| Years |
Age |
Events |
| 1958 |
0 |
Born on January 26 in Metairie, Louisiana. |
| 1976 |
18 |
Graduates from high school. |
| 1976-1980 |
18 |
Attends the University of New Orleans, drops out to pursue comedy. |
| 1978 |
20 |
Starts performing stand-up comedy in New Orleans. |
| 1981 |
23 |
Moves to Austin, Texas, to work at a comedy club. |
| 1982 |
24 |
Moves to Los Angeles. |
| 1986 |
28 |
First appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, invited to sit on the couch. |
| 1994 |
36 |
Ellen sitcom premieres. |
| 1997 |
39 |
Comes out as a lesbian on Ellen in “The Puppy Episode,” wins Peabody Award. |
| 1998 |
40 |
Ellen ends; receives GLAAD Media Award for Visibility. |
| 1999 |
41 |
Stars in EDtv and The Love Letter. |
| 2001 |
43 |
Stars in What Women Want and Say It Isn’t So. |
| 2003 |
45 |
The Ellen DeGeneres Show premieres; founds A Very Good Production. |
| 2004 |
46 |
Wins first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. |
| 2005 |
47 |
Named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. |
| 2007 |
49 |
Hosts the 79th Academy Awards. |
| 2008 |
50 |
Marries Portia de Rossi on August 16; receives another GLAAD Media Award. |
| 2012 |
54 |
Receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. |
| 2016 |
58 |
Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. |
| 2019-2020 |
61 |
Addresses workplace culture controversies on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, issues apology. |
| 2022 |
64 |
The Ellen DeGeneres Show ends on May 26 after 19 seasons. |
| 2024 |
66 |
Releases stand-up special For Your Approval on Netflix. |
| 2025 |
67 |
Continues involvement in various projects, including comedy and philanthropy, as of March 3, 2025. |
