Nicole Ann Shanahan is an American attorney specializing in technology law. Notably, she is the vice-presidential candidate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 independent presidential campaign.
1960: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Campaign Airs Super Bowl Ad with Footage from 1960
The Super Bowl advertisement supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign, funded in part by Nicole Shanahan, faced criticism for incorporating footage from a 1960 presidential campaign ad that supported John F. Kennedy. This reuse of historical footage sparked controversy and led to apologies from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to family members who were offended.
September 26, 1985: Nicole Shanahan is Born
Nicole Ann Shanahan was born on September 26, 1985 in Placer County, California.
2013: Marriage to Jeremy Asher Kranz
Nicole Shanahan married Jeremy Asher Kranz, a San Francisco Bay Area investor and finance executive, in 2013.
2014: Nicole Shanahan Graduates from Santa Clara University School of Law
Nicole Shanahan earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2014.
2014: Meeting Sergey Brin
Nicole Shanahan met Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, in the summer of 2014 at a yoga festival in Lake Tahoe.
2014: Nicole Shanahan's Father Passes Away
Nicole Shanahan's father, who she described as struggling with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse, passed away in 2014.
2015: Divorce from Jeremy Asher Kranz
Nicole Shanahan and Jeremy Asher Kranz divorced in 2015.
2016: Nicole Shanahan Contributes to Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign
Nicole Shanahan showed her support for Hillary Clinton by contributing to her 2016 presidential campaign.
2018: Nicole Shanahan Marries Sergey Brin
In 2018, Nicole Shanahan married Google co-founder, Sergey Brin.
2018: Nicole Shanahan Helps Launch Center for Female Reproductive Longevity and Equality
In 2018, Nicole Shanahan played a key role in funding and launching the Center for Female Reproductive Longevity and Equality at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, showcasing her commitment to women's health and scientific research.
2018: Marriage to Sergey Brin and Birth of Daughter
Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin married in 2018 and welcomed a daughter the same year.
December 2019: Nicole Shanahan Co-hosts Fundraiser for Pete Buttigieg
In December 2019, Nicole Shanahan joined other influential figures from Silicon Valley in co-hosting a fundraising event for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign.
2019: Nicole Shanahan Establishes Bia-Echo Foundation
In 2019, Nicole Shanahan established her private foundation, Bia-Echo, focused on supporting various causes.
2019: Nicole Shanahan Pledges $100 Million to Bia-Echo for Reproductive Longevity Research
In 2019, Nicole Shanahan committed to contributing $100 million to Bia-Echo over a five-year period, primarily for research on "reproductive longevity", aiming to help women conceive later in life.
2019: Nicole Shanahan Establishes Bia-Echo Foundation
Nicole Shanahan founded her private foundation, Bia-Echo, in 2019.
2020: Nicole Shanahan Supports Joe Biden's Presidential Campaign
After Joe Biden emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2020, Nicole Shanahan shifted her support to his campaign, contributing $25,000 to the Biden Victory Fund and providing a five-figure sum to the Democratic National Committee.
2020: Nicole Shanahan Supports Measure J and George Gascón
In 2020, Nicole Shanahan played an active role in supporting Measure J, a criminal justice reform initiative in Los Angeles County. Additionally, she made a significant contribution of $150,000 to George Gascón's campaign for Los Angeles County District Attorney, challenging the incumbent Jackie Lacey.
2020: Nicole Shanahan Sells ClearAccessIP
In 2020, Nicole Shanahan sold her legal tech company, ClearAccessIP, to a competitor, IPwe.
2020: Purchase of Malibu Estate
In 2020, Shanahan and Brin purchased an estate at Point Dume in Malibu, California.
2020: Nicole Shanahan Executive Produces "Kiss the Ground"
Nicole Shanahan served as executive producer for the film "Kiss the Ground", which was released in 2020.
2020: Sergey Brin Makes Significant Donation to Bia-Echo
Sergey Brin, then-husband of Nicole Shanahan, donated at least $23 million in Alphabet shares to Bia-Echo in 2020.
December 2021: Separation from Sergey Brin
Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin separated in December 2021.
2021: Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin Separate
Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin separated in 2021.
2021: Sergey Brin Contributes to Bia-Echo
Sergey Brin made another contribution to the Bia-Echo Foundation in 2021.
January 2022: Sergey Brin Files for Divorce
Sergey Brin filed for divorce from Nicole Shanahan in January 2022.
2022: Bia-Echo Reports Holdings and Limited Grant Activity
In 2022, the Bia-Echo Foundation reported owning $13.7 million in government securities and $12.2 million in stocks and bonds. However, it reported making no grants or contributions to external groups during that year.
2022: Meeting Jacob Strumwasser at Burning Man
Nicole Shanahan and Jacob Strumwasser met at the Burning Man festival in the summer of 2022.
2022: Nicole Shanahan Donates to Blue Meridian Partners
Nicole Shanahan made a substantial donation of $70 million to Blue Meridian Partners in 2022. This organization focuses on providing grants to nonprofits dedicated to helping those living in poverty.
2022: Nicole Shanahan Serves as Executive Producer for Films
Nicole Shanahan worked as an executive producer for the films "Kiss The Ground" in 2020 and "Evolver" in 2022.
January 2023: Nicole Shanahan Invests in Linus Biotechnology
In January 2023, Nicole Shanahan participated in a venture funding round for Linus Biotechnology, Inc. (LinusBio), demonstrating her interest in biotech.
May 2023: Nicole Shanahan Contributes to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Campaign
In May 2023, Nicole Shanahan donated the maximum allowable amount of $6,600 to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign, at the time a challenge to President Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.
October 2023: Nicole Shanahan Expresses Disappointment at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Decision to Run as Independent
Following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to withdraw from the Democratic primaries and pursue an independent candidacy in October 2023, Nicole Shanahan publicly expressed her "incredible disappointment" and indicated she would not support his campaign.
2023: Divorce Finalized
The divorce between Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin was finalized in 2023 in a confidential arbitration.
2023: Nicole Shanahan Highlights Autism Research as Focus for Bia-Echo
In a 2023 interview, Nicole Shanahan revealed that finding a "cure to autism" was an additional focus for Bia-Echo, and stated she dedicated 60% of her time to autism research.
2023: Nicole Shanahan Discusses her Childhood in People Magazine
In a 2023 interview with People magazine, Nicole Shanahan opened up about her difficult childhood, marked by poverty and traumatic experiences.
2023: Commitment Ceremony with Jacob Strumwasser
In 2023, Nicole Shanahan held a "love ceremony" of commitment with Jacob Strumwasser, an advisor at Lightning Labs.
2023: Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin Divorce
In 2023, Nicole Shanahan and Sergey Brin finalized their divorce.
March 2024: Reports of Alphabet Shares Settlement
In March 2024, Forbes reported that Nicole Shanahan likely received around 2.6 million Alphabet Class B shares from Brin as part of their divorce settlement, worth $390 million, and possibly received an equal amount of Class C shares.
March 2024: Nicole Shanahan Shortlisted for Vice President
In March 2024, reports circulated that Shanahan was on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s shortlist as a potential running mate. Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, Kennedy's campaign manager and daughter-in-law, confirmed these reports.
March 2024: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Names Nicole Shanahan as his Vice Presidential Running Mate
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. selected Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential running mate in March 2024.
March 26, 2024: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces Nicole Shanahan as His Running Mate
On March 26, 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. formally announced Nicole Shanahan as his selection for vice president during a campaign event in Oakland, California. Shanahan left the Democratic Party to join the ticket, running against incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
2024: Nicole Shanahan Becomes Running Mate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Presidential Campaign
In 2024, Nicole Shanahan joined Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his running mate in his independent presidential campaign.
2024: Nicole Shanahan Funds Super Bowl Ad for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Campaign
In 2024, despite her earlier reservations, Nicole Shanahan resumed her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign. She donated $4 million through Planeta Management LLC to a super PAC, specifically for a 30-second television advertisement aired during Super Bowl LVIII.