What Happened to Nick Bilton?
Nick Bilton is a British-American journalist, New York Times-bestselling author, and filmmaker known for his investigative work on technology and its impact on society. He has held prominent roles at The New York Times and Vanity Fair, and his work has expanded into documentary filmmaking and screenwriting, with recent projects including a film for Martin Scorsese.
Quick Answer
Nick Bilton is currently a special correspondent at Vanity Fair, an acclaimed author of several New York Times-bestselling books like "Hatching Twitter" and "American Kingpin," and an active filmmaker and screenwriter. As of 2025, he was announced to be writing and producing a new Martin Scorsese film, starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt, alongside a related book about organized crime in Hawaii. He also serves as an adjunct professor at NYU.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline10 events
Joins The New York Times
Nick Bilton began his tenure at The New York Times, working as a design editor in the newsroom and a researcher in the research and development labs.
Becomes Lead Writer for NYT Bits Blog
Bilton became the lead writer for The New York Times' Bits blog, focusing on technology and business.
Publishes 'I Live in the Future & Here's How It Works'
His first book, 'I Live in the Future & Here's How It Works: Why Your World, Work, and Brain Are Being Creatively Disrupted,' was released, exploring the impact of digital media on human behavior.
Publishes 'Hatching Twitter'
Bilton released 'Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal,' a New York Times bestseller detailing the founding and early struggles of Twitter. The book was later optioned for a TV series.
Leaves NYT for Vanity Fair
After more than a decade, Bilton left The New York Times to become a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, covering technology, business, and culture.
Wins First Amendment Lawsuit Against Twitter
Bilton successfully fought and won a First Amendment lawsuit when Twitter attempted to compel him to testify in a class-action lawsuit, protecting his journalistic sources. His reporting also contributed to an $800 million settlement against Twitter.
Publishes 'American Kingpin'
His third book, 'American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road,' became a New York Times bestseller and was later reported to be adapted into a film by the Coen brothers and Steven Zaillian.
Directs and Produces HBO's 'Fake Famous'
Bilton wrote, directed, and produced the HBO documentary 'Fake Famous,' which explored the manufactured nature of online fame and influencer culture.
Announced as Screenwriter/Producer for Martin Scorsese Film
It was announced that Nick Bilton would write the screenplay for a new Martin Scorsese film, starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt, set in Hawaii. He is also slated to produce the film and write a companion book about organized crime in Hawaii.
Continues Hollywood Productions and Academia
As of today, Bilton continues to be involved in major Hollywood productions, including the Scorsese project, and serves as an adjunct professor at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Nick Bilton's career began at The New York Times in 2003, where he spent over a decade in various roles, including design editor, researcher in the R&D labs, and ultimately a technology columnist and lead writer for the Bits blog. His reporting at the Times was impactful, notably contributing to the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to overturn its ban on using electronic devices during flights.
In 2010, Bilton published his first book, "I Live in the Future & Here's How It Works," exploring how technology influences human behavior and the future of media. This was followed by the New York Times bestseller "Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal" in 2013, which delved into the tumultuous early days of the social media giant. The book gained significant attention for its detailed account of the co-founders' power struggles and was optioned for a TV series.
Bilton transitioned from The New York Times in 2016 to become a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, where he continued his investigative journalism, covering technology, business, politics, and culture. During this period, his reporting on Twitter's user engagement metrics led to an $800 million class-action settlement against the company, and he successfully defended a First Amendment lawsuit to protect his sources. His 2017 New York Times bestseller, "American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road," chronicled the story of Ross Ulbricht and the dark web marketplace, which was also optioned for a film adaptation by the Coen brothers and Steven Zaillian.
In recent years, Bilton has expanded significantly into film and television. He wrote, directed, and produced the 2021 HBO documentary "Fake Famous," which examined social media influencer culture through a social experiment. His production credits also include HBO's "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley." He has written scripts and executive produced for major studios like Lionsgate, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros., Netflix, Disney, and Universal.
As of 2026, Nick Bilton remains highly active across multiple creative fronts. In 2025, it was announced that he would be writing and producing a new Martin Scorsese film, set in 1970s Hawaii and starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt, alongside a companion book about organized crime in the region. He continues to work on various Hollywood productions and serves as an adjunct professor at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Nick Bilton made different choices?