Barack Hussein Obama II

Early Life & Education

Born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Obama is the son of Barack Obama Sr., a Kenyan economist, and Stanley Ann Dunham, an American anthropologist. He spent parts of his childhood in Indonesia before returning to Hawaii, where he attended the prestigious Punahou School. Obama later studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles before transferring to Columbia University, graduating with a B.A. in political science in 1983. He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991, becoming the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review.

Early Career & Political Rise

Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. He served in the Illinois State Senate (1997–2004) and the U.S. Senate (2005–2008) before launching a successful bid for the presidency. His rousing keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him to national prominence.

Presidency (2009–2017)

Elected as the 44th President of the United States, Obama served two terms from January 20, 2009, to January 20, 2017. Major achievements during his tenure include:

• Passing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
• Economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis
• Dodd-Frank financial reforms
• Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
• Operation that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden
• Paris Agreement on climate change
• Iran nuclear agreement
• Cuban thaw (restoring relations with Cuba)
• Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2009

Obama appointed Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Post-Presidency & Current Activities

After leaving office, Obama and his wife Michelle signed a lucrative joint book deal and foundation work. He commands high fees for public speaking and, with Michelle, secured a major production deal with Netflix, creating award-winning documentaries and series through their company Higher Ground Productions. He remains influential in public affairs, supports Democratic causes, and oversees the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, a major civic and educational project.

Filmography & TV (Selected Credits)

Net Worth & Endeavors

Estimated net worth: $70 million (2025). Obama’s wealth comes from book deals, paid speeches, Netflix production deals, pension, and investments. The Obamas’ 2017 agreement with Penguin Random House for their memoirs was reportedly worth $65 million. Michelle’s bestselling books and tours add to their joint fortunes.

Awards & Recognition

• Nobel Peace Prize (2009)
• Two-time Grammy winner (Best Spoken Word Album)
• Multiple Emmy nominations for production work
• Time Person of the Year (2008, 2012)
• NAACP Image Awards

Personal Life & Philanthropy

Barack and Michelle Obama married in 1992. Their daughters, Malia and Sasha, were born in 1998 and 2001. The Obamas are noted for philanthropy, particularly in community and youth development, girls’ education, and leadership initiatives through the Obama Foundation.

Trivia

• First African American to serve as U.S. President
• Born to parents of Kenyan and Kansan heritage, with a multicultural childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia
• Published bestselling memoirs: “Dreams from My Father,” “The Audacity of Hope,” and “A Promised Land”
• Enthusiastic basketball player and sports fan, especially for the Chicago Bulls

Upcoming Projects

• Executive productions including “Exit West,” a film adaptation, and new docuseries with Higher Ground Productions
• Continues to oversee construction of the Obama Presidential Center opening in 2026 in Chicago
• Ongoing advocacy for democracy, climate action, and youth leadership worldwide