Nelson Mandela Biography 2025: Age, Height, Weight, Net Worth, Family, Education, Children, Wife and More

January 5, 2025 by Penny Gusner

Nelson Mandela Biography

Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo, Eastern Cape, into the Madiba clan. His mother, Nonqaphi Nosekeni, and father, Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, who served as the principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. When he was 12 years old in 1930, his father passed away, and he was taken in by Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni.

He dreamed of contributing to his people’s freedom struggle after hearing ancestors’ war stories. Named Nelson at Qunu school by Miss Mdingane, he later attended Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Healdtown. Mandela started a Bachelor of Arts at Fort Hare but got expelled for joining a protest. Furious, the King in Mqhekezweni told him to return to Fort Hare or get wives arranged. Instead, they fled to Johannesburg in 1941 where he worked as a security officer.

Meeting Sisulu led him to Sidelsky, and he completed his BA at the University of South Africa before graduating from Fort Hare in 1943. Meanwhile, he started studying law at a university but left without graduating. Later, he resumed studies after prison but did not finish the degree. In 1989, during his last months in prison, he earned a law degree from another university and graduated in Cape Town.

Nelson Mandela Biography Details

 

Full Name	Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Stage Name	Nelson Mandela
Born	18 July 1918 (age 103 years old)
Died	5 December 2013, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa
Age	95 years old
Place of Birth	Mvezo, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Parents	Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, Noqaphi Nosekeni
Children	Zindziswa Mandela, Zenani Mandela, Madiba Thembekile Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela, Makgatho Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela
Height	1.85 m
Siblings	Daligqili Mandela, Nothusile Bhulehluth, Mabel Notancu Ntimakhwe, Baliwe Mandela, Lieby Piliso, Constance Mbekeni Mandela, Nomabandla Mandela, Mhlalwa Mandela, Makhutswana Mandela
Boyfriend  Husband	Evelyn Ntoko Mate (m. 1944-1958), Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (M. 1958-1996), Graça Machel (M. 1998-2013)
Occupation	Politician • Activist
Net Worth	$10-$20 million
Category	Lifestyle

Retirement and Death

Nelson Mandela received a diagnosis of prostate cancer and underwent treatment in the summer of 2001. At the age of 85, in June 2004, Mandela announced his retirement from public life due to declining health. In December 2013, at the age of 95, he passed away from a long-lasting respiratory infection while at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, surrounded by his family.

Also Read

Sheikha Mahra Biography

JD Vance Biography

Lamine Yamal Biography

Some facts about Nelson Mandela

• From 1994 until 1999, Nelson Mandela served as President of South Africa. He was South Africa’s first black president and the first to be elected in a fully representative election.
• The leadership of Nelson Mandela concentrated on overthrowing the country’s Apartheid government, which had enforced racial segregation through the law.
• Nelson Mandela studied law at school and then went on to become one of South Africa’s first black lawyers.
• He was chosen leader of the African National Congress (ANC) liberation movement’s youth section in the 1950s.
• Mandela established a hidden military movement after the government banned the ANC for racial reasons. He had previously participated in nonviolent protests, but as the government responded with brutality, he moved on to promote an anti-government movement.

Who is Nelson Mandela?

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and statesman who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.

Born: 18 July 1918, Mvezo, South Africa

Died: 5 December 2013 (age 95 years), Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa

Spouse: Graça Machel (m. 1998–2013), Winnie Mandela (m. 1958–1996), Evelyn Mase (m. 1944–1958)

Awards: Nobel Peace Prize, Bharat Ratna, MORE

Children: Zindziswa Mandela, Zenani Mandela, MORE

Education: UNISA Main Campus (1989)

Also Read: Leny Yoro Biography

Early Life

• Nelson Mandela comes from a royal family and was born in Mvezo village, Umtata, Eastern Cape.
• He was born on July 18, 1918, and belonged to the Xhosa tribe. His name means “Troublemaker” in English.
• His grandfather’s first name was Mandela. He grew up in a large family with twelve siblings.
• Nelson’s teacher gave him the name “Nelson,” and he was the first in his family to go to school.
• At nine, he lost his father to lung disease. His mother, a Christian, sent him to live with an uncle.
• Living with his uncle exposed him to African History stories and church services regularly.
• At sixteen, he underwent the traditional transition ceremony from boyhood to manhood called Ulwaluko.

Education

Nelson Mandela began schooling at a local Methodist school in his mother’s village. Later, he attended a Methodist Mission School nearby, where he learned various subjects. For secondary education, he went to Clarkebury Methodist High School. He aimed to gain knowledge to advise the royal family.

After earning his Junior Certificate, he joined HealdTown Methodist College. Here, he excelled in sports like boxing and running. In his second year, he became a prefect. Mandela then pursued university education at the University Of Fort Hare in 1939 but got suspended for involvement in student politics.

While working during the day, he studied via correspondence at the University Of South Africa. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in 1943. With this degree, he decided to study Law at the University Of Witwatersrand to further his education.

Also Read: Adele Biography

Career

Nelson Mandela, the sole black law student at the university, encountered racism but was determined to combat apartheid. Consequently, he became a member of the African National Congress (ANC) due to his alignment with the organization’s principles. Engaging deeply, he co-established the ANC Youth League in 1944 alongside fellow activists. Progressing within the ANC, Mandela found like-minded allies who shared his vision of opposing governmental discrimination through measures such as strikes and boycotts. By 1950, he assumed the role of national president of the league and secured a position on the ANC council.

Despite emerging as a prominent black leader in South Africa by 1952, his activities were curtailed following his arrest subsequent to a provocative speech that incited public demonstrations. Even though Mandela ascended to the position of regional president within the ANC in the same year, his movements and influence were stifled by unfounded accusations. In 1956, Mandela and other ANC figures faced baseless charges of high treason. Following a protracted trial, they were eventually acquitted. Mandela’s encounters with law enforcement persisted, with his apprehension in 1962 at Marshall Square Prison stemming from prior warrants.

He encouraged strikes, got jailed for five years. Later, accused of treason and conspiracy. The Rivonia trial started in December 1963 and ended in June 1964 with a life sentence. Mandela served 18 years at Robben Island, breaking rocks and enduring harassment. His vision suffered from working with lime. He was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in 1982. Despite calls for release, he stayed imprisoned until February 11, 1990 when he was freed. Mandela’s release was a global event; he became ANC president in July 1991 after being elected by 1,600 delegates.

In 1994, he ran for South Africa’s president and won with a 63% majority on April 27th. Mandela led the country until 1999 when he retired due to age and health concerns. Thabo Mbeki succeeded him as ANC president and South Africa’s deputy president. Mandela focused on family life post-retirement and founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 1999 to address HIV/AIDS and rural development.

Personal Life

Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013, at age ninety-five due to a lung infection. South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, announced his death on a broadcast. Many world leaders attended his state funeral. Mandela was married three times and had six children. He had seventeen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren when he passed away. His first wife was Evelyn Ntoko Mate; they divorced in March 1958. After the divorce, he married Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in June 1958 but divorced in 1996. Later, Nelson Mandela wedded Graçal Machel on his 80th birthday after a few months of courtship. His children include Zindziswa, Zenani, Thembekile, Makaziwe, Makgatho, and another Makaziwe.

Net Worth

At death, his net worth was estimated to be $10-20 million dollars.

Also Read: Usha Chilukuri Vance Biography 

Personal Information

Born	Rolihlahla Mandela 18 July 1918 Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa
Died	5 December 2013 (aged 95) Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Cause of death	Respiratory infection
Resting place	Mandela Graveyard Qunu, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Other political affiliations	South African Communist Party
Spouse(s)	Evelyn Ntoko Mase (m. 1944; div. 1958) Winnie Madikizela (m. 1958; div. 1996) Graça Machel (m. 1998; “his death” is deprecated; use “died” instead. 2013)
Children	6 (including Thembekile, Makgatho, Makaziwe, Zenani and Zindziswa)
Parents	Nosekeni Fanny Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa
Alma mater	University of Fort Hare University of London University of South Africa University of the Witwatersrand
Occupation	ActivistPoliticianPhilanthropistLawyer
Known for	Anti-Apartheid Movement
Awards	Sakharov Prize (1988) Bharat Ratna (1990) Nishan-e-Pakistan (1992) Nobel Peace Prize (1993) Order of Lenin Presidential Medal of Freedom (hundreds more …)
Notable work(s)	Long Walk to Freedom
Website	nelsonmandela.org
Nickname(s)	MadibaDalibunga

Nelson Mandela Images