History of Joe Rogan in Timeline

Joe Rogan is a multifaceted American personality renowned for his influential podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, where he engages in wide-ranging conversations with guests on topics spanning current events, comedy, politics, science, and martial arts. He's also a UFC color commentator, comedian, actor, and former television host. Rogan's podcast is one of the most listened to worldwide, marked by its long-form interviews and diverse subject matter. His influence extends across entertainment, sports, and the broader cultural landscape.

Sections (5)

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

August 11, 1967: Joseph James Rogan is born

On August 11, 1967, Joseph James Rogan was born. He would later become a podcaster, UFC color commentator, comedian, actor, and former television host, most famously known for 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast.

1985: Graduated High School

In 1985, Joe Rogan graduated from Newton South High School, marking the completion of his secondary education.

August 27, 1988: First Stand-Up Routine

On August 27, 1988, Joe Rogan performed his first stand-up routine at an open-mic night at a Stitches comedy club in Boston, marking the beginning of his career as a comedian.

1988: Began Comedy Career

In 1988, Joe Rogan started his career in comedy in the Boston area, marking his entry into the world of stand-up and performance.

1990: Moved to New York City

In 1990, Joe Rogan moved to New York City to pursue comedy full-time, marking a significant step in his early career.

1993: Started Accusations of Joke Thievery

Since 1993, Joe Rogan made claims that comedian Carlos Mencia was thieving jokes.

1994: Interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

In 1994, Joe Rogan became interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after watching Royce Gracie fight at UFC 2: No Way Out, influencing his future involvement with the UFC.

1994: Relocated to Los Angeles

In 1994, Joe Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and got his first national television spot on MTV's 'Half-Hour Comedy Hour', leading to a development deal with Disney and his first major acting role.

1994: Relocation to Los Angeles and Disney Deal

In 1994, Rogan relocated to Los Angeles and signed an exclusive developmental deal with Disney, a significant step in his early career.

1995: Starred in NewsRadio

From 1995, Joe Rogan starred in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio as Joe Garrelli, marking a significant role in his acting career.

1996: Start of Jiu-Jitsu Training

In 1996, Joe Rogan began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie at his school in Los Angeles, California.

February 7, 1997: First UFC Show

On February 7, 1997, Joe Rogan's first show with the Ultimate Fighting Championship took place at UFC 12: Judgement Day in Dothan, Alabama, where he worked as a backstage and post-fight interviewer.

1997: Started working for the UFC

In 1997, Joe Rogan began working for the UFC as an interviewer and color commentator, launching his long-standing association with the mixed martial arts organization.

1998: Phil Hartman's Death

In 1998, Phil Hartman, a fellow cast member and friend of Joe Rogan, was murdered by his wife, deeply affecting Rogan and causing him to cancel stand-up gigs.

December 1999: Recorded First Stand-Up Album

In December 1999, Joe Rogan recorded his first stand-up comedy album, 'I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day...', at the Comedy Connection in Boston.

1999: Starred in NewsRadio until 1999

Joe Rogan remained in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio until 1999, where he played the character, Joe Garrelli.

August 2000: Released First Stand-Up Album

In August 2000, Joe Rogan released his first stand-up comedy album, 'I'm Gonna Be Dead Some Day...', gaining national exposure.

2000: First Comedy Special

In 2000, Joe Rogan released his first comedy special, 'I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday...', marking a milestone in his comedy career.

2001: Hosted Fear Factor

In 2001, Joe Rogan began hosting the American edition of Fear Factor on NBC, a role that significantly increased his national exposure.

2001: UFC Taken Over by Zuffa

In 2001, the UFC was taken over by Zuffa, after which Rogan attended some events and befriended Dana White, leading to a job offer as a color commentator.

December 2002: Emceed Hollywood Spectacular

In December 2002, Joe Rogan was the emcee for the 2002 Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular, a Christmas parade in Hollywood.

2002: Hired as UFC Color Commentator

In 2002, Dana White hired Joe Rogan as a color commentator for the UFC, initially for free in exchange for prime event tickets, before Rogan eventually accepted pay for the role.

February 2003: Co-Hosted The Man Show

In February 2003, Joe Rogan became the new co-host of The Man Show on Comedy Central, marking a new venture in his television career.

August 2003: Started on The Man Show

Starting August 2003, Joe Rogan began co-hosting The Man Show on Comedy Central for its fifth season.

2003: Living in Bell Canyon, California

Since 2003, Joe Rogan had been living on and off in Bell Canyon, California.

2004: The Man Show Ended

In 2004, Joe Rogan's time on The Man Show came to an end due to disagreements over content with Comedy Central and the show's producers.

May 2005: Signed with Endeavor Talent Agency

In May 2005, Joe Rogan signed a deal with the Endeavor Talent Agency, marking a move to focus on his stand-up career.

2005: Accused Carlos Mencia of Joke Thievery

In 2005, Joe Rogan wrote a blog entry accusing comedian Carlos Mencia of joke thievery, escalating a long-standing claim since 1993.

2005: Wesley Snipes Cage Fight Challenge

In 2005, actor Wesley Snipes challenged Joe Rogan to a cage fight, for which Rogan trained for five months before Snipes backed out.

September 2006: Recorded Shiny Happy Jihad

In September 2006, Joe Rogan recorded his fourth comedy special, Shiny Happy Jihad, at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco.

2006: Fear Factor Ended

In 2006, Fear Factor's initial run came to an end, marking a change in Joe Rogan's television career.

February 2007: Confronted Carlos Mencia On Stage

In February 2007, Joe Rogan confronted Carlos Mencia on stage at The Comedy Store in Hollywood over joke thievery allegations, leading to professional repercussions.

April 2007: Released Shiny Happy Jihad

In April 2007, Comedy Central Records released Joe Rogan's fourth comedy special, Shiny Happy Jihad, which included excerpts from an improv Q&A session.

2007: Premiered Comedy Special

In 2007, Joe Rogan's second stand-up comedy special, Joe Rogan: Live, premiered on Showtime, following its filming in Phoenix, Arizona, two years prior.

2008: Birth of First Daughter and Move to Colorado

In 2008, Joe Rogan and Jessica Ditzel had their first daughter. The family moved to Gold Hill, Colorado, but returned to Southern California four months later due to Ditzel's pregnancy.

January 2009: Hosted Game Show in My Head

In January 2009, Joe Rogan hosted the short-lived CBS show Game Show in My Head, which aired for eight episodes and was produced by Ashton Kutcher.

December 2009: Podcast Launch with Brian Redban

In December 2009, Joe Rogan launched a free podcast with Brian Redban, initially as a weekly live broadcast on Ustream.

2009: Launched The Joe Rogan Experience

In 2009, Joe Rogan launched 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast, which would later become one of the world's most popular.

2009: Marriage to Jessica Ditzel

In 2009, Joe Rogan married Jessica Ditzel, a former cocktail waitress.

August 2010: "The Joe Rogan Experience" Enters Top 100 on iTunes

By August 2010, the podcast was named "The Joe Rogan Experience" and entered the list of Top 100 podcasts on iTunes.

2010: Accused Dane Cook of Joke Thievery

In 2010, Joe Rogan accused comedian Dane Cook of joke thievery, adding to his history of addressing the issue in the comedy world.

2010: Birth of Second Daughter

In 2010, Joe Rogan and Jessica Ditzel had their second daughter.

2010: Presenter in "DMT: The Spirit Molecule"

In 2010, Joe Rogan was the presenter in the documentary "DMT: The Spirit Molecule", highlighting his interest in consciousness exploration.

2011: Podcast Picked Up by SiriusXM

In 2011, "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast was picked up by SiriusXM Satellite Radio, expanding its reach.

2011: Acted in Zookeeper

In 2011, Joe Rogan played his first major film character, Gale, in the comedy film Zookeeper, marking a new venture in his acting career.

2011: Resumed Hosting Fear Factor

In 2011, Joe Rogan resumed his role as the host of Fear Factor for its seventh and final season, demonstrating his continued involvement with the show.

December 2012: Release of "Live from the Tabernacle"

In December 2012, Joe Rogan released his sixth comedy special, "Live from the Tabernacle", exclusively as a download on his website for $5, following Louis C.K.'s distribution model.

2012: Acted in Here Comes the Boom

In 2012, Joe Rogan played himself in Here Comes the Boom, an action-comedy film starring Kevin James.

2013: Hosting "Joe Rogan Questions Everything"

In 2013, Joe Rogan hosted the television show "Joe Rogan Questions Everything" on the SyFy network. The show aired for six episodes and covered topics similar to those on his podcasts, such as the existence of Bigfoot and UFOs.

January 2015: Podcast Reaches 11 Million Monthly Downloads

By January 2015, "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast reached over 11 million monthly downloads, solidifying its popularity.

2015: Podcast Popularity Soars

By 2015, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' had become one of the most popular podcasts globally, regularly receiving millions of listens per episode.

2016: Worked with Mike Goldberg until 2016

Until the end of 2016, Joe Rogan worked alongside Mike Goldberg as a commentator for the UFC, solidifying his role in the sport.

2018: Purchase of New Home in Southern California

In 2018, Joe Rogan and his family purchased a new home in Southern California for almost $5 million.

October 2019: Revelation of Family Connection to My Chemical Romance

In October 2019, Joe Rogan revealed that he is a first cousin once removed of Gerard Way and Mikey Way, members of My Chemical Romance, although he had never met them.

2019: Rogan describes himself as socially liberal

In 2019, Joe Rogan described himself as socially liberal, supporting same-sex marriage, gay rights, women's rights, recreational drug use, universal health care, universal basic income, gun rights, and the Second Amendment.

May 19, 2020: Licensing Deal with Spotify Announced

On May 19, 2020, Joe Rogan announced a multiyear licensing deal with Spotify, estimated at $200 million, marking a significant agreement in the podcasting industry.

September 1, 2020: "The Joe Rogan Experience" Launches on Spotify

On September 1, 2020, "The Joe Rogan Experience" became available on Spotify as part of the licensing deal.

2020: Described as "Libertarian-Leaning" by CNN

In 2020, CNN described Joe Rogan as "libertarian-leaning" in his political views.

2020: Move to Lake Austin, Texas

In 2020, Joe Rogan and his family moved into a $14 million home on Lake Austin in Austin, Texas.

2020: Endorsed Bernie Sanders

In 2020, Joe Rogan endorsed Bernie Sanders, demonstrating his political stance during that year's election cycle.

2020: Spotify Deal

In 2020, Spotify secured exclusive distribution rights to 'The Joe Rogan Experience' for $200 million, a significant milestone in his podcasting career.

January 2021: Podcast Becomes Exclusive to Spotify

In January 2021, "The Joe Rogan Experience" became exclusive to the Spotify platform, with both audio and video content.

April 2021: Contentious Remarks About COVID-19 Vaccines

In April 2021, Joe Rogan made contentious remarks about COVID-19 vaccines, claiming young, healthy people do not need them, leading to criticism from health officials and media outlets.

September 1, 2021: Rogan Tests Positive for COVID-19

On September 1, 2021, Joe Rogan tested positive for COVID-19 and began a treatment regimen that included ivermectin, leading to controversy.

September 3, 2021: Rogan Tests Negative for COVID-19

On September 3, 2021, Joe Rogan tested negative for COVID-19, after testing positive for COVID-19 on September 1, 2021.

2021: Onnit Sold to Unilever

In 2021, Onnit, the supplements and fitness company co-founded by Joe Rogan, was sold to Unilever.

January 2022: Open Letter from Scientists Regarding Misinformation

In January 2022, 270 scientists, physicians, and healthcare workers wrote an open letter to Spotify expressing concern over "false and societally harmful assertions" on "The Joe Rogan Experience", particularly regarding COVID-19 misinformation.

January 24, 2022: Neil Young's Open Letter to Spotify

On January 24, 2022, Neil Young posted an open letter demanding Spotify remove his music if they would not remove "The Joe Rogan Experience" due to misinformation concerns.

February 4, 2022: Spotify Removes 70 Episodes

On February 4, 2022, Spotify removed 70 episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience" that pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic, which Rogan had selected.

February 2022: Controversy Over Racial Slur Usage

In February 2022, Joe Rogan faced criticism after a compilation of him using a racial slur surfaced on Instagram, leading to an apology and debate over context.

February 2022: Episodes Removed from Spotify Amid Controversy

In February 2022, Spotify removed 113 episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience" due to concerns over racially insensitive language in some episodes.

April 2022: Remarks on Transgender Women in Sports

In April 2022, Joe Rogan made comments on transgender women competing in women's sports, including MMA, saying that transgender swimmer Lia Thomas "might be the woke straw that breaks society's camel's back".

October 2022: Promotion of Litter Boxes in Schools Hoax

In October 2022, Joe Rogan shared the widely discredited litter boxes in schools hoax while interviewing Tulsi Gabbard, later acknowledging a lack of proof but falsely claiming discussions about the idea.

2022: Possible Support for Ron DeSantis

In 2022, Joe Rogan stated that Republican Ron DeSantis would be "a good president."

2022: Rumble's Offer to Rogan

In early 2022, Rumble offered Joe Rogan $100 million to switch from Spotify, an offer he reportedly declined.

February 2023: Antisemitic Comments Controversy

During an episode of his podcast in February 2023, Joe Rogan made comments about Jewish people and money that were widely condemned as antisemitic.

March 2023: Comedy Mothership Opens

In March 2023, Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership comedy club opened in Austin, Texas.

February 2024: Promotion of Debunked AIDS Claims

In a February 2024 podcast, Joe Rogan promoted the debunked claim that party drugs were a significant factor in AIDS and falsely claimed that the antiviral drug AZT killed people "quicker" than AIDS itself, sparking criticism from AIDS research organizations.

March 2024: Comments on Israel's Actions in Gaza

In March 2024, Joe Rogan described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as a "genocide" but later acknowledged writer Coleman Hughes' differing perspective and expertise on the matter.

April 2024: Lawsuit Filed Against Onnit

In April 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Onnit alleging that its 'Alpha BRAIN' supplement was deceptively advertised and performed no better than a placebo.

November 4, 2024: Endorsement of Donald Trump

On November 4, 2024, the day before the 2024 United States presidential election, Joe Rogan endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, citing Elon Musk's compelling arguments.

November 2024: Comments on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In November 2024, Joe Rogan criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine, describing it as "100% wrong." He also criticized outgoing US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These comments led to Wladimir Klitschko offering to debate Rogan on his podcast.

December 2024: "The Joe Rogan Experience" Top Podcast on Spotify for Fifth Year

In December 2024, Spotify confirmed that "The Joe Rogan Experience" was the top podcast on its platform for the fifth consecutive year.

2024: Spotify Deal Renewal

In 2024, Joe Rogan renewed his deal with Spotify for an estimated $250 million, but it was no longer an exclusive deal, marking a change in the distribution of his podcast.

2024: Supported Donald Trump

In 2024, Joe Rogan voiced his support for Donald Trump, marking his political endorsement in that year's election.

January 10, 2025: Interview with Mark Zuckerberg on COVID-19 Censorship

On January 10, 2025, Joe Rogan interviewed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, where Zuckerberg alleged that the Biden administration pressured Facebook to remove content related to the COVID-19 vaccine.