Hakeem Jeffries Net Worth 2025: Uncertainty and Lifestyle Considerations
Hakeem Jeffries has emerged as one of the Democrats’ leading lights, and fast. As the incumbent House Minority Leader, Jeffries became the first black person in 2023 to lead a party caucus in the U.S. Congress.
That he rose so quickly through the ranks of Democratic leadership is a testament to his political acumen, charisma, and capacity to bridge the party’s diverse factions. Before coming to Congress, Jeffries was a lawyer and a state legislator.
He’s proven to be an effective lawmaker and articulate advocate for Democratic values. This biography tells the story of this leading politician, who is likely to strongly influence the direction of the Democratic Party in the years to come.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hakeem Sekou Jeffries |
| Date of Birth | August 4, 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Current Position | House Minority Leader (since January 3, 2023) |
| Previous Positions | Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (2019–2023) |
| U.S. Representative for New York’s 8th congressional district (since 2013) | |
| Member of the New York State Assembly, 57th district (2007–2012) | |
| Education | B.A. in Political Science, Binghamton University (1992) |
| M.P.P., Georgetown University (1994) | |
| J.D., New York University School of Law (1997) | |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Residence | Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York |
Hakeem Jeffries’s Early Life and Background:
Hakeem Sekou Jeffries was born in Brooklyn on Aug. 4, 1970. He was raised in Crown Heights in a middle-class family, where his mother was a social worker and his father a state substance abuse counselor.
Raised in the Baptist denomination, Jeffries has remained an active member of the church where he grew up, Cornerstone Baptist Church. Jeffries was a good student. He graduated from Midwood High School, a public school in Brooklyn, in 1988.
He attended Binghamton University, where he majored in political science, graduating with honors in 1992. While at Binghamton, Jeffries pledged to the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Furthering his education, Jeffries received a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University in 1994.
He graduated and attended New York University’s law school, where he was a prestigious member of the YU Law Review.. Jeffries earned his Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude in 1997.
| Relation | Name / Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Marland Jeffries – state substance-abuse counselor |
| Mother | Laneda Jeffries – social worker |
| Spouse | Kennisandra Arciniegas-Jeffries – social worker with 1199 SEIU’s Benefit Fund |
| Children | Two sons |
| Siblings | Hasan Kwame Jeffries – associate professor of history at Ohio State University |
| Uncle | Leonard Jeffries – former professor at City College of New York |
Hakeem Jeffries’s Personal Life and Family:
Personal life Jeffries married Kennisandra Arciniegas in 1997. His wife is a social worker for 1199 SEIU’s Benefit Fund. The couple has two sons and lives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Jeffries is a family man with a few interesting relatives. His younger brother, Hasan Kwame Jeffries, is a historian of the civil rights movement and an associate professor of history at Ohio State University. Hakeem Jeffries is also the nephew of Leonard Jeffries, the controversial former City College of New York professor who had a penchant for anti-Semitic outbursts.
As a college student, the younger Jeffries penned an editorial in defense of his uncle when he was invited to speak at Binghamton University. However, Jeffries has now disavowed his uncle’s views, with a spokesman saying that he “does not hold the controversial views expressed by his uncle over 30 years ago.”
Hakeem Jeffries’s Career Before Congress:
Jeffries clerked for Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York after law school. He then went into private practice as a lawyer at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison from 1998 to 2004.
Jeffries’s work as a litigator for media concerns Viacom and CBS dates to 2004. Notable case: He was a part of the legal team that handled the legal issues stemming from the Super Bowl half-time show (XXXVIII), Jermaine and Janet Jackson.
Though a corporate attorney, Jeffries also held leadership positions for professional associations. He also served as director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors and as president of Black Attorneys for Progress.
| Year(s) | Position / Role | Organization / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–1998 | Law Clerk | Judge Harold Baer Jr., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York |
| 1998–2004 | Associate Attorney | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP |
| 2004–2006 | Litigation Counsel | Viacom Inc. and CBS |
| 2007–2012 | Member | New York State Assembly, 57th district |
| 2013–present | U.S. Representative | New York’s 8th congressional district |
| 2019–2023 | Chair | House Democratic Caucus |
| 2023–present | House Minority Leader | U.S. House of Representatives |
Hakeem Jeffries’s Entry into Politics:
Jeffries attempted his first run for elected office in 2000, competing against Assemblyman Roger Green for the Democratic nomination for the state assembly. He lost that race, but ran again in 2006 when Green stepped down to run for Congress.
This time, Jeffries won. He started his career in the New York State Assembly, representing the 57th district in Brooklyn. He quickly made a name for himself in Albany and carried over 70 pieces of legislation as a state legislator.
Jeffries championed criminal justice reform and wrote the laws prohibiting the police from keeping databases of people who were stopped but never arrested during street searches. He also fought to end the practice of counting prison populations as part of the public population in upstate districts for redistricting purposes.
Hakeem Jeffries’s Congressional Career:
2012, Jeffries was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for New York’s 8th district. He has won re-election five times, never needing to run an all-out campaign.
Jeffries has focused on criminal justice reform while working on issues related to affordable housing, education, and job creation in Congress. He was instrumental in passing the bipartisan First Step Act in 2018, which changed federal sentencing laws.
Jeffries is a fast-rising member of Democratic leadership. He was chosen chair of the House Democratic Caucus in 2019 and is the number five Democrat in the House. In 2022, as Nancy Pelosi prepared to step down from her leadership position, Jeffries was elected unanimously to succeed her as leader of the House Democrats.
Hakeem Jeffries’s Age and Physical Appearance:
Hakeem Jeffries was born in 1970 and will be 53 in 2023. He is slim and stands approximately 6 feet tall. Jeffries has very short, clean-shaven hair. He draws a standard photo-op, polished look, and sports good suits.
Hakeem Jeffries’s Net Worth and Salary:
Jeffries’s annual salary as House Minority Leader is $193,400. However, conflicting data on his net worth exists, with different sources pegging it at anywhere from $280,000 to $1.3 million. It’s challenging to pinpoint a specific number due to the wide range of reaction figures used by Congress in its financial disclosures.
Jeffries earns his wealth primarily through salary and his investments. His savings include retirement accounts, mutual funds, and a life insurance policy. He also holds liabilities in the form of mortgages on properties.
According to some readings of his financial disclosures, Jeffries’ net worth has declined over the last few years. That’s perhaps because people are borrowing more money, or the value of their assets is changing.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth (Low) | -$583,998 (Finbold 2023 Disclosure Range) |
| Estimated Net Worth (Mid) | $570,100 (Quiver Quantitative, 2025 Estimate) |
| Estimated Net Worth (High) | $841,012 (OpenSecrets, 2018 Estimate) |
| Primary Income Source | U.S. Congressional Salary |
| Annual Salary (2025) | $193,400 (as House Minority Leader) |
| Past Income Sources | Legal career, investments |
| Reported Assets | Mutual funds, life insurance, and bank accounts |
| Reported Liabilities | Mortgages, student loans, other debts (unspecified) |
| Rank in Congress (Net Worth) | 324th (as per Quiver Quantitative, 2025) |
Hakeem Jeffries’s Social Media Accounts
| Platform | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Website | jeffries.house.gov |
| @RepJeffries | |
| @repjeffries | |
| Congressman Hakeem Jeffries |
Conclusion
At 53, Hakeem Jeffries has already emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s bright lights and essential players. His rise to House Minority Leader has made him a leading contender for Speaker of the House if Democrats retake the chamber.
As a legally trained and talented legislator who can speak to both the progressive and moderate wings of his party, Jeffries is positioned to play a significant role in shaping the party’s strategy and policy in the years to come.
Although he has faced some controversy, such as past comments defending his uncle, Jeffries has largely avoided major scandals that can arise unexpectedly and derail a rising politician’s ascent. The first African American to ascend to the helm of a major party in Congress, Jeffries presents a face of next-generation diversity, taking the speaker’s seat in the Democratic Party.
Table of Contents