Childhood and Education Journey of Hunter Biden in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Hunter Biden, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Robert Hunter Biden is an American attorney and businessman, son of former President Joe Biden. He co-founded BHR Partners, a Chinese investment company, and served on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas producer. His professional background includes work as a lobbyist, legal representative, hedge fund principal, and investor in venture capital and private equity funds. His business dealings have attracted considerable media and political attention.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

February 4, 1970: Hunter Biden Born

On February 4, 1970, Robert Hunter Biden was born. He is the son of Joe Biden and Neilia Hunter Biden.

December 18, 1972: Death of Mother and Sister

On December 18, 1972, Hunter Biden's mother, Neilia Biden, and younger sister, Naomi, were killed in an automobile crash. Hunter and his older brother Beau were seriously injured but survived.

1972: Death of Hunter Biden's Mother and Sister

In 1972, Hunter Biden's mother and sister died in a motor vehicle accident, which he believes contributed to his later addiction issues.

January 1973: Father Sworn into Senate

In January 1973, while Hunter Biden was recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained in the December 1972 car crash, his father Joe Biden was sworn into the U.S. Senate.

1977: Jill Jacobs Stevenson Becomes Stepmother

In 1977, Jill Jacobs Stevenson became Hunter Biden's stepmother after his father remarried.

1981: Birth of Half-Sister Ashley

In 1981, Hunter Biden's half-sister Ashley was born.

1992: Graduates from Georgetown University

In 1992, Hunter Biden graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Georgetown University.

1993: Marries Kathleen Buhle

In 1993, Hunter Biden married Kathleen Buhle, whom he met while serving as a Jesuit volunteer in Portland, Oregon.

1993: Hunter Biden Marries Kathleen Buhle

In 1993, Hunter Biden married Kathleen Buhle. They have three daughters: Naomi, Finnegan, and Maisey.

1996: Graduates from Yale Law School

In 1996, Hunter Biden graduated from Yale Law School after transferring from Georgetown University Law Center.

January 1, 2014: Start Date for Presidential Pardon

January 1, 2014, marks the beginning of the timeframe covered by the full and unconditional pardon issued to Hunter Biden by his father.

2014: Start of Potential Offences

In December 2024, Hunter Biden's father pardoned him for all federal offenses committed between 2014 and 2024.

October 2015: Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle Formally Separate

In October 2015, Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle formally separated.

March 2016: Viktor Shokin Removed

In March 2016, the Ukrainian parliament voted to remove Viktor Shokin, the country's top prosecutor, who was widely criticized for blocking corruption investigations, after encouragement from Western leaders, including Joe Biden.

2016: Hunter Biden Begins Relationship with Hallie Olivere Biden

In 2016, Hunter Biden began a relationship with his brother's widow, Hallie Olivere Biden.

2017: Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle Divorce

In 2017, Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle divorced.

2017: Hunter Biden Begins Relationship with Zoë Kestan

In 2017, Hunter Biden began a romantic relationship with Zoë Kestan.

August 2018: Hunter Biden's Fourth Daughter Born

In August 2018, Hunter Biden's fourth daughter was born in Arkansas to Lunden Alexis Roberts.

2018: Hunter Biden Continues Relationship with Zoë Kestan

In 2018, Hunter Biden continued his romantic relationship with Zoë Kestan.

May 2019: Hunter Biden Marries Melissa Cohen

In May 2019, Hunter Biden married South African filmmaker Melissa Cohen within a week of first meeting her.

May 2019: Paternity Suit Filed Against Hunter Biden

In May 2019, Lunden Alexis Roberts filed a paternity suit against Hunter Biden, who initially denied that the child was his.

2019: Hunter Biden's Relationship with Hallie Olivere Biden Ends

In 2019, Hunter Biden's relationship with Hallie Olivere Biden ended.

March 2020: Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen's Son Born

In March 2020, Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen's son, named Beau, was born in Los Angeles.

March 2020: Hunter Biden Agrees to Pay Child Support

In March 2020, Hunter Biden settled the paternity suit by agreeing to pay Lunden Alexis Roberts $20,000 a month in child support.

April 6, 2021: Release of Hunter Biden's Memoir 'Beautiful Things'

On April 6, 2021, Hunter Biden released "Beautiful Things", a memoir about the accident that claimed his mother and sister, and his addiction struggles. The book was described as "equal parts family saga, grief narrative and addict's howl" by The New York Times. In the memoir, Biden claims to have no memory of Lunden Roberts, with whom he has a daughter.

Beautiful Things: A Memoir

Check it on Amazon

2021: Hunter Biden Details Drug and Alcohol Abuse

In 2021, Hunter Biden detailed his drug and alcohol abuse throughout his adult life in his memoir, linking it to family losses, including the 1972 accident that killed his mother and sister.

September 2022: Hunter Biden Files Motion to Reduce Child Support

In September 2022, Hunter Biden filed a motion to reduce his child support payments, citing reduced income. Lunden Alexis Roberts opposed this request and also petitioned the court to change the child's surname to Biden.

2022: Kathleen Buhle Releases Memoir

In 2022, Kathleen Buhle released her memoir titled "If We Break", which documents her account of her relationship with Hunter Biden.

If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing

Check it on Amazon

June 2023: Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts Settle Child Support Dispute

In June 2023, Hunter Biden and Lunden Alexis Roberts settled their child support dispute. Biden agreed to give several of his paintings to his daughter, pay an undisclosed monthly amount in child support, and assist with college tuition. Roberts dropped her petition to change their daughter's surname.

June 11, 2024: Conviction on Gun Charges

On June 11, 2024, Hunter Biden was found guilty on three felony charges for federal gun violations, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted in a criminal trial. Consequently, his law license in Washington, D.C. was suspended.

June 2024: Increased Role in Father's Campaign

In June 2024, after a poor presidential debate performance by Joe Biden, Hunter Biden became more involved in his father's campaign, assisting with speech preparation and joining meetings with staffers. He maintained frequent contact and advised his father not to drop out of the reelection campaign.

December 1, 2024: Presidential Pardon

On December 1, 2024, President Joe Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. The pardon covered all federal offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.

December 2024: Hunter Biden's Limited Contact with Daughter

As of December 2024, Hunter Biden has not met his daughter with Lunden Alexis Roberts in-person and has stopped virtual meetings, which Roberts believes was in response to her publishing a memoir about her relationship with him.

December 2024: Pardoned by Father

In December 2024, Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden for all federal offenses committed between 2014 and 2024, including any potential offenses not yet discovered.

2024: Presidential Race Blame

During an interview with Andrew Callaghan in July 2025, Hunter Biden blamed various individuals for forcing his father to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

January 2025: Hunter Biden Experiences Homelessness

In January 2025, Hunter Biden's rental home was damaged in the Palisades Fire, leading to difficulty finding new housing and experiencing homelessness. He was also dealing with significant debt and declining income due to poor sales of his memoir.

March 2025: Hunter Biden's Secret Service Detail Withdrawn

In March 2025, Hunter Biden's Secret Service detail was withdrawn on the direction of Donald Trump, reversing Joe Biden's order for extended post-presidency protection.

July 2025: Post-Election Interview

In July 2025, Hunter Biden conducted his first interview since the 2024 presidential election with Andrew Callaghan, criticizing various individuals he blamed for forcing his father to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.