Kamala Harris' net worth and high-flying husband as America takes to polls for election

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Kamala Harris will hope to have seen off competition from Donald Trump and reclaim the White House for the Democrats as America heads out to vote.

The 60-year-old took over as the party’s nominee after President Joe Biden stepped down for health reasons. Harris has served as Vice President since the 2021 election, which saw Trump leaving the White House.

Born in Oakland, California, Harris began her legal career as a deputy district attorney in 1990. She gained a reputation as a skilled prosecutor, handling cases involving homicide, sexual assault, and burglary.

In 2002, Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first person of colour elected as District Attorney of San Francisco, winning with 56 percent of the vote. She went on to serve as California's Attorney General in 2010, before later being elected to the U.S. Senate.

Harris met her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff, during her legal career, and they married in 2014. She is also a stepmother to Emhoff’s two children from his previous marriage to film producer Kerstin Emhoff.

As Harris continues her run for the presidency, much of the public focus is on her political career, though some personal details, like her substantial net worth—primarily from her successful legal work—remain less widely discussed.

What is Kamala Harris’ net worth?

According to Forbes, Harris and Emhoff are estimated to have a net worth of around $8 million - approximately £6.2 million. Her annual salary as vice-president is around $235,000 a year, approximately £181,000.

Should she win the US election, she would see that figure skyrocket to around $400,000 a year - around £308k a year. It would also mean a move from the vice-president’s accommodation to the White House.

Forbes reports the couple’s net worth has largely been boosted by their legal careers and property assets. In 2012, it says Harris and her sister sold their late mother’s condo in Oakland, bringing in $710,000 (approximately £550k).

And, after becoming vice-president, she sold her San Francisco apartment for $860,000 (£662k). Emhoff meanwhile was said to be earning around $1m-a-year (£770k) as a lawyer.

Who is Doug Emhoff?

A fellow legal professional, Emhoff was admitted to the California State Bar in 1990. He opened his own law firm with colleague Ben Whitwell a decade later, before it eventually became part of Venable LLP in 2006.

Reports suggest he was earning an annual salary of $1 million in 2019 - a significant amount more than Harris earned in a year. He now teaches law at Georgetown University, having largely scaled back his three-decade legal career.

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The university says he specialised in media, entertainment, and Intellectual Property matters. He had been working at DLA Piper previously, but reportedly left in 2020 to avoid conflicts of interest due to the firm's lobbying interests.

According to The Standard, he said: "I’m humbled, I’m honoured to have put it all on hold — my career, family life, everything.”

How does Kamala Harris' net worth compare to Donald Trump’s?

While Harris has a comfortable nest egg, it pales in comparison to her presidential rival. Donald Trump is estimated to be worth around $5.6bn (£4.3bn).

The Forbes real-time billionaire tracker puts the former United States president at 591st in the list of richest people in the world. Although fellow forecasters Bloomberg predicted Trump had $6.65bn (£5.1bn) last month.

Trump’s wealth is said to come largely from real estate and his Trump Media & Technology Group company, which saw a huge jump in value following recent rallies. He is said to own mansions, a winery, a golf course, a private jet nicknamed Trump Force One, hotels and commercial buildings among others.

How does Kamala Harris’ net worth compare to Joe Biden and other presidents?

Harris and Emhoff's combined fortune of $8 million (approximately £6.2 million) is comparable to that of current President Joe Biden, whose net worth, alongside wife Jill, is estimated at around $10 million (£7.7 million). Biden's wealth is believed to come from various sources, including real estate, his presidential salary, pensions, annuities, and royalties from book deals.

Their net worth has reportedly increased by about 25% since Biden took office, suggesting they were in a similar financial position to Harris and Emhoff before the 2021 election.

Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have seen their fortune grow significantly since leaving the White House, with their estimated net worth now around $70 million (£54 million). This surge in wealth is largely attributed to successful book deals and a lucrative partnership with Netflix.

Barack has published multiple bestsellers, while the couple’s production company, Higher Ground Productions, struck a deal with the streaming giant in 2018, aiming to promote diversity in entertainment.

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