Maxine Waters’ Net Worth 2025: The Bold Congresswoman Fighting for Change
Maxine Waters is an American politician who is a figure in the Democratic Party and has served as a U.S. Representative for California’s 43rd congressional district since 1991. A progressive firebrand who has used her bully pulpit to become one of the most visible and controversial members of Congress over her four decades in office, Waters is known for her vocal activism on social and economic justice issues.
From her roots as a single mother who worked at a telephone company in St. Louis to her position as a prominent voice calling for change in Washington, D.C., Waters has had a profound impact on American politics as one of the country’s most passionate advocates for civil rights, financial reform, and progressive issues.
Who Is Maxine Waters?
Maxine Moore Waters was born Aug. 15, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri. The fifth of 13 children, she was born to the former Remus Carr and Velma Lee Moore. Waters was brought up in a working-class family and suffered early hardships, including being abandoned by her father at age 2.
Childhood Raised in her formative years by her mother, Waters was instilled with the importance of hard work and determination. Waters relocated to Los Angeles with her family in 1961, having grown up in St. Louis at Vashon High School, in search of better opportunities.
She worked as an assistant teacher at a garment factory and as a telephone operator before joining the Head Start program in 1966. This experience of teaching early childhood education in the Watts district of Los Angeles first motivated Waters to become an activist and to pursue a career in community activism and politics.
Eager to continue her education, Waters attended Los Angeles State College (now California State University, Los Angeles) and graduated with a degree in sociology in 1971, at the age of 33. This success laid the foundation for her future career in politics and public service.
| Full Name | Maxine Moore Waters (née Carr) |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1938 |
| Place of Birth | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Age | 86 (as of May 2025) |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Edward Waters (m. 1956; div. 1972), Sid Williams (m. 1977) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | B.A. in Sociology, California State University, Los Angeles (1970) |
| Religion | Non-denominational Christian |
Maxine Waters’s Personal Life & Relationships
Maxine Waters has been married twice. She was first married to Edward Waters in 1956. They divorced in 1972, having had two children. Waters married her current husband, Sid Williams, a former NFL player and the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas in the Clinton administration, in 1977.
Waters and her husband live in the Windsor Square neighborhood of Los Angeles. The family has been a central fixture of Waters’ political life. Personal life In 2020, she suffered a personal loss when her sister Velma Moody died in the pandemic from complications from COVID-19 at the age of 86.
Maxine Waters’s Professional Life And Political Career
Maxine Waters’ political career started in 1973 when she became chief deputy to Los Angeles City Councilman David S. Cunningham, Jr. This position provided her with insight and experience in local government and politics.
Waters was elected to the California State Assembly in 1976 and served in that position until 1990. While in the Assembly, Waters was a highly influential figure, serving as Chair of the Democratic Caucus.
A Watkins’ career achievement in the California Assembly was her forceful push for divestment from South Africa under apartheid. She worked to enact an anti-apartheid bill consistent with the anti-apartheid Sullivan Principles that prompted the state to decline investment in companies that did business in South Africa.
Waters was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 199. She represented California’s 29th Congressional District for 14 terms from 1991 until 201, and California’s 43rd Congressional District beginning with the 113th Congress.
Since then, she has been re-elected to her seat in every election, typically by large margins. Waters has been a combative and controversial figure throughout her congressional career, serving as a force for progressive issues and tactics.
She held numerous leadership roles during her time in Congress, including serving as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1997 to 1999. In 2013, she assumed the top party position on the Financial Services Committee and led the powerful panel from 2019 to 2023.
| Position | Details |
|---|---|
| U.S. Representative (CA-43) | Serving since January 3, 1991; previously represented CA-29 (1991–1993) and CA-35 (1993–2013) |
| California State Assembly | Member from 1976 to 1990; first woman in state history elected as Minority Whip |
| Chair, House Financial Services Committee | 2019–2023; currently serving as Ranking Member |
| Chair, Congressional Black Caucus | 1997–1999 |
| Delegate, Democratic National Conventions | 1972–1988 |
Maxine Waters’s Age and Physique
Maxine Waters was born in 1938 and is 85 years old (as of 2024). Waters remained vibrant and influential in Congress despite being over 80 years old. She is around 5 feet 4 inches tall. Waters has always maintained a polished and professional look as a congresswoman. She frequently wears bright colors and statement jewelry, which has become a signature part of her look.
Maxine Waters’s Net Worth and Salary
As an experienced member of Congress, Maxine Waters’ annual salary is $174,000. Her net worth has been a topic of controversy and speculation over the years. According to her most recent financial disclosures, Rep. Maxine Waters’ net worth is between $365,000 and $5.22 million.
The high variance is essentially due to congressional financial reporting using general categories. Waters’ most valuable asset is her Los Angeles residence, worth between $1 million and $5 million. She also has several investments and sources of income with her husband. However, Waters has extensive debt in the form of mortgages on several properties.
Waters, who critics have accused of leveraging her position for personal financial gain, is not immune to that scrutiny. Nonetheless, she denied any wrongdoing and was ultimately exonerated of ethics charges related to her actions during the 2008 financial crisis.
| Year | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $618,005 |
| 2018 | $793,006 |
| 2024 | $3,000,000 |
| 2025 | $3,740,000 |
Maxine Waters’s Company Information and Investing
Maxine Waters has no known business interests beyond her political career. However, her husband, Sid Williams, has remained involved in business pursuits, even as one after another has failed.
- Waters’ investments and sources of income, as disclosed on her financial disclosures, include but are not limited to:
- American Golf Joint Venture Partnership (her husband owns 100% of the entity)
- Royalties from Chesapeake Operating LLC (owned by husband)
- $75,129 Stock in OneUnited Bank (owned by her husband)
- Mutual fund investments through Merrill Lynch.
Waters and her husband own several properties, including their Los Angeles residence and a home in Washington, D.C. Real estate appears to be a large part of Waters’ investment portfolio. The couple’s home, on Lucerne Boulevard in Los Angeles, is their most valuable reported asset.
Maxine Waters’s Finances and Political Power
Maxine Waters is a strong Democrat and a great fundraiser for her campaigns and the Democratic Party. She has received contributions from labor unions, financial services companies, and individuals.
Waters’s role on the House Financial Services Committee has made her an influential figure in banking and finance. She has come under scrutiny at times for accepting financial industry donations while overseeing them.
Influence/lobbying, Waters has been a vocal advocate for Democrats in housing, consumer protection, and against racial discrimination. She has spoken out on progressive issues and has not been reluctant to go after political adversaries.
Maxine Waters’s Social Media Accounts
Maxine Waters is still active on social media — and you can always meet her at her official congressional office. Her official congressional website (waters.house.gov) provides contact information for her Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles offices, as well as an online contact form for constituents.
Conclusion
Maxine Waters has had a long and successful career in American politics. She went from humble beginnings to be recognised as one of the most powerful and recognisable figures in Congress. Her strong support for civil rights, financial regulation, and progressive issues has garnered her fervent admirers and detractors.
While her journey from St. Louis to the Halls of Power is a testament to resilience, Waters is not just the face of perseverance who has ever served in Congress; she has earned a place as a powerful and effective legislator, standing up for the poor, seniors, families, and the working class.
However, despite the controversy surrounding her throughout her long career, Maxine Waters’ place in American political history as a trailblazing African American woman in leadership is secure.
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