Oliver Greenwald

Oliver Greenwald is an American journalist and co-founder of The Intercept. He writes about US politics, terrorism and military interventionism.

Last summer, he and business partner Sam Nassif appeared on Shark Tank with their invention Drip Drop: an edible ring designed to prevent melting ice cream from falling onto hands and clothing. Unfortunately, however, the business soon went bankrupt.

Early Life and Education

Greenwald began blogging with Unclaimed Territory, winning the 2005 Koufax Award for Best New Blog. Subsequently he wrote for Salon before joining the American wing of Guardian newspaper to write weekly columns and daily blogs for them.

In 2014, Greenwald joined journalist Laura Poitras and received financial backing from eBay founder Pierre Omidyar to found The Intercept, an online news organization focused on surveillance issues. Greenwald serves as editor alongside Poitras and Jeremy Scahill.

Greenwald’s writings about secret U.S. and British surveillance programs have garnered him widespread praise from some corners, yet have alienated him from parts of the political left. His scorn for major media outlets and his open opposition of power hold great appeal among those wary of authority figures.

Professional Career

Greenwald co-founded The Intercept with Poitras and Jeremy Scahill and specializes in investigative journalism. He appears regularly on progressive media programs like Democracy Now! as well.

Denver, Colorado teenagers donned bow ties and Oxford shirts when they appeared on Shark Tank for the first time as 14-year-olds in 2016 at age 14. As the youngest team to appear on the show, they successfully raised $250,000 with their invention called Drip Drop which prevented ice cream dripping onto children’s faces or clothing.

As soon as Skripal was poisoned, Greenwald challenged Boris Johnson’s claim that British scientists had confirmed the nerve agent used originated from Russia. Later he published an article seemingly outlining a “Protocols of Zion-esque rant against Jews controlling Hollywood.”

Achievement and Honors

Greenwald received both the 2014 Hugh Hefner First Amendment Award and Freedom of the Press Foundation’s annual award in 2013.

Zach Quinto played Greenwald in Oliver Stone’s 2016 feature film Snowden. He has written articles for Salon, The Guardian and The Intercept.

He has strongly denounced the administration for its attacks on civil liberties and opposes large-scale immigration.

Greenwald made headlines in 2019 for publishing leaked conversations between officials involved with Operation Car Wash, a corruption scandal in Brazil. This led to President Jair Bolsonaro’s government responding with threats of legal action. Subsequently, Greenwald left The Intercept citing political censorship and breach of contract issues; later on he announced plans for an online publication featuring rescue dogs; both him and Miranda own 24 rescue pets between them.

Personal Life

Greenwald is a staunch liberal with an aversion to violence; he identifies as gay and has married into the Jewish faith.

Greenwald has also stated his preference for more traditional forms of journalism, unlike many of his peers who dismiss allegations of Russian hacking as baseless allegations.

Greenwald has openly encouraged readers to support journalists working for traditional outlets. His online vitriol often makes for harsh discourse; therefore his offline openness to debate is refreshingly welcoming in comparison. Greenwald’s writing has often provided his readers with surprises while shaping debate over terrorism, surveillance and war – with his views contributing directly or indirectly toward shaping these conversations. Greenwald even published his own book entitled No Place to Hide which has been featured on multiple podcasts.

Net Worth

Sam Nassif and Oliver Greenwald created a product, called Drip Drop cone Holder, designed to eliminate sticky drips on faces and clothes. They received a patent for it and appeared on Shark Tank season seven episode 25 as proof.

Greenwald and his colleagues at The Intercept released in 2019 multiple Telegram messages between Brazilian judicial members and members of the task force investigating Operation Car Wash’s corruption scandal, leading to threats and attacks from supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration. Greenwald faced death threats as a result.

Greenwald joined the American Guardian newspaper’s American branch in September 2012 as a weekly columnist and daily blogger, writing weekly columns and blogs to criticize President Trump and his Administration’s corruption, cruelty and mendacity. Greenwald believes liberals should not feel grateful for institutional safeguards that serve to restrain such abuses by political leaders such as Donald Trump.