length, and has blue or greenish blue eyes.
Rikki Schlott Ethnicity and Nationality
Rikki Schlott holds American nationality. She grew up in a middle-class family in suburban New Jersey, with no publicly detailed information about a specific ethnic background beyond her American upbringing.
Her father was 63 years old when she was born, an age gap she has referenced in her own writing.
Rikki Schlott Career
Early Career
Schlott worked as a research intern for The Megyn Kelly Show from 2021 to 2022. That same year, in April 2021, she joined the New York Post as a freelance contributor.
Her early columns focused on higher education, campus culture, and Generation Z trends.
By December 2021, the Post had promoted her to a full columnist and news features reporter role. She also became a fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, known as FIRE, in June 2021, a position she held through 2023.
Major Positions Held
In 2023, Schlott co-wrote The Canceling of the American Mind with FIRE president Greg Lukianoff. The Economist praised the book as bold and data-driven, and the Wall Street Journal named it one of its best books of 2023.
That same year, the book also landed on the Wall Street Journal’s list of top education books.
Schlott has since co-hosted Lost Debate, a political podcast from The Branch Media, alongside Ravi Gupta, a former Obama administration staffer. She has also become a regular guest on Fox News, Fox Business, the BBC, NewsNation, and Newsmax.
Current Role
Schlott continues to write her column for the New York Post. In 2026, she joined the Cato Institute as a Media Fellow, extending her focus on free speech and civil liberties to a new platform.
She remains active with Bill Maher’s Real Time and its associated Club Random media network.
Her reporting and commentary work has also appeared through syndication on MSN, Yahoo News, AOL, News.com.au, and the Daily Mail.
Rikki Schlott Political Career and Notable Coverage
Schlott is not an elected politician, but her commentary has made her a prominent voice in American political media. She describes her own politics as libertarian, combining fiscal conservatism with social liberalism.
Her coverage frequently centers on free speech battles on college campuses.
She has also written about topics ranging from cancel culture to dating and internet culture, drawing a following among younger, politically engaged readers. Schlott has spoken at K-12 schools and public forums on youth politics, feminism, and civil discourse.
Rikki Schlott Books and Publications
Schlott’s best-known book is The Canceling of the American Mind, co-written with Greg Lukianoff and published in 2023. The book examines cancel culture across American institutions, including universities, newsrooms, and corporations.
It became a Wall Street Journal bestseller shortly after release.
She continues to write columns and features for the New York Post alongside her broader magazine contributions.
Rikki Schlott Partner
As of 2026, Rikki Schlott has not publicly confirmed a husband or partner. She keeps her romantic life largely private and has focused public statements on her career.
No engagement or marriage has been reported by reliable outlets.
She has said in interviews that her attention remains on journalism and advocacy work rather than her personal relationships.
Rikki Schlott Net Worth
Rikki Schlott’s estimated net worth is $1.5 million as of 2026. Her income comes from her New York Post columnist salary, book royalties from The Canceling of the American Mind, television appearances, and paid speaking engagements.
Her fellowship work with FIRE and the Cato Institute has also added to her public profile and earning potential.
Rikki Schlott Social Media
Schlott is active on Instagram under @rikkischlott, where she shares her television appearances and columns. She also posts on X under @RikkiSchlott, describing herself there as an independent, libertarian NYPost columnist.
Her official website, rikkischlott.com, lists her work history and speaking contacts.
She uses her platforms mainly to promote her journalism rather than personal lifestyle content.
The Bottom Line
Rikki Schlott co-authored The Canceling of the American Mind with Greg Lukianoff in 2023, a book the Wall Street Journal named among its best of the year. She became the youngest-ever panelist on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher at age 22.
Schlott left NYU during the pandemic despite a 4.0 GPA, later returning to Columbia’s School of General Studies part time. Her writing spans free speech, campus culture, and Generation Z politics across outlets like the New York Post, Newsweek, and Reason.
She joined the Cato Institute as a Media Fellow in 2026 while continuing her column at the New York Post. Schlott also keeps co-hosting the Lost Debate podcast alongside Ravi Gupta.
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