Alright, so let’s talk about Ilhan Omar. She’s this really cool Congresswoman from Minnesota. She’s not just any Congresswoman though; she’s the first Somali American and woman of color to get elected for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. Pretty awesome, right?
Early Career Moves
Ilhan started off as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota. For more than three years, she helped out low-income families by teaching them about nutrition and healthy living. Then, she worked as a campaign manager for a couple of people running for local offices in 2012 and 2013. After that, she worked as a child nutrition outreach coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Education for over a year.
Stepping Up in Politics
When Andrew Johnson got elected to the Minneapolis City Council, Ilhan became his senior policy aide from 2013 to 2015. After that, she moved on to become the director of policy and initiatives for the Women Organizing Women Network in September 2015. In 2016, she ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives and won, making history as the first Somali-American lawmaker in the US in January 2017.
Making History in Congress
Fast forward to 2019, and Ilhan Omar became the first Somali-American Congresswoman for Minnesota’s 5th District. She’s been rocking that position ever since. U.S. representatives make about $174,000 a year, and with over five years in the game, she’s made around $1.5 million from that job alone. When you add up all her earnings from her 18-year career in politics and education, it’s about $2.5 million.
Other Sources of Income
But that’s not all. Ilhan’s also a writer. She penned a book called “This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman,” sharing her incredible story. She got a pretty sweet book deal with Harper Collins in 2023, rumored to be worth over $100,000. Even though her agent said she didn’t make money from the book, people believe she did. Plus, she’s got some business investments, including her husband’s company, eStreet Group, which her campaign paid $3.7 million to during the 2020 election cycle.
Investments and Assets
Ilhan’s also invested in various businesses, including Muslim-owned ones and even a wine manufacturing company, several startups, and a restaurant chain. A financial disclosure report showed she has investments in equity funds, money market funds, and venture capital. But she also had some debts, like student and credit card loans, and a car loan from Toyota.
Lifestyle and Personal Life
With all her income and investments, Ilhan Omar’s estimated net worth is around $5 million as of 2024. She went from owning just one Toyota to having seven new cars, a luxury apartment in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and a condo in downtown Brooklyn.
Ilhan’s husband, Tim Mynett, is a political consultant and co-founder of Rose Lake Capital and eStreet Group. They got married in March 2020. Before that, she was married to Ahmed Abdisalan and Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. She has two kids with Ahmed Abdisalan, including Isra Hirsi, an environmental activist. She also has one child with her second husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
Quick Facts
- Birthplace: Mogadishu, Somalia
- Birthday: October 4, 1982
- Education: Bachelor’s in Political Science from North Dakota State University
- Recent Win: Primary election rematch against Don Samuels for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district on August 13, 2024
Read More: Ben Pasternak Net Worth: How This Teen Became a Millionaire
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