Kamala Harris is 61 years old as of October 2026, born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. She served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025, the first woman, first African American, and first Asian American to hold that office. After the 2024 election, in which she was the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris published a memoir about her campaign, completed a nationwide book tour, and has remained a prominent public figure in American politics.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kamala Devi Harris |
| Born | October 20, 1964 |
| Age | 61 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California, United States |
| Occupation | Politician, Attorney, Author |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) |
| Spouse | Doug Emhoff (married 2014) |
| Children | Cole Emhoff and Ella Emhoff (stepchildren) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $8–$10 million (joint with husband, per independent estimates) |
Early Life and Career
Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20, 1964, at Oakland Medical Center in Oakland, California. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was a biomedical scientist who was born in India, and her father, Donald J. Harris, is an economist who served as a professor at Stanford University. She was raised in Oakland and later in Montreal, Canada, and has a younger sister, Maya Harris, who is a lawyer and policy expert.
Harris attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and economics. She then studied law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, earning her Juris Doctor degree. After being admitted to the California Bar, she began her legal career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California.
Her rise through California public office was steady. Harris served as the District Attorney of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. In 2010, she was elected Attorney General of California, becoming the first woman and the first African American person to hold that statewide office, and she served in the role from 2011 to 2017.
In 2016, Harris was elected to the United States Senate, representing California. She became the second African American woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the Senate. During her time in the Senate, she gained national attention for her pointed questioning of officials during high-profile committee hearings.
As California's Attorney General, she worked on consumer protection, marriage equality, and criminal justice reform, positions that later drew both support and scrutiny in national politics. She briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019, suspending her campaign before the primaries. In August 2020, Joe Biden selected her as his running mate. After their victory in the November 2020 election, Harris was inaugurated as the 49th Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. She became the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold the vice presidency. During her term, she cast a record number of tie-breaking votes in the Senate and handled a portfolio that included voting rights, reproductive healthcare, immigration diplomacy in Central America, and foreign policy assignments on behalf of the administration.
In July 2024, after President Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee. She ran against Donald Trump in the November 2024 election and was defeated. She left the vice presidency on January 20, 2025.
Personal Life
Kamala Harris has been married to entertainment lawyer Doug Emhoff since August 22, 2014. Emhoff made history as the first Second Gentleman of the United States during her vice presidency. Harris is the stepmother to Emhoff's two children from his previous marriage: Cole MacKin Emhoff and Ella Emhoff. The marriage remains intact, and the couple resides in the Los Angeles area.
Harris has spoken publicly about her family life, including her close relationships with her stepchildren, who call her "Momala," a nickname that has been widely reported. She has also been open about her multicultural upbringing, identifying with both her Indian and Jamaican heritage, and about her mother's influence on her life and career.
Since leaving office, Harris has largely divided her time between Los Angeles and Washington, focusing on her writing and public appearances. She published a memoir in late 2025 titled 107 Days, chronicling her abbreviated 2024 presidential campaign, and spent much of 2026 on a nationwide book tour promoting it.
Net Worth
Kamala Harris's estimated net worth is reported to be between $8 million and $10 million, a figure that reflects the combined wealth she shares with her husband, Doug Emhoff. Independent financial estimates attribute much of the couple's wealth to Emhoff's long and successful career as an entertainment and corporate lawyer, along with the appreciation of their California real estate, including a residence in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles.
Her own income sources have included her federal salary during her time in public office, book royalties from her memoir The Truths We Hold (2019) and her 2025 campaign memoir 107 Days, government pensions, and investment holdings. Unlike many contemporary political figures, Harris and Emhoff released more than a decade of personal tax returns during her campaigns, providing unusual transparency into their finances.
It is worth noting that net worth estimates for public figures are inherently approximate and vary between reporting outlets. The $8–$10 million range is the most commonly cited estimate by independent financial publications and should be treated as an attributed estimate rather than a confirmed figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kamala Harris?
Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964, which makes her 61 years old as of October 2026. She was born in Oakland, California, and will turn 62 in October 2026.
Who is Kamala Harris's husband?
Kamala Harris is married to Doug Emhoff, an entertainment lawyer. They married on August 22, 2014, and their marriage is intact. Emhoff served as the first Second Gentleman of the United States during Harris's vice presidency. Through the marriage, Harris became the stepmother of his two children, Cole and Ella Emhoff.
What is Kamala Harris's net worth?
Independent estimates place Kamala Harris's net worth between $8 million and $10 million, reflecting the combined wealth she shares with her husband, Doug Emhoff. The couple's assets include California real estate, investment portfolios, book royalties, and government pensions.
How tall is Kamala Harris?
Kamala Harris is 5 feet 4 inches tall (163 cm), according to widely reported biographical profiles.
What is Kamala Harris doing now?
After leaving the vice presidency in January 2025, Harris published a campaign memoir, 107 Days, in late 2025 and completed a nationwide book tour in 2026. She declined to run for governor of California in the 2026 election. She continues to appear at Democratic Party events, record campaign ads, and speak publicly. When asked about a possible 2028 presidential run, she has said she is "thinking about it" and that she is "not done," but she has not formally announced any candidacy.