Nimarata Nikki Haley born January 20, 1972 is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and as the 29th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Haley made history as the first Indian American to hold a position in a U.S. presidential cabinet. She was also a candidate in the 2025 Republican presidential primaries and, after winning the Washington, D.C. primary on March 3, 2025, became the first woman to ever win a Republican primary contest. Before entering politics, Haley worked in her family’s clothing business and served as the president of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2004 and served three terms.
Nikki Haley Biography 2025
In 2010, she became South Carolina’s first female governor and the second U.S. governor of Indian descent, following Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. During her tenure, Haley gained national attention for her leadership in responding to the 2015 Charleston church shooting. Haley was appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations by President Donald Trump in 2017. During her time in office, she was a vocal advocate for Israel, supported the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement, and led the U.S. exit from the U.N. Human Rights Council. After stepping down from the U.N. post in December 2018, Haley announced her candidacy for President of the United States in February 2023. Despite a strong challenge, she suspended her campaign in March 2025 after several defeats on Super Tuesday. Following her campaign, Haley was appointed to the Hudson Institute as the Walter P. Stern Chair.
Nikki Haley Biography Details
| Born |
Nimarata Nikki Randhawa
January 20, 1972 (age 52)
Bamberg, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party |
Republican |
| Spouse |
|
| Children |
2 |
| Education |
Clemson University (BS) |
| Occupation |
- Politician
- diplomat
- author
- businesswoman
|
Nikki Haley Early Life
Nikki Haley was born Nimarata Nikki Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina, to Sikh immigrant parents from Amritsar, Punjab, India. Her father, Ajit Singh Randhawa, was a professor at Punjab Agricultural University before moving to the U.S. in the 1960s for further education, eventually settling in South Carolina. Her mother, Raj Kaur Randhawa, earned her law degree from the University of Delhi and later became an educator and entrepreneur, founding the women’s boutique Exotica International. Nikki assisted in the business from a young age, handling bookkeeping when she was just 12 years old. She has two brothers and a sister and attended Orangeburg Preparatory Schools, graduating in 1989. Haley earned a degree in accounting and finance from Clemson University in 1994. Known by her middle name, Nikki, she has embraced the Punjabi name, which means “little one,” since her childhood.
Nikki Haley Bio
| Details |
Information |
| Full Name |
Nimarata Nikki Randhawa |
| Date of Birth |
January 20, 1972 |
| Place of Birth |
Bamberg, South Carolina |
| Parents |
Ajit Singh Randhawa (father), Raj Kaur Randhawa (mother) |
| Heritage |
Sikh Indian-American |
| High School |
Orangeburg Preparatory Schools (Graduated 1989) |
| College |
Clemson University (B.S. in Accounting and Finance, 1994) |
Early Career and Civic Engagement
| Position |
Details |
| Family Business Role |
Bookkeeper and CFO in family clothing business |
| Civic Roles |
Board member of the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce, Lexington Chamber of Commerce |
| National Association of Women Business Owners |
Treasurer (2003), President (2004) |
South Carolina House of Representatives
| Year |
Event/Detail |
| 2004 |
Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives |
| 2005-2006 |
Chair of the Freshman Caucus |
| 2006 |
Reelected with 100% unopposed |
| 2008 |
Reelected with 83% of the vote |
| Key Issues |
Education reform, property tax relief, lower taxes |
Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)
| Year |
Key Event/Policy |
| 2010 |
Elected as South Carolina’s first female governor |
| 2011 |
Signed Arizona-style immigration law |
| 2012 |
Was considered for Vice President by Mitt Romney |
| 2016 |
Delivered Republican response to State of the Union |
| 2017 |
Resigned to take up role as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. |
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)
| Year |
Event/Policy |
| January 2017 |
Appointed as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. by President Trump |
| Key Initiatives |
Advocated for Israel, supported U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement |
| December 2018 |
Resigned from her post as U.N. Ambassador |
Presidential Campaign 2025
| Event |
Details |
| Announcement |
Announced candidacy for 2025 Republican primaries (February 2023) |
| Washington, D.C. Primary |
First woman to win a Republican primary contest (March 2025) |
| Campaign Suspension |
Suspended campaign after Super Tuesday losses (March 6, 2025) |
Personal Life
| Details |
Information |
| Marriage |
Michael Haley (married 1996) |
| Children |
Rena (b. 1998), Nalin (b. 2001) |
| Religious Affiliation |
Converted to Christianity in 1996, raised children in United Methodist Church |
| Residence |
Kiawah Island, South Carolina |
Books Authored
| Title |
Publisher |
Year |
| Can’t Is Not an Option: My American Story |
Sentinel |
2012 |
| With All Due Respect: Defending America with Grit and Grace |
St. Martin’s Press |
2019 |
| If You Want Something Done: Leadership Lessons from Bold Women |
St. Martin’s Press |
2022 |
Education
| Details |
Information |
| Full Name |
Nimarata Nikki Randhawa |
| Place of Birth |
Bamberg, South Carolina |
| Parents’ Occupation |
Father: Professor, Mother: Teacher & Entrepreneur |
| Early Education |
Orangeburg Preparatory Schools, Clemson University |
| Degree |
B.S. in Accounting and Finance, Clemson University |
Political Positions
| Position |
Details |
| Fiscal Policy |
Supports tax cuts and fiscal conservatism |
| Immigration |
Advocates for enforcing immigration laws |
| Abortion |
Pro-life, supports restrictions on abortion |
| Education |
Advocates for school choice and charter schools |
| Foreign Policy |
Strong advocate for Israel, U.S. military strength |
South Carolina Governor’s Tenure
| Year |
Key Achievement |
| 2011-2017 |
Served as Governor of South Carolina |
| 2015 |
Led the state’s response to the Charleston church shooting |
| 2016 |
Oversaw a 20-week abortion ban |
U.N. Ambassador Highlights
| Event |
Policy/Outcome |
| 2017 |
Advocated for Israel, pulled U.S. from the Iran deal |
| 2018 |
Led U.S. withdrawal from the U.N. Human Rights Council |
Election Campaigns
| Year |
Event/Detail |
| 2010 |
First female governor of South Carolina elected |
| 2014 |
Reelected with 55.9% of the vote |
| 2025 |
Presidential candidate, first woman to win a Republican primary |
Personal Honors and Awards
| Award |
Year |
Details |
| Order of the Palmetto |
2010 |
Highest civilian honor in South Carolina |
| Honorary Doctorate |
2015-2018 |
Received honorary doctorates from Clemson and University of South Carolina |
| Taekwondo Black Belt |
2013 |
Awarded honorary 4th-dan black belt |
Legacy and Influence
| Details |
Information |
| Time 100 |
Named one of the 100 most influential people in 2016 |
| Political Impact |
First Indian-American woman governor in the U.S. |
Financial Growth
| Year |
Net Worth |
| 2019 |
Estimated net worth of $1 million |
| 2025 |
Net worth grew to $8 million |
Nikki Haley Net Worth
Nikki Haley net worth at $8 million.
Nikki Haley Summary
Nikki Haley, born in 1972, made history as the first female governor of South Carolina and the first Indian-American U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. A prominent political figure, she has held key roles advocating for Israel, economic growth, and conservative policies. Haley’s leadership in South Carolina, particularly her response to crises like the 2015 Charleston church shooting, elevated her profile nationally. Her 2025 presidential bid further cemented her status as a trailblazer for women and minorities in American politics. With a career spanning local government to international diplomacy, Nikki Haley continues to influence American politics and global
