History of Ryan Seacrest in Timeline
Ryan Seacrest is a prominent American television presenter and producer, widely recognized for hosting and producing various successful media outlets. Currently, he is the host of Wheel of Fortune, a position he assumed after Pat Sajak's departure in September 2024. He is also known for co-hosting Live with Kelly and Ryan and hosting shows like American Idol, American Top 40, and On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Additionally, he took over Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, initially as co-host in 2005 and later as the sole host after Clark's passing in 2012.
December 24, 1974: Ryan Seacrest Born
On December 24, 1974, Ryan John Seacrest was born. He later became an American television presenter and producer.
1992: Graduated High School
In 1992, Ryan Seacrest graduated from Dunwoody High School. He also studied journalism at the University of Georgia in the fall of 1992.
1993: Hosted Radical Outdoor Challenge
In 1993, Ryan Seacrest hosted the first season of ESPN's Radical Outdoor Challenge.
1994: Hosted Gladiators 2000
From 1994 to 1996, Ryan Seacrest hosted Gladiators 2000.
1995: Hosted Wild Animal Games
In 1995, Ryan Seacrest hosted Wild Animal Games.
1996: Hosted Gladiators 2000
From 1994 to 1996, Ryan Seacrest hosted Gladiators 2000.
2000: Hosted The NBC Saturday Night Movie
In the fall and winter of 2000, Ryan Seacrest hosted The NBC Saturday Night Movie.
2001: Hosted Ultimate Revenge
From 2001 to 2003, Ryan Seacrest hosted a reality television program called Ultimate Revenge on TNN.
2002: Co-Hosted American Idol
In 2002, Ryan Seacrest became co-host of American Idol with Brian Dunkleman.
2003: Hosted Ultimate Revenge
From 2001 to 2003, Ryan Seacrest hosted a reality television program called Ultimate Revenge on TNN.
2003: Hosted American Juniors
In 2003, Ryan Seacrest hosted the spin-off show, American Juniors.
2003: Substitute Host on Larry King Live
Starting in 2003, Ryan Seacrest occasionally served as a substitute host on Larry King Live.
January 2004: Hosted American Top 40
In January 2004, Ryan Seacrest became the host of the radio program American Top 40.
February 2004: Hosted KIIS-FM's Morning Show
In February 2004, Ryan Seacrest became the host of Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM's morning show, On Air With Ryan Seacrest.
2004: Emmy Nomination for American Idol
In 2004, Ryan Seacrest received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on American Idol.
August 2005: Executive Producer and Co-Host of New Year's Rockin' Eve
In August 2005, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest would become the executive producer and co-host of ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
2005: Co-host of New Year's Rockin' Eve
In 2005, Ryan Seacrest became the co-host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
December 31, 2005: Hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
On December 31, 2005, Ryan Seacrest performed much of the hosting duties for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve due to Clark's health issues.
January 2006: Joined E!
In January 2006, Ryan Seacrest signed a three-year, $21 million deal with E! to host various programs, including E! News and red carpet awards show coverage.
August 2008: Adam Sher Named CEO of Ryan Seacrest Productions
In August 2008, Ryan Seacrest named his longtime William Morris agent Adam Sher as CEO of Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP).
July 2009: Signed Deal to Continue Hosting American Idol
In July 2009, Ryan Seacrest signed a $45 million deal to continue hosting American Idol, making him the highest-paid reality TV host at the time.
2009: Renamed New Year's Rockin' Eve
In 2009, ABC renamed the program Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest. Ryan Seacrest also co-hosted the show delivering ABC's biggest New Year's numbers in twelve years.
2009: Relationship with Sara Jean Underwood Revealed
In 2009, Ryan Seacrest's two-year on-and-off relationship with model Sara Jean Underwood was revealed on The Howard Stern Show.
2009: Worked with Burberry's Christopher Bailey
Ryan Seacrest worked with Burberry's Christopher Bailey who designed Seacrest's suits for red carpet events as well as New Year's Eve since 2009 and American Idol starting in 2010.
April 2010: Seacrest Began Dating Julianne Hough
In April 2010, Ryan Seacrest began dating dancer and actress Julianne Hough.
December 16, 2010: Co-emceed Larry King's Final Show
On December 16, 2010, Ryan Seacrest co-emceed Larry King's final show with Bill Maher on Larry King Live.
2010: Ryan Seacrest Foundation Launched
In 2010, Ryan Seacrest launched the non-profit Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
2010: Emmy Win for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
In 2010, Ryan Seacrest won an Emmy Award for his work on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
2010: Worked with Burberry's Christopher Bailey
Ryan Seacrest worked with Burberry's Christopher Bailey who designed Seacrest's suits for red carpet events as well as New Year's Eve since 2009 and American Idol starting in 2010.
2011: Seacrest Studio Opened at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
In 2011, a Seacrest Studio opened at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
January 2012: Stopped Hosting E! News
Since January 2012, Ryan Seacrest remains managing editor of E! News and executive produces its red carpet awards show coverage but no longer hosts E! News on a daily basis.
January 31, 2012: Investment in Ryan Seacrest Media
On January 31, 2012, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital announced they would invest up to $300M in Ryan Seacrest Media. Also, A consortium headed by Seacrest agreed to rebrand Mark Cuban's HDNet television network as AXS TV.
April 2012: Expanded Role to NBCUniversal
In April 2012, Ryan Seacrest signed a deal with NBCUniversal, expanding his on-air role beyond E! to NBC.
April 2012: Signed Deal to Host American Idol
In April 2012, Ryan Seacrest signed a two-year $30 million deal to continue as the host of American Idol.
April 2012: Selena Gomez Named Ambassador of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation
In April 2012, Selena Gomez was named Ambassador of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
April 18, 2012: Second Season of Shahs of Sunset
On April 18, 2012, Bravo announced a second season of Shahs of Sunset, which is produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions.
August 19, 2012: Married to Jonas Premiered
On August 19, 2012, RSP's new show Married to Jonas premiered on E! and was renewed for a second season.
September 2012: Left E! News
In September 2012, Ryan Seacrest left E! News and was replaced by Terrence J.
2012: Sole Host of New Year's Rockin' Eve
Following Dick Clark's death in 2012, Ryan Seacrest became the sole host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
2012: Emmy Nomination for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
In 2012, Ryan Seacrest received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
2012: NBC Correspondent for London Olympic Games
In 2012, Ryan Seacrest was an NBC correspondent for the London Olympic Games and co-hosted the closing ceremony.
2012: Comcast First-Look Rights Expired
Through 2012 Comcast had first-look rights for all RSP shows. Clear Channel acquired a minority stake in RSP in early 2012, but RSP no longer has a first look deal with any network.
March 2013: Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough End Relationship
In March 2013, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough's relationship had ended.
October 2013: Signed Contract Extension for New Year's Rockin' Eve
In October 2013, Ryan Seacrest signed a multi-year contract extension with Dick Clark Productions to continue as host and executive producer of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
2013: Developed Ryan Seacrest Distinction Collection
In 2013, Ryan Seacrest developed his own clothing and accessories collection, "Ryan Seacrest Distinction."
2013: Hosted The Million Second Quiz
In 2013, Ryan Seacrest hosted The Million Second Quiz on NBC.
2013: Emmy Nomination for American Idol
In 2013, Ryan Seacrest received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on American Idol.
2013: Two Seacrest Studios Opened at Children's Hospitals
In 2013, two Seacrest Studios were opened at Children's Hospital of Orange County and Levine Children's Hospital, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
May 2014: Signed Deal to Host American Idol
In May 2014, it was reported that Ryan Seacrest had signed a one-year deal with an option for another year to host American Idol.
2014: Launched Typo Keyboard
In 2014, Ryan Seacrest was a principal investor in the Typo keyboard for iPhone devices.
2014: Ryan Seacrest Distinction Launched in Macy's
The Ryan Seacrest clothing and accessories collection, "Ryan Seacrest Distinction," successfully launched in 2014, with an exclusive retail deal with Macy's.
2015: Hosted Knock Knock Live
In 2015, Ryan Seacrest hosted Knock Knock Live on Fox, which was cancelled after two episodes.
2015: Seacrest Studio Opened at Children's National Hospital
In 2015, a Seacrest Studio opened at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
2015: Typo Keyboard Discontinued
In 2015, the Typo keyboard, in which Ryan Seacrest was an investor, was discontinued after a patent settlement with Blackberry Ltd.
April 2016: End of American Idol Run
In April 2016, Ryan Seacrest remained host of the series until the end of its run on American Idol.
May 2016: Ryan Seacrest Receives Honorary Doctorate from University of Georgia
In May 2016, Ryan Seacrest returned to the University of Georgia to serve as the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony and receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
2016: Hosted NBC's Rio Olympic Games Coverage
In 2016, Ryan Seacrest hosted NBC's live late-night coverage for the Rio Olympic Games.
2016: Emmy Nomination for American Idol
In 2016, Ryan Seacrest received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on American Idol.
2016: Seacrest Studio Opened at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital
In 2016, a Seacrest Studio opened at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Tennessee.
February 2017: Ryan Seacrest Foundation Partners with Atlanta Braves
In February 2017, the Ryan Seacrest Foundation partnered with the Atlanta Braves to promote the non-profit at SunTrust Park. Ryan Seacrest also did voice overs for the Braves' "Welcome Home" broadcast media campaign.
May 1, 2017: Joined Live with Kelly and Ryan
On May 1, 2017, Ryan Seacrest joined Kelly Ripa as host of Live with Kelly and Ryan, succeeding Michael Strahan.
July 20, 2017: Announced Hosting Idol Reboot
On July 20, 2017, Ryan Seacrest announced he would host the American Idol reboot on Live with Kelly & Ryan.
August 2017: Announced Polished Men's Skincare Line
In August 2017, Ryan Seacrest announced the Polished men's skincare line, produced in partnership with dermatologist Harold Lancer, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
September 2017: Sportswear Added to Ryan Seacrest Distinction
In September 2017, Itochu Prominent added sportswear to the Ryan Seacrest Distinction clothing line.
November 2017: Seacrest Accused of Sexual Harassment
In November 2017, it was reported that a former E! wardrobe stylist accused Ryan Seacrest of sexual harassment and that he was under investigation.
December 2017: Viewership of Live with Kelly and Ryan Increased
By December 2017, Live with Kelly and Ryan averaged over 3 million viewers with Ryan Seacrest as host.
2017: Seacrest Begins Dating Shayna Taylor
In 2017, Ryan Seacrest began dating model Shayna Taylor.
2017: Hosted New Year's Rockin' Eve
In 2017, Ryan Seacrest hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve for the 13th consecutive year.
2017: Deal Between Ryan Seacrest Productions and ABC Studios
In 2017, Ryan Seacrest signed a multi-year overall deal between Ryan Seacrest Productions and ABC Studios to develop scripted projects.
2017: Broadcasting from WABC-TV
Since 2017, Ryan Seacrest has been broadcasting On Air With Ryan Seacrest from a studio at WABC-TV in New York City.
February 2018: Sexual Harassment Investigation Closed
In February 2018, the investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Ryan Seacrest was closed due to insufficient evidence.
2018: Joined Paley Center for Media's Board of Trustees
In 2018, Ryan Seacrest joined the Paley Center for Media's Board of Trustees.
2018: Emmy Nominations for Live with Kelly and Ryan
In 2018, Ryan Seacrest received Emmy Award nominations for Live with Kelly and Ryan.
2018: Inducted into Giants of Broadcasting
In 2018, Ryan Seacrest was inducted into the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation's 16th Annual Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts.
2018: Seacrest Urges Georgia Voters to Check ID Requirements
In 2018, the day before Georgia's special election, Ryan Seacrest urged voters to visit VoteRider's site or contact their helpline for ID information.
2019: Hosted New Year's Rockin' Eve
The 2019 edition of Rockin' Eve marked Ryan Seacrest's 15th consecutive year as the host.
2020: Seacrest and Shayna Taylor End Relationship
In 2020, Ryan Seacrest and Shayna Taylor ended their relationship.
2020: Seacrest Studio Opened at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
In 2020, a Seacrest Studio opened at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Florida.
September 2021: Renewed Contract with iHeartMedia
In September 2021, Ryan Seacrest renewed his contract with Premiere and KIIS parent company iHeartMedia, lasting through 2025.
February 16, 2023: Seacrest Announces Departure from Live with Kelly and Ryan
On February 16, 2023, Ryan Seacrest announced that he would be leaving Live with Kelly and Ryan after six years in April 2023.
April 14, 2023: Seacrest's Last Appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan
On April 14, 2023, Ryan Seacrest made his last appearance as full-time host on Live with Kelly and Ryan.
April 2023: Seacrest Left Live with Kelly and Ryan
In April 2023, Ryan Seacrest left Live with Kelly and Ryan after six years due to traveling as his primary residence is in Los Angeles.
April 17, 2023: Consuelos Replaced Seacrest on Live with Kelly and Ryan
On April 17, 2023, Mark Consuelos, husband of Kelly Ripa, replaced Ryan Seacrest full-time on Live with Kelly and Ryan.
June 27, 2023: Seacrest to Replace Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune
On June 27, 2023, it was reported that Ryan Seacrest would replace Pat Sajak as the host of Wheel of Fortune.
2023: Three Seacrest Studios Opened at Children's Hospitals
In 2023, three Seacrest Studios opened at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Tennessee in May, Cohen Children's Medical Center in New York in September, and Primary Children's Hospital in Utah in December.
September 9, 2024: Seacrest Begins Hosting Wheel of Fortune
On September 9, 2024, Ryan Seacrest began his hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune.
September 2024: Host of Wheel of Fortune
In September 2024, Ryan Seacrest began hosting Wheel of Fortune, replacing Pat Sajak.
2025: End of iHeartMedia Contract
Ryan Seacrest's renewed contract with Premiere and KIIS parent company iHeartMedia is set to last through the end of 2025.
