Son of Luigi Saviano, a Neapolitan doctor, and Miriam Haftar, a Ligurian of Jewish origins, Roberto Saviano received his high school diploma from the Armando Diaz State Scientific High School and then graduated in philosophy from the University of Naples Federico II, where he was the student of historian Francesco Barbagallo. He began his career in journalism in 2002, writing for numerous magazines and daily papers, including "Pulp", ', ', ', the website ', and for the Camorra monitoring unit of the "". His articles at the time were already important enough to spur judicial authorities at the beginning of 2005 to listen to him regarding organized crime.