Masha Gessen Biography: Age, Net Worth, Books, Awards, Children, Wife

Masha Gessen is a renowned Russian-American journalist, author, and translator who is recognized for advocating LGBT rights and providing insightful political analysis.

Using they/them pronouns, Gessen has contributed extensively to leading publications such as The New York Times and The New Yorker.

They are the authors of several impactful books, including The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin and The Future is History, the latter of which won the National Book Award.

Gessen is a faculty member at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Profile

• Full Name: Masha Gessen
• Stage Name: Masha Gessen
• Born: January 13 1967
• Age: 58 years old
• Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
• Nationality: American–Russian
• Occupation: Russian-American journalist and author
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Alexander Gessen and Yelena Gessen
• Siblings: Keith Gessen, Daniel Gessen, and Philip Gessen
• Spouse: Svetlana Generalova (m.?—2004), Darya Oreshkina (m.?—2013),
• Children: Yolka Gessen, Vova Gessen, and Senya Gessen
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life And Education

Masha Gessen was born on January 13, 1967, in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now part of the Russian Federation). They are the children of Alexander and Yelena Gessen and have three siblings: brothers Keith, Daniel, and Philip Gessen.

Gessen pursued studies at the Rhode Island School of Design and Cooper Union. After immigrating to the United States in 1981, they began their career in journalism.

In addition to their work as journalists, Gessen has held teaching positions at several institutions, including Amherst College and Oberlin College. Since 2020, they have served as Distinguished Visiting Writers at Bard College, where they focus on writing and journalism. Gessen is of Jewish ethnicity.  

Career

Masha Gessen began their journalism career in the gay press, where they focused on AIDS reporting, before returning to Russia in 1991. This started a distinguished career as a reporter for U.S. and Russian publications, such as U.S. News & World Report and The New Republic.

In 2011, Gessen expanded their reach by contributing to The New York Times, where they initially wrote for the Latitude blog and later became a regular opinion columnist.

Their work during this time highlighted critical issues like the Russian gay propaganda law and violence against journalists. In 2014, Gessen joined The New Yorker, becoming a staff writer in 2017, continuing to explore themes of totalitarianism and civil rights.

Gessen has authored eleven nonfiction books, notable works such as The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin and The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, which won the National Book Award in 2017. Their writing often blends personal experiences with broader sociopolitical analysis.

Gessen has been a staunch critic of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, scrutinizing their impact on democracy and civil liberties. They have also been deeply involved in advocating for LGBT rights, serving on boards like PEN America and participating in protests against anti-LGBT policies in Russia.

In addition to their journalism and advocacy, Gessen has contributed to various prestigious publications, including The New York Review of Books, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Slate. They have been recognized for their journalistic integrity, receiving numerous accolades, such as the Hitchens Prize and the Polk Award for Commentary.

Gessen has also held academic positions, including serving as a Distinguished Writer in Residence at Bard College from 2020 to 2023, where they focused on writing and journalism. Gessen’s work remains central to conversations about democracy, human rights, and the role of the press in today’s political climate.

Awards and Nominations

Masha Gessen has received numerous awards throughout their career, including:

• 2005: National Jewish Book Award for Ester and Ruzya: How My Grandmothers Survived Hitler’s War and Stalin’s Peace
• 2012: Stora Journalistpriset (Swedish Grand Prize for Journalism)
• 2013: Liberty Media Corporation’s Media for Liberty Award for “The Wrath of Putin”
• 2015: University of Michigan Wallenberg Medal
• 2017: National Book Award for Nonfiction for The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia
• 2018: Hitchens Prize
• 2023: Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thinking
• 2024: Polk Award in Commentary for In the Shadow of the Holocaust.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @mashagessen
• Twitter handle: @mashagessen

Personal Life

Masha Gessen has been married twice. Their first marriage was to Svetlana Generalova, a Russian citizen involved in the LGBT movement, in 2004; however, the couple later divorced. Gessen is married to Darya Oreshkina, with whom they have been since returning to the U.S. in 2013.

In 2024, Gessen married Lynne Echenberg, a professional associated with restorative justice in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. Gessen has three children: two sons, Vova and Senya, and a daughter, Yolka.

Net Worth

Masha Gessen’s net worth and financial status are not publicly disclosed. However, as a successful journalist, author, and translator with a career spanning several decades,

Gessen likely earns a substantial income from book sales, contributions to prominent publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times, and teaching positions. Specific net worth estimates remain unavailable, and Gessen keeps their financial details private.