Kamala Harris is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 49th Vice President of the United States (2021–2025), the first woman, first African American and first Asian American to hold the office. A former prosecutor and California attorney general, she became the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 2024.
| Full Name | Kamala Devi Harris |
| Born | 20 October 1964, Oakland, California, USA |
| Age | 61 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Known For | 49th US Vice President, California Attorney General, US Senator |
| Net Worth (est.) | Forbes estimated around $8 million jointly with her husband (2024) |
Early Life and Education
Harris was born in Oakland, California. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a cancer researcher who emigrated from India; her father, Donald Harris, is a Jamaican-born economist who became a professor at Stanford University. After her parents divorced, Harris was raised mainly by her mother in Berkeley and, during her teens, in Montreal, Canada, where her mother worked. She studied political science and economics at Howard University in Washington, DC, and earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989.
Prosecutor and California Attorney General
Harris began her legal career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s office, then worked in San Francisco before being elected District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003, serving from 2004 to 2011. In 2010 she was elected Attorney General of California — the first woman and first person of colour in that role — and re-elected in 2014. Her tenure included a multistate mortgage settlement with major banks following the foreclosure crisis.
Senator, Vice President and 2024 Nominee
Harris was elected to the US Senate in 2016 and served from 2017, sitting on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees. After a brief run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, Joe Biden selected her as his running mate; the Biden–Harris ticket won the 2020 election and she took office as Vice President in January 2021. In July 2024 President Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Harris, who secured the Democratic nomination and ran against Donald Trump, losing the November 2024 election. Her memoir of the campaign, 107 Days, was published in 2025.
Kamala Harris Net Worth
Forbes estimated Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff’s combined net worth at around $8 million in 2024, based on federal financial disclosures covering real estate, investments and Emhoff’s earnings from his legal and entertainment-law career. Public officials’ disclosures give ranges rather than exact values, so published figures are estimates.
Personal Life
Harris married entertainment lawyer Douglas Emhoff in 2014; she is stepmother to his two children, Cole and Ella. Known as ‘Momala’ to her stepchildren, she has written about family life in her earlier memoir, The Truths We Hold (2019), and a children’s book. She lives in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kamala Harris?
She was born on 20 October 1964, making her 61 years old in 2026 and turning 62 that October.
What offices has Kamala Harris held?
San Francisco District Attorney (2004–2011), California Attorney General (2011–2017), US Senator (2017–2021) and Vice President (2021–2025).
Where was Kamala Harris born?
Oakland, California, to a mother from India and a father from Jamaica.
Did Kamala Harris run for president?
Yes — she was the Democratic nominee in 2024 after President Biden withdrew, and lost the general election to Donald Trump.
Related Biographies
Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer — more in our Politicians & Leaders collection.
Net worth and salary figures are estimates based on publicly available sources and may change over time.
