Ted Cruz Biography: Rafael Edward Cruz born December 22, 1970 is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the junior United States senator from Texas, a position he has held since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz previously served as Texas’s Solicitor General from 2003 to 2008. After graduating from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Cruz embarked on a political career, working as a policy advisor during the George W. Bush administration. In 2003, he was appointed Solicitor General of Texas by then-Attorney General Greg Abbott, a role he occupied until 2008. Cruz made history in 2012 when he was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Hispanic-American to represent Texas in this capacity. Throughout his Senate tenure, Cruz has maintained staunchly conservative views on economic and social policies.
Ted Cruz Biography 2024
Rafael Edward Cruz is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz was the solicitor general of Texas from 2003 to 2008.
Born: 22 December 1970 (age 53 years), Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Canada
Office: Senator (R-TX) since 2013
Spouse: Heidi Cruz (m. 2001)
Education: Harvard Law School (1992–1995) · See more
Children: Caroline Camille Cruz
Parents: Rafael Cruz, Eleanor Darragh
Grandparents: Emilia Laudelina Díaz, Rafael Cruz
Ted Cruz Biography 2024 Details
Born | Rafael Edward Cruz December 22, 1970 (age 53) Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
---|
Citizenship | - United States
- Canada (1970–2014)
|
---|
Political party | Republican |
---|
Spouse | |
---|
Children | 2 |
---|
Parent(s) | Rafael Cruz Eleanor Elizabeth Darragh |
---|
Education | - Princeton University (BA)
- Harvard University (JD)
|
---|
Occupation | |
---|
Category | Politician Biography |
---|
See More:
Gavin Newsom Biography
Rachel Reeves Biography
Himanta Biswa Sarma Biography
Early Life and Family
Rafael Edward Cruz was born on December 22, 1970, at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Eleanor Elizabeth (née Darragh) Wilson and Rafael Cruz. His mother, who hails from Wilmington, Delaware, is of three-quarters Irish and one-quarter Italian descent and earned a degree in mathematics from Rice University in the 1950s. Cruz’s father, Rafael, was raised in Cuba and is the son of an immigrant from the Canary Islands. As a teenager, he faced persecution for opposing the Batista regime. He left Cuba in 1957 to study at the University of Texas at Austin, eventually gaining political asylum in the United States.
At the time of Ted Cruz’s birth, his parents had been living in Calgary for three years, working in the oil industry as owners of a seismic-data processing firm. Cruz has mentioned that he is the son of “two mathematicians/computer programmers.” In 1974, his father left the family, but they reconciled later that year and moved to Houston. His parents divorced in 1997. Cruz has two older half-sisters, Miriam and Roxana, from his father’s first marriage. Miriam tragically passed away in 2011 due to a drug overdose.
See More: David Lammy Biography
Ted Cruz Net Worth and Salary
Ted Cruz, the junior United States Senator from Texas, has an estimated net worth of $4 million. An influential political figure, he was the runner-up for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Although he began his career in law, Cruz transitioned into politics and also served as a professor at the University of Texas Law School. As a senator, he receives an annual salary of $174,000.
During his 2018 Senate campaign against Beto O’Rourke, Cruz and his wife estimated their net worth to be between $2 and $5 million. Their wealth primarily consists of stocks, mutual funds, and a retirement plan from Cruz’s former law firm, with liabilities of at least $1 million. Cruz’s wife, Heidi, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, likely serves as the family’s primary breadwinner, though her salary remains undisclosed.
Legal Career
Cruz began his legal career as a law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals from 1995 to 1996. He later joined a prominent law firm, working on high-profile cases, including those related to the National Rifle Association and Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial. After serving as Solicitor General of Texas until 2008, Cruz returned to private practice until he became a U.S. Senator in 2013.
See More: Christa Markwalder Biography
Political Career
Cruz’s political journey began in 1999 when he joined George W. Bush’s administration as a domestic policy adviser. He later became the Associate Deputy Attorney General and served as Texas’s Solicitor General from 2003 to 2008, arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, Cruz’s victory was seen as an upset, as he faced a well-funded opponent. During his Senate tenure, he sponsored 105 bills and was a key figure in the 2013 government shutdown. Known for his confrontational style, he has often clashed with both Democrats and Republicans, particularly during the Obama administration. In 2016, Cruz announced his presidential candidacy, garnering significant support in the primaries but ultimately losing to Donald Trump. After initially criticizing Trump, Cruz later became an ally. He narrowly won reelection in 2018 against Beto O’Rourke.
Relationships
Ted Cruz has been married to Heidi Cruz since 2001, and they have two daughters.
Salary and Financial
Cruz earns an annual salary of $174,000 as a senator, but it appears his wife, Heidi, is the primary earner in the family as a managing director at Goldman Sachs, with estimated earnings around $300,000 per year.
See More: Josh Shapiro Biography
Investments and Debts
Most of the Cruz family’s assets are in stocks and bonds, reportedly worth millions. Ted Cruz earned over $33,000 from dividends and interest in 2017 alone. However, the couple also has significant debts, including a $1.2 million loan taken out for his 2012 campaign and a mortgage worth between $1 million and $5 million.
Real Estate
Ted and Heidi Cruz own property in Houston, though the specific value is uncertain. The average home price in the area is around $300,000. Heidi has expressed concerns about their financial situation, noting her demanding job at Goldman Sachs and the challenges of supporting their family.