Vice President Kamala Harris has accumulated wealth over the years, with her net worth estimated at about $8 million, alongside her husband, Doug Emhoff. This figure has increased from $7 million in 2021, making the couple significantly wealthier than the average American in their age bracket. Most of their assets consist of cash, index funds, bonds, and pensions, with a significant portion of their net worth tied up in a multimillion-dollar home in Los Angeles.
Harris’ upbringing was shaped by her parents, who were well-educated immigrants. Her father was an economics professor, while her mother researched breast cancer. Despite not being wealthy in financial terms, Harris credits her parents for instilling important values that she considers a different kind of wealth. From an early age, Harris showed an interest in law, attending Howard University and later earning a law degree from UC Hastings. She began her legal career in the Alameda County district attorney’s office, handling serious crimes such as homicide and sexual abuse cases.
In 2003, Harris ran for San Francisco district attorney and won, later becoming the attorney general of California in 2010. Her salary fluctuated during her time in office, but she earned generous retirement benefits, including two pensions estimated to be worth just under $1 million today. Harris’ financial situation changed in the early 2010s when she sold her mother’s Oakland condo and married Doug Emhoff, a managing partner at Venable LLP, who brought additional income and investments to the table.
Despite a failed presidential run in 2019, Harris was chosen as Joe Biden’s running mate and became vice president in 2021, receiving a raise to $235,000. Her and Emhoff moved into the vice presidential residence in D.C. and began liquidating assets, selling properties in San Francisco and D.C. for significant profits. However, Harris’ financial disclosures do not show a significant increase in liquid holdings, possibly due to keeping assets in low-yield cash accounts or adjusting to a lower income than before.
The couple’s overall wealth has continued to increase, largely due to the appreciation of their Los Angeles home. Emhoff bought the property in 2012 and transferred it into a trust managed by both of them after their marriage. Despite a mortgage on the house, which was taken out in 2020, the value of the property has increased by about $1 million since 2021. Additionally, Harris will begin receiving monthly payouts from her California pensions later this year, with federal pension payments expected to start in 2026. This financial security ensures that even after leaving the vice presidency in 2025, Harris’ finances will remain stable.
Money has not been the primary motivation for Harris in her career, as she recounts a story from her prosecutorial days where she helped secure the release of a woman unable to pay bail. This experience shaped Harris’ desire to serve and do meaningful work. Looking forward, Harris could continue to bolster her finances through avenues like writing books, consulting, or speaking engagements, following the path of former Vice President Mike Pence. Despite the potential to increase her wealth further, Harris remains focused on serving the public and upholding the values instilled in her by her parents.
