Key Takeaways
Marilyn vos Savant (born August 11, 1946; age 79) is best known for “Ask Marilyn,” the Parade magazine column that turned logic into weekly conversation. The print edition of Parade ended in November 2022 and its e-edition closed in December 2023; her last new Parade item online appeared on October 30, 2022. There have been no major new interviews since a 2018 feature, and no institutionally linked, verified social-media accounts. The brand Parade.com remains active under The Arena Group.
Story & Details
A column that taught by asking
Beginning in 1986, “Ask Marilyn” invited readers to send questions on probability, language, and everyday reasoning. In 1990, an exchange about the Monty Hall problem leapt from the back pages into national debate, cementing the puzzle in popular culture and classrooms.
Public record, not rumor
Vos Savant’s public biography is straightforward: born August 11, 1946, in St. Louis, Missouri; author and longtime columnist whose fame included a now-retired Guinness World Records IQ category. Her byline ran in Parade for decades; the site shows her last new entry dated October 30, 2022. No formal farewell note was posted.
The magazine’s transition
Parade, founded in 1941 and once the most widely read U.S. Sunday insert, printed its final physical issue on November 13, 2022. Partner newspapers later announced that the e-edition ceased on December 31, 2023. The Arena Group completed its acquisition of AMG/Parade in April 2022 and continues to operate Parade.com as a digital brand.
Today’s visibility
Institutional pages list vos Savant in a leadership role at Jarvik Heart Inc., providing an anchor point in the public record. Outside that, there are no recent, reputable interviews or appearances after a September 11, 2018 profile in Parade. Attempts to verify social-media accounts lead to fan pages or paid-badge profiles without institutional links; given X’s policy, badges alone no longer prove identity.
A note of personal context
In May 2025, major outlets reported the death of Dr. Robert Jarvik, the artificial-heart pioneer long associated with Jarvik Heart Inc. The coverage underscored the family’s role in medical innovation but did not signal any change in vos Savant’s public activity.
Conclusions
The arc is clear. A beloved weekly column concluded as its print home wound down, and its author chose privacy over ceremony. What endures is the method: calm, careful reasoning that made difficult ideas feel friendly. If new work arrives, it will be easy to trust—visible on institutional pages and cited by reputable outlets.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_vos_Savant
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parade_(magazine)
- https://parade.com/373270/kmccleary/marilyns-rules-for-a-happy-marriage/
- https://parade.com/parade_numbrix/numbrix-9-october-30-15/
- https://www.spokesman.com/parade/
- https://investors.thearenagroup.net/news-releases/news-release-details/arena-group-finalizes-amgparade-acquisition-powers-growing
- https://www.jarvikheart.com/about-us/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/05/30/robert-jarvik-dead/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp6V_lO1ZKA (Khan Academy — educational explainer of the Monty Hall problem)
Appendix
Ask Marilyn. The weekly Parade column (1986–2022) that answered reader questions on logic, probability, and language, often using everyday examples.
Monty Hall problem. A conditional-probability puzzle showing that switching choices after a non-winning option is revealed increases the chance of success.
Parade. A U.S. Sunday-newspaper supplement founded in 1941; last print issue November 13, 2022; e-edition discontinued December 31, 2023; the website continues under The Arena Group.
The Arena Group. A digital-media company that acquired AMG/Parade in April 2022 and operates Parade.com as part of a broader lifestyle portfolio.
Jarvik Heart Inc. A medical-device company known for artificial-heart and ventricular-assist technologies; its site lists Marilyn vos Savant in a leadership role.
Verification on X. Current badges can reflect a paid subscription rather than identity vetting, so institutional cross-links are required for authenticity.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 