JD Vance Net Worth: From Hillbilly Elegy to U.S. Senate

JD Vance is a venture capitalist, author, and Republican politician who has a net worth of $5 million. JD Vance was elected to the United States Senate. His term began in 2023. Vance rose to fame in 2016 with his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which describes his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and the socioeconomic issues of the Appalachian area. Previously a vocal critic of Donald Trump, Vance became a Trump loyalist in 2020. In 2024, JD Vance was rumored to be a possible choice for Trump’s Vice Presidential running mate. Other potential Trump VP picks include businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former North Dakota Governor/businessman Doug Burgum. On July 15, 2024, JD was officially revealed as Trump’s Vice Presidential running mate.

JD Vance Early Life and Education

JD Vance was born as James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio, to Bev and Donald. After his parents divorced when he was a toddler, he was adopted by his mother’s third husband. However, Vance and his sister were mostly raised by their grandparents, James and Bonnie, whom they called Mamaw and Papaw. As a teenager, Vance attended Middletown High School. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served in the Iraq War. Vance later attended the Ohio State University, from which he graduated in 2009 with his BA in political science and philosophy. He went on to obtain his JD from Yale Law School in 2013.

JD Vance Venture Capital Career

Vance began his career working at a corporate law firm. After that, he moved to San Francisco and became a venture capitalist in the city’s tech industry. Before landing a job at a venture capital company, he spent a period working as the chief operating officer at a biotech company. It was through this biotech company that he first interacted with Peter Thiel’s VC firm Mithril Capital. In 2016 he left the biotech company to take a job as a a principal at Mithril Capital. This was the same year he released what would become a bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” Because of the book’s rising success, Vance did not spend much time at Mithril. He left in 2017 to work at the Washington, DC-based investment firm Revolution, which was founded by AOL co-founder, Steve Case. He spent the next 18 months at Revolution, during which time he was the lead partner in roughly a dozen deals. Some notable investments from this time include an AI company called Pryon and the aforementioned AppHarvest.

JD Vance U.S. Senator

In 2016 Vance announced that he was moving back to Ohio from California and founding Our Ohio Renewal, a nonprofit organization that aimed to help disadvantaged children and address problems such as drug addiction and the opioid epidemic. Within a few years, however, the organization folded. Vance also started an investment firm based in Cincinnati. Often mentioned in the news as a potential political candidate, he reportedly considered a run for the U.S. Senate in 2018 but declined to enter the race, saying that the timing was not good for his young family. In early 2021, however, Republican Rob Portman, the junior U.S. senator from Ohio, announced that he would not seek reelection in 2022. Vance decided to enter the race to replace Portman.

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JD Vance Narya Capital

In 2020 JD launched a venture capital firm called Narya Capital. He launched with $93 million raised from a group of Silicon Valley billionaires including Peter Thiel and Eric Schmidt. According to its most recent filings, Narya has made around a dozen investments in everything from gene therapy to farming to space security. As we stated in an earlier paragraph, according to his 2022 financial disclosure, JD personally values his share of each of these investments in the $100-$250,000 range and at least one of them has already filed for bankruptcy (AppHarvest). 

JD Vance Financial Disclosure

JD Vance’s August 2022 financial disclosure listed dozens of investments as assets. The vast majority of his 100+ investments, covering roughly 20 pages in the disclosure, were valued at between $1,000 and $15,000. Among his larger investments are a stake in the online video platform Rumble, which was valued at between $100,000 and $250,000, an investment in Kriya Therapies, valued at $50,000 and $100,000, an investment in AppHarvest, Inc., valued at $100,000 to $200,000 and an investment in AcreTrader Inc valued at $15,000 to $50,000.

JD Vance Personal Life

In 2014, Vance married Usha Chilukuri, who had been his classmate at Yale Law. Together, they have three children. Raised Protestant, Vance was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in 2019.

FAQs

Who is JD Vance?

JD Vance is a venture capitalist, author, and Republican politician, currently serving as a U.S. Senator from Ohio since 2023. He gained prominence with his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which reflects on his upbringing and the socioeconomic issues in Appalachia.

What is JD Vance’s net worth?

JD Vance has a net worth estimated at $5 million.

What are JD Vance’s major career achievements?

Vance is known for his bestselling memoir, his venture capital work—including founding Narya Capital—and his political career as a U.S. Senator. He was also involved in various investments during his time in venture capital, partnering with notable figures like Peter Thiel.

What is “Hillbilly Elegy” about?

“Hillbilly Elegy” is a memoir that discusses Vance’s childhood in Middletown, Ohio, and the challenges faced by families in the Appalachian region, touching on themes of class, culture, and family dynamics.

Conclusion

JD Vance is a multifaceted individual who has made significant contributions as an author, venture capitalist, and politician. Rising to prominence with his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” he has since transitioned into a political career, serving as a U.S. Senator from Ohio and aligning himself with the Republican Party, particularly under Donald Trump. His journey from a challenging upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, to a successful career in both venture capital and politics reflects his commitment to addressing social issues and advocating for economic opportunities. With a net worth of approximately $5 million, Vance continues to influence discussions on various political and economic matters while navigating the complexities of modern American politics. As he embarks on his role as Vice President alongside Trump, his future actions will likely play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape in the coming years.

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