Yoko Ono: Answers to Your Questions About Her Life and Legacy

Few public figures have been the subject of as much myth and misunderstanding as Yoko Ono. Born in Tokyo on February 18, 1933, she forged a path as a pioneering conceptual artist and peace activist long before she met John Lennon — a fact that still surprises many. This article separates documented reality from decades of rumor, addressing the questions people most often ask about her life, her art, and her legacy.

Born: February 18, 1933 ·
Age: 92 ·
Net Worth (estimated): $700 million ·
Spouse: John Lennon (1969–1980) ·
Children: 2 (Sean Lennon, Kyoko Chan Cox) ·
Known For: Conceptual art, peace activism, experimental music

Seven key facts at a glance:

What happened to Yoko Ono?

The most straightforward answer is that Yoko Ono is alive and active as of 2025. Her career now spans more than seventy years, as noted by the IMAGINE PEACE website. She remains the steward of John Lennon’s legacy and continues her own artistic and peace-oriented work.

Is Yoko Ono still alive?

Yes. The multimedia artist and activist is alive, though she has stepped back from public appearances. Her official Instagram account posts regularly, and her representatives have not issued any health-related statement suggesting otherwise.

What is Yoko Ono doing now?

Ono manages John Lennon’s estate, oversees the LennonOno Grant for Peace — a biennial award valued at $50,000 (Tate) — and actively supports the Imagine There’s No Hunger campaign. Since 2008, that partnership with WhyHunger and Hard Rock International has raised more than $6.4 million and provided an estimated 9.7 million meals across 20 countries (WhyHunger). She also co-founded Artists Against Fracking in 2012 (Tate).

Where does Yoko Ono live?

She maintains a residence in New York City, the same city where she has lived since the 1960s. She also owns properties in Japan and Iceland, where the Imagine Peace Tower is located.

Why did John Lennon leave Yoko Ono?

This question often stems from the couple’s well-documented separation between 1973 and 1975, which Lennon later called his “Lost Weekend.”

Were John and Yoko separated?

Yes. During this period Lennon lived in Los Angeles while Ono stayed in New York. The separation was not a divorce — they remained legally married and spoke regularly. Lennon himself acknowledged the time apart in interviews, and the break ended amicably in 1975.

Did John Lennon ever leave Yoko Ono permanently?

No. After they reconciled in 1975, the couple remained together until Lennon’s death on December 8, 1980. The “Lost Weekend” period is often misinterpreted as a definitive split, but both parties described it as a temporary, mutual break.

What was the state of their marriage in 1980?

By all contemporary accounts, the marriage was stable. Lennon had taken a five-year hiatus from music to raise their son Sean, and the couple was planning a joint album. His murder shattered that future.

Is Yoko Ono in a wheelchair now?

In recent years, Yoko Ono has been photographed and filmed using a wheelchair at public events. However, whether this is a permanent condition or a temporary convenience has not been confirmed by her representatives.

What health issues does Yoko Ono have?

No official medical disclosure has been made. Speculation in tabloids has ranged from age-related mobility issues to recovery from a minor fall, but none of these claims have been verified by a primary source. Ono’s camp has maintained privacy around her health.

Has Yoko Ono used a wheelchair publicly?

Yes. Paparazzi images and fan sightings from the 2020s show her using a wheelchair in New York and during visits to Iceland. The specific reason remains unclear, and Ono herself has not addressed the matter publicly.

How many miscarriages did Yoko have?

Yoko Ono’s reproductive history is a sensitive and partially private topic. She had a daughter, Kyoko Chan Cox, from her first marriage to Anthony Cox. After marrying John Lennon, she experienced multiple pregnancy losses.

Did Yoko Ono have children before John?

Yes. Kyoko was born in 1963. A custody battle after Ono’s divorce from Cox led to Kyoko being estranged for decades; they reconciled in the 1990s.

What is known about her pregnancies?

Ono suffered at least one well-documented miscarriage in 1968 after a car accident (reported by multiple biographies). Additional reports suggest she experienced a total of three to five miscarriages during her relationship with Lennon. The exact number has never been confirmed by Ono herself, and sources vary.

What were John Lennon’s last words to Yoko Ono?

John Lennon was shot by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980, as he and Yoko Ono returned to their Dakota apartment building. He died shortly after arrival at Roosevelt Hospital.

What were John Lennon’s last words to Paul McCartney?

Lennon’s last telephone conversation with Paul McCartney took place several weeks before the murder. Accounts vary: McCartney recalled a friendly chat, but no definitive transcript exists. The often-repeated line “You’ll still be Paul McCartney” is attributed to a later interview, not a final conversation.

How long did John Lennon survive after being shot?

Lennon was shot at approximately 10:50 p.m. and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital at 11:15 p.m. — roughly 25 minutes after the attack.

Timeline

• 1933: Yoko Ono born in Tokyo, Japan (Britannica)
• 1960s: Moves to New York, becomes involved in Fluxus art movement (Tate)
• 1966: Meets John Lennon at an art exhibition in London (Britannica)
• 1969: Marries John Lennon; bed-in for peace in Amsterdam and Montreal (WhyHunger)
• 1973–1975: Separated from Lennon (“Lost Weekend” period) (Britannica)
• 1980: John Lennon murdered in New York City; Ono becomes his widow (Britannica)
• 1980s–2000s: Promotes peace activism, builds Strawberry Fields and Imagine Peace Tower (Tate)
• 2002: Inaugurates LennonOno Grant for Peace (Tate)
• 2012: Receives Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt Human Rights Award; co-founds Artists Against Fracking (Tate)
• 2020s: Remains active; steps back from public life; uses wheelchair occasionally (Instagram sightings)

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” — John Lennon, from the song “Imagine”

Wikipedia – Imagine (song)

“Think Peace, Act Peace, Spread Peace.” — Yoko Ono, from her social media posts

Yoko Ono’s official Instagram

Yoko Ono’s story is often told through the lens of John Lennon, but her own artistic and philanthropic imprint is substantial. She has been described by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao as an activist for peace, human rights, and feminism — a label she has earned over seven decades. For those trying to understand the real person behind the headlines, the evidence shows a durable, independent force who used tragedy as fuel for change. The question is not whether she matters, but how we separate her actual work from the noise around it.

For a detailed look at Yoko Ono’s life, art, and legacy in Canada, you can explore how her early years in Tokyo shaped her avant-garde career.

Frequently asked questions