Duff Haffenreffer grew up around television, business, athletics, and family. He is best known as the son of Lara Spencer and former CNN commentator and real estate dealer David Haffenreffer. His path is being shaped by education, internships, athletics, and early professional encounters.
Duff, born January 22, 2002, turned 24 in January 2026. His family name is recognisable to television viewers and New Englanders, yet he has kept a private life. He has mostly been seen in loving family photos, especially his mother’s.
Duff Haffenreffer’s Early Life and Education
Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island were Duff’s childhood communities. His background matched Northeast vitality with a close, accomplished family. He became a known lacrosse player at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut.
His upbringing was shaped by Brunswick School. Lacrosse was a major part of Duff’s 2021 schooling. Athletics promotes discipline, collaboration, resilience, and pressure-handling off the pitch. Those traits also suited his later business and athletic career.
After high school, Duff enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He studied at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business, a respected business school known for its connections to finance, real estate, consulting, entrepreneurship, energy, and technology.
His Experience at SMU Cox School of Business
Students interested in business life will find the Cox School of Business practical and ambitious. The undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration program offers a comprehensive business core and specialisations in finance, management, marketing, accounting, real estate, and business analytics.
Duff worked at SMU in one of the nation’s most active business environments. Dallas has big corporations, investment firms, sports organisations, technological companies, and startups. A business and media student can see the city as a live classroom with professional chances just a discussion away.
Duff was also in SAE. Fraternity membership can offer college socialisation, leadership, and enduring friendships. His undergraduate years appear to have balanced academics, campus life, athletics, and career exploration.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | January 22, 2002 |
| High school | Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut |
| High school graduation | Class of 2021 |
| University | Southern Methodist University |
| Business school | Edwin L. Cox School of Business |
| College graduation | 2025 |
| College involvement | Lacrosse background and Sigma Alpha Epsilon |
Duff graduated from SMU in 2025. Family members, including both parents and his sister, attended the graduation celebration. Photographs from the event showed a proud family gathered around an important milestone.
Business, Media, and Sports Interests
Duff’s career history suggests he is studying multiple related areas rather than one. He worked for WME’s Digital Group. WME is known for its entertainment, sports, media, and representation, making the experience suitable to someone with TV family roots and an interest in modern business.
He finished a 2022 London School of Economics and Political Science summer program. Academic programs abroad can teach students about economics, markets, public politics, and global business. The encounter internationalised his Dallas education.
Another highlight was a Sports Fund Internship at Avenue Capital Group. This employment linked his sports experience to finance. Media rights, sponsorships, investments, technology, branding, and club ownership make sports a sophisticated business. Sports funds can provide exposure to more than just the game. It shows how capital, strategy, and entertainment interact.
At this stage, Duff’s career is still developing. It would be premature to assign him a fixed professional identity. His experiences point toward possible interests in finance, sports business, entertainment, digital media, and investment.
His Relationship with Lara Spencer
Lara Spencer is a prominent television journalist, host, author, and personality associated with Good Morning America and other television programs. She has frequently shared moments from Duff’s life, including birthdays, college visits, family gatherings, and graduation celebrations.
Her public messages about him tend to carry the warmth of a proud parent. In January 2026, she shared photographs commemorating his 24th birthday, combining recent images with throwback memories. These posts offered a rare look at Duff while also showing the strong bond between mother and son.
Lara’s relationship with Duff appears supportive and affectionate. She has celebrated his education, athletic background, growth, and emerging career interests. While her own career places her in the public eye, Duff has largely remained outside the center of attention.
His Father David Haffenreffer
Duff’s father is David Haffenreffer, a former CNN contributor and real estate broker. David and Lara married in 2000 and divorced in 2015. Despite ending their marriage, they have maintained a cooperative relationship as parents.
They attended Duff’s SMU graduation as a family that supported rather than promoted. Both parents have attended their children’s key events. Their capacity to celebrate achievements shows how co parenting may help after divorce.
David’s career in media and real estate also gives Duff a family connection to communication, property, finance, and professional networking. These fields overlap with many of the interests Duff has explored during and after college.
Duff’s Sister Katharine Haffenreffer
Duff’s younger sister is Katharine, who is often called Kate. Born in 2004, she has shared parts of the same educational and athletic world as her brother. She has attended SMU and has been associated with lacrosse, including connections to Vanderbilt athletics.
The siblings appear to have a close relationship. Family photographs often show them together at holidays, college events, and celebrations. Their shared experiences at SMU created another link between them, even as each pursued individual interests.
Duff and Kate also represent the athletic side of their family. Lacrosse has been an important part of both their stories, connecting school life, competition, and friendships.
The Haffenreffer and von Seelen Families
David and Susan Haffenreffer are Duff’s paternal grandparents. His grandfather was a vice president of Fleet Investment Advisers in Providence, Rhode Island. His grandmother, Susan, was a clinical social worker.
On his mother’s side, Duff’s grandparents are Richard von Seelen and Carolyn von Seelen. Carolyn died in February 2026 at age 85. Her family remembered her with affection, and her passing became a significant moment for Lara and the wider family.
Haffenreffers have long been connected to Rhode Island and New England. The Haffenreffer Museum and commercial and brewing roots are also related with the name. The family background commonly addressed with Duff includes those larger historical relationships, but not his immediate professional or personal interests.
Ashley Haffenreffer Wagstaff and Kristen Haffenreffer Moran are other paternal relations. Kristen helps Rhode Island nonprofits and philanthropies. An education, finance, service, athletics, and community-oriented network is suggested by these family links.
Public Profile and Personal Privacy
Duff’s public profile remains modest. He is sometimes featured in Lara Spencer’s social media posts, especially around major family occasions, but he does not appear to seek constant media attention. Information about his romantic relationships, personal finances, and private daily life is limited.
His family background may provide access to valuable professional relationships and opportunities, but there is no reliable public record of a personal net worth or inheritance. As a recent graduate, he is better understood as someone beginning a career than as an established financial figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Duff Haffenreffer?
Duff Haffenreffer is the son of television personality Lara Spencer and real estate broker David Haffenreffer. Born on January 22, 2002, he graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2025.
What did Duff study?
Duff studied business at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Did Duff play sports?
Yes. He played lacrosse at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, and has maintained a connection to sports through his education and professional experience.
What internships or professional experiences has Duff had?
His professional background includes experience with WME’s Digital Group, a 2022 summer program at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Sports Fund Intern role at Avenue Capital Group.
Who are Duff Haffenreffer’s parents?
His parents are Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer. They married in 2000, divorced in 2015, and have continued to support their children through cooperative co parenting.
Does Duff have a sister?
Yes. His younger sister is Katharine, often called Kate Haffenreffer. She has also attended SMU and has a background in lacrosse.
Where does the Haffenreffer family have roots?
The family has notable connections to Rhode Island and the broader New England region. Duff’s maternal family also has ties to New York and Long Island.
Is Duff Haffenreffer a public figure?
Duff is known because of his family, but he maintains a relatively low public profile. Most public information about him comes from family announcements and professional or educational details.
