Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Biography, Wiki, Kids, Facts, Husband, Net Worth, Income

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often known by her initials AOC, is an American politician, Congresswoman, educator, and activist who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she took office at the age of 29, thus becoming the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress.

AOC is a prominent figure in the progressive movement. She is known for her advocacy of policies like the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and social justice. As of 2025, she remains a highly influential and vocal member of Congress and a key leader of the “Squad.” She is an avid and skilled user of social media, which she harnesses as a tool to connect with the public.

In this article, we will discover a lot of interesting details about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, including her biography, age, career, relationship status, and net worth.

Who is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? (Quick Facts)

Early Life and Education

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born on October 13, 1989, in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City. She was raised in a working-class, Roman Catholic family with Puerto Rican roots. Her father, Sergio Ocasio-Roman, was an architect born in the Bronx, and her mother, Blanca Ocasio-Cortez, was a school bus driver and house cleaner who was born in Puerto Rico.

In pursuit of better educational and economic opportunities, the family moved to the suburban community of Yorktown Heights, New York, when Alexandria was five years old. This move gave her a firsthand perspective on the disparity in resources between her new school and those in the Bronx, where her cousins remained.

She proved to be a bright and success-driven student at Yorktown High School. In 2007, she earned second place in the microbiology category at the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for a project on the effect of antioxidants on nematodes. Her academic excellence was recognized by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, which named a small asteroid (23238 Ocasio-Cortez) in her honor.

After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she double-majored. Her college years were marked by significant hardship as her father died of lung cancer in 2008. His demise plunged the family into financial difficulty and a lengthy legal probate process, an experience that would later inform her political views on economic justice. Despite these challenges, she graduated cum laude in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics.

Political Career

After college, Ocasio-Cortez returned to the Bronx, where she worked as a bartender and waitress to help her family avoid foreclosure on their home.

Her political awakening crystallized in 2016 while working as an organizer for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and after a trip to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, which she described as a personal “tipping point.”

Encouraged by the progressive political action committee Brand New Congress, she launched a long-shot primary campaign in 2017 against 10-term incumbent and powerful Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley.

With a grassroots-focused campaign that refused corporate donations, she mobilized volunteers and connected with voters through a progressive platform. Despite being outspent by a massive margin, Ocasio-Cortez pulled off a stunning victory in the June 2018 primary, winning with 57% of the vote. This was widely considered the biggest upset of the 2018 midterm election primaries.

She easily won the general election in November 2018. Upon taking office in January 2019, at age 29, she became the youngest woman ever to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Since then, Ocasio-Cortez has been a dominant force in national politics. She is a founding member of “The Squad,” an informal group of progressive congressmembers. She was handily reelected in 2020, 2022, and again in 2024.

Her tenure has been marked by the introduction of landmark legislation like the Green New Deal, vigorous advocacy for progressive policies, and a masterful use of social media to shape political discourse. In 2024, she delivered a primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention and is a leading voice in the party.

Ocasio-Cortez identifies as a democratic socialist. Her key policy positions, which have pushed the Democratic party’s platform leftward, include:

• The Green New Deal: This is her signature proposal. It is a comprehensive resolution to address climate change and economic inequality by transitioning the U.S. to 100% renewable energy, creating high-wage jobs, and investing in sustainable infrastructure.
• Medicare for All: She advocates for a single-payer, universal healthcare system to guarantee medical care as a human right.
• Economic Justice: She supports a federal jobs guarantee, tuition-free public college and trade school, the cancellation of student debt, and raising taxes on the extreme wealthy to fund social programs.
• Social Issues: She is a vocal proponent of abortion rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and immigrant rights and has called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Government Reform: She has been a leading voice for expanding the Supreme Court and imposing strict ethics rules on it, and has supported measures to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Furthermore, Ocasio-Cortez is a founding and leading member of “The Squad,” an informal alliance of progressive members of Congress. Initially, the group comprised four women of color, but it has expanded and represents the most vocal left-wing faction in the House. The Squad consistently pushes for transformative policies and holds significant influence over the Democratic agenda.

Personal Life

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez maintains a relatively private personal life despite her high-profile political presence.

She is engaged to her longtime partner, Riley Roberts, a web developer and marketing strategist whom she met while they were both students at Boston University. The couple got engaged in 2022. They have lived together in the Bronx and, as of 2025, reside in New York.

Ocasio-Cortez was raised Roman Catholic and has spoken about how her faith informs her social justice values. She is known for her sharp fashion sense, particularly her signature red lipstick, which she has described as a form of self-expression and a “mini protest” against the misogynistic critiques often leveled at women in politics.

Beyond politics, she is an avid user of social media and online platforms, famously hosting a viral Twitch stream in 2020 to play the game Among Us and discuss civic engagement, which drew hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Net Worth

As of 2025, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth is a subject of significant public interest and, often, misinformation. Contrary to viral claims that falsely place her wealth in the millions, credible financial disclosures and analyses paint a very different picture.

Based on her most recent financial disclosures and analysis from outlets like Forbes, her estimated net worth in 2025 is between $125,000 and $200,000. This places her among the least wealthy members of Congress.

The primary components of her finances are:

• Salary: As a rank-and-file member of the House of Representatives, she earns an annual salary of $174,000.
• Assets: Her disclosed assets are minimal, primarily consisting of a federal retirement savings account (the Thrift Savings Plan, similar to a 401(k)). In 2023, she disclosed assets totaling a maximum of $46,000. This account has likely grown but remains her main asset.
• Debt: She has consistently reported student loan debt, which has been listed between $15,000 and $50,000.
• No Outside Income: A key tenet of her political platform is a refusal to take money from corporate PACs. Her disclosures confirm she has no significant outside income, book deals, or stock holdings.

Ocasio-Cortez has publicly refuted claims of being a millionaire, stating, “I am one of the lowest net worth members of Congress, trade no individual stock, and take no outside income.” Her financial profile is consistent with that of a public servant who entered Congress without personal wealth and lives on her government salary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How old is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2025?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is 35 years old as of 2025. She was born on October 13, 1989.

What is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth?

Contrary to many false online claims, her estimated net worth in 2025 is between $125,000 and $200,000. This is based on her congressional salary of $174,000, a federal retirement account, and her outstanding student loan debt.

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez married?

She is not married but is engaged to her longtime partner, Riley Roberts. They have been together since their college years.

What is AOC known for?

She is best known for being the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, her stunning 2018 primary upset, and her strong advocacy for progressive policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. She is also a leading member of “The Squad.”

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a socialist?

She identifies as a democratic socialist. This means she advocates for socialist policies like universal healthcare and free college within a democratic political framework, which distinguishes her from state socialists.

Where is AOC from?

She was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City. Her family later moved to Yorktown Heights, New York, for its school system.

How many times has she been reelected?

As of 2025, she has been reelected three times, winning her congressional races in 2020, 2022, and 2024 by wide margins.