Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who Is Monica Lewinski?
Monica Samille Lewinsky is an American activist, television personality, fashion designer, author, and motivational speaker.
Lewinsky first shot to stardom after admitting to having had an affair with President Bill Clinton while working as a White House intern from 1995 to 1996. The affair, which was later termed the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, had far-reaching implications, including Clinton’s impeachment.
The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal received widespread media coverage and propelled Lewinsky further onto the international limelight. She banked on her notoriously-acquired celebrity status to launch a variety of successful business ventures. Some of those ventures included the designing of a line of handbags sold under her name, becoming a television personality, and working as an advertising spokesperson for a diet plan.
Today, Monica Lewinsky is best known for her anti-cyberbullying activism.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Monica Samille Lewinsky |
| Popular Name: | Monica Lewinsky |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birth Date: | July 23, 1973 |
| Age: | 49 years |
| Parents: | Bernard Lewinsky and Marcia Kay Vilensky |
| Siblings: | Michael Lewinsky |
| Birth Place: | San Francisco, California |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Mixed (Jewish and Caucasian) |
| Education: | Sinai Akiba Academy, The John Thomas Dye School, Beverly Hills High School, Pacific Hills School (formerly Bel Air Prep), Santa Monica College, London School of Economics, and Lewis & Clark College |
| Marital Status: | Unmarried |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | None |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | USD 1.8 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Activism, Television, Fashion Design, Book Royalties, Speaking Fees, Endorsement Deals, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 5′ 6″ (1.7 m) |
| Weight: | 72 kg; In pounds: 159 lbs. |
Early Life
Monica Lewinsky was born on July 23, 1973, in San Francisco, California, to Bernard Lewinsky and Marcia Kay Vilensky. Her father is an oncologist, whereas her mother is an author who writes under the name Marcia Lewis.
Monica’s parents divorced in 1988. Following the divorce, her father subsequently married his second and current wife, Barbara. Her mother also later married media executive and former Voice of America director R. Peter Straus.
Monica Lewinsky began her education at Sinai Akiba Academy. She then attended the John Thomas Dye School in Bel Air for her primary education.
After primary education, Lewinsky spent her first three years in high school at Beverly Hills High School. She later transferred to Bel Air Prep during her senior year, where she graduated in 1991.
Following her graduation from high school, Monica Lewinsky attended Santa Monica College. In 1993, Lewinsky joined Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from the institution in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Career Information
After graduating from college, Monica Lewinsky received an unpaid summer White House internship. She was initially attached in the office of Leon Panetta, the-then White House Chief of Staff. In December 1995, she became a paid intern working in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Lewinsky later admitted to having nine sexual encounters with President Bill Clinton while working as an intern in White House. However, she denied ever having sexual intercourse with the president and said that her encounters mainly involved fellatio.
News on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair officially broke in January 1998. Initially, President Clinton vehemently denied the allegations. But after a series of investigations, which included processing garments allegedly stained by Clinton’s semen, the president finally admitted to having had a relationship with Lewinsky.
The Clinton-Lewinsky affair soon hit international headlines. Lewinsky became a focus of television interviews, including the March 3, 1999 interview on ABC’s 20/20 which was watched by over 70 million Americans. She also appeared as herself in two sketches during the May 8, 1999, episode of Saturday Night Live. Lewinsky’s other notable television involvement includes hosting the reality television dating program, Mr. Personality.
In addition to becoming a television personality, Monica Lewinsky capitalized on her highly-publicized affair with President Clinton to launch a series of successful commercial ventures. In September 1999, she partnered with The Real Monica, Inc. in selling a line of handbags under her name. The following year, she appeared on television commercials for Jenny Craig, Inc., earning herself a $300,000 million endorsement deal from the diet company.
In October 2014, Monica Lewinsky pronounced her stance against cyberbullying. She has been a staunch activist against cyberbullying since then, citing the ensuing internet harassment from her scandalous affair with President Clinton as her major motivation.
Monica Lewinsky’s Net Worth
Monica Lewinsky is one of the few celebrities to have garnered tremendous fame and fortune from a scandalous romantic relationship.
In 2023, Lewinsky had a net worth of $1.8 million. She has earned much of her wealth from her various business and television ventures.
Endorsement deals also accounts for a significant portion of Monica Lewinsky’s earnings. Lewinsky pocketed a cool $300,000 from her television commercials for Jenny Craig, Inc.
As an author, Lewinsky is best known for collaborating with Andrew Morton to publish a book in 1999 titled ‘Monica’s Story.’ She reportedly received a $500,000 advance from this book.
Lastly, Monica Lewinsky earns from fashion design, activism, and public speaking.
Lessons from Monica Lewinsky
1. Sometimes every publicity is good publicity
Coming from a high-profile sexual scandal with President Bill Clinton, many would have expected Monica Lewinsky’s star to dim. But she capitalized on the affair to carve herself a powerful public image.
2. Everything happens for a reason
Following her affair with President Clinton, Lewinsky became the subject of internet harassment. However, the experience didn’t break her. Instead, it molded her into an outspoken anti-cyberbullying activist.
3. It’s okay to be ashamed of your past as long as you’re not bound by it
Monica Lewinsky doesn’t shy away from admitting that she regrets having had an affair with President Clinton. However, she has refused to be enchained by that disgraceful chapter in her life.
Famous Quotes by Monica Lewinsky
• And understandably so, that when you’re in legal jeopardy, you really cannot put yourself in a position to open yourself up to the media.
• Getting and keeping my immunity became very important to me. For I needed to take care of myself and my family. No one else was worried about me.
• I voted Republican this year; the Democrats left a bad taste in my mouth. •
• I was worried about my mom more than I was worried about the president. And then I was worried about the president, and then I was worried about myself.
• I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t angry some days. But I really have worked hard to put a lot of the anger and disappointment in the past.
Conclusion
Monica Lewinsky is an anti-cyberbullying activist who rose to stardom following her high-profile affair with President Bill Clinton. While the scandal broke more than two decades ago, it has remained on many people’s lips, especially in political circles.
