00:00Zoran Mamdani has made a name for himself as a democratic socialist with a pretty clear message.
00:05Tax the rich, make living more affordable, and fight wealth inequality.
00:10The message is about transforming the most expensive city in the United States of America
00:14into one that's affordable for each and every New Yorker.
00:17But here's the question.
00:18Does he actually live like the policies he champions?
00:21How rich is New York's newest mayor, really?
00:24Well, Zoran Mamdani's net worth is estimated at about $200,000.
00:28That might sound like a lot to most of us, but compared to the political heavyweights
00:32he's often critiquing, it's actually modest.
00:35Take his opponent in the mayoral race, Andrew Cuomo.
00:40Forbes puts Cuomo's net worth at $10 million.
00:43That's a huge gap.
00:45We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to
00:50evade taxation and exploit tax breaks.
00:55Zoran does come from a well-off family, though.
00:57His mother, Meera Nair, is a celebrated filmmaker.
01:01And his dad, Mahmoud Mamdani, is a Columbia University academic.
01:06But despite his privileged background, Zoran has focused his career on tackling economic
01:11inequality.
01:12He's pushing for a $30-an-hour minimum wage and setting his sights on the ultra-wealthy,
01:18which shows he's serious about practicing what he preaches.
01:21I'm a democratic socialist.
01:22That means I believe in dignity for all people.
01:24After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018, Zoran ran for a state assembly seat
01:31and won in 2020, a role that pays $142,000 a year.
01:36Today, he lives in a rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria that costs $2,250 a month.
01:42No car, no flashy lifestyle.
01:45He gets around on the subway even to debate appearances.
01:48And if you're wondering, yes, he dabbles in music too.
01:51Zoran earns about $1,000 in rap royalties from his single Nani, which he released under the
01:56name Young Cardamom.
01:58There's also some real estate in the mix.
02:00According to his financial disclosures, he owns four acres of land in Jinja, Uganda, near
02:06the source of the Nile River.
02:08Zoran says the land is worth somewhere between $150,000 and $250,000, though it remains vacant
02:15and unimproved.
02:16And while New York City financial disclosures don't require him to list cash accounts so
02:21he could have a bit more tucked away, the picture is still far from extravagant.
02:25Now, with his election as New York City mayor, Zoran Mamdani becomes the youngest mayor in
02:32the city's history at 34.
02:34His new salary jumps to $260,000, and he'll move into Gracie Mansion, the official mayor's
02:41residence on the Upper East Side.
02:43That's a huge perk.
02:44No more rent, still no car, and he can maintain his straightforward, down-to-earth lifestyle.
02:50Zoran's story isn't just about politics.
02:53It's about the path that got him here.
02:56Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991, he grew up in a family that valued education and creativity.
03:03Famously, my parents.
03:07I'm very lucky that if I were to lose my home or my ability to earn, that I would be able
03:12to turn to them, and I also know that that's not the case for many New Yorkers, and it
03:17isn't the way for a city to run, that so many could just be one emergency away from
03:24losing the stability they've built up over many years.
03:26He went to the prestigious Bank Street School in Manhattan, where tuition for elementary
03:31school now runs as high as $66,000 a year, and then to the Bronx High School of Science,
03:37one of the city's top public schools.
03:40After that, he studied Africana Studies at Bodeau & College in Maine, a private liberal
03:45arts school that's also the alma mater of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and former American
03:50Express CEO Ken Chennault.
03:52And it's not just his career and lifestyle that reflect his values.
03:55Even Zoran's style tells a story.
03:58He keeps it simple, practical, and unpretentious, much like the policies he champions.
04:03On election night, Mamdani looked every bit like himself.
04:08No overly polished politician vibes here.
04:10He wore his signature suit, slim cut, single-breasted, and slightly wrinkled like someone who's been
04:17out talking to people all day.
04:19You know, a real New Yorker look.
04:22In an interview with GQ, he said his style reflects who he is, part casual, part professional,
04:28and totally rooted in the city.
04:30He even shared that some of his suits come from classic stores, and others from street
04:35sales on 31st Avenue.
04:37That's the kind of mix we love to see.
04:39His favorite store?
04:40Uniqlo.
04:41Simple, practical, dependable.
04:44Oh, and the Casio watch he always wears?
04:46It's not some flashy luxury brand.
04:48It's a gift from Rama.
04:50Sweet, right?
04:52Speaking of Rama, her outfit on election night was a perfect reflection of who she is.
04:56Young, creative, and confident in her individuality.
05:01She wore an elegant, jaquard-accented top by London-based Palestinian-Jordanian designer
05:07Zayd Hijazi, whose work draws on Palestinian folklore and rebellion, paired with a velvet
05:13and lace skirt, from New York designer Ula Johnson, known for her bohemian flair.
05:18She finished the look with black kitten-heel boots and jewelry by Eddie Borgo.
05:23The result was effortlessly chic, but still personal.
05:26She looked like herself, not like someone trying to fit into an outdated political wife mold.
05:32Her approach to fashion is all about mixing downtown minimalism with cultural craftsmanship.
05:37Think layered necklaces, oversized hoops, statement rings, and a lot of black.
05:42If you scroll through her Instagram, you'll see she's got a soft spot for monochrome outfits,
05:48chunky boots, and those effortlessly cool Gen Z staples like sheer turtlenecks and Bermuda shorts.
05:54It's creative, but still grounded, exactly what you'd expect from an illustrator who grew
05:59up in New York's art scene.
06:01Now, it's no secret that women connected to politics often feel pressured to play it safe.
06:06Neat suits, modest hemlines, patriotic colors, you know the drill.
06:13But Rama, she's breaking that pattern.
06:16Her wardrobe isn't about looking perfect.
06:18It's about telling her story.
06:20At the Democratic mayoral primary earlier this year, she joined Mamdani on stage wearing a
06:25simple black boatneck dress with her signature gold jewelry.
06:28Elegant, understated, and unmistakably her.
06:32And if we had to guess what's next, she'll probably lean into what her generation does
06:36best.
06:37Vintage finds, secondhand gems, and pieces by young, independent designers who share her
06:43values.
06:44So how did these two meet?
06:46Not through politics, and not at some gallery opening either.
06:50They actually met on Hinge, that's right, the same dating app you've probably deleted and
06:54reinstalled a dozen times.
06:56I met my wife on Hinge, so there is still hope in those dating apps.
07:00Hinge, PR team, you paying attention?
07:04And yes, they're already married.
07:07Zoran shared in an interview that they tied the knot in a civil ceremony earlier this year
07:11at the city clerk's office.
07:13But before that, they had a celebration in Dubai with Rama's family.
07:16Photos from the event show a joyful gathering.
07:19And despite what some online critics claimed, the venue wasn't exactly over the top.
07:23According to reports, ceremonies there cost about $72 per guest.
07:28So, basically the same as dinner and drinks in Manhattan.
07:33Still, once the relationship came to light, trolls started circling.
07:38They accused Mamdani of hiding his wife and criticized Rama for supporting the pro-Palestine
07:43movement through her art.
07:45Some even tried to frame their Dubai celebration as some sort of scandal.
07:49But Mamdani wasn't having it.
07:51He posted photos from their civil ceremony on Instagram and addressed the situation head
07:57on.
07:59Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama.
08:02Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race, which should be about you, about her.
08:08And he kept going.
08:10Rama isn't just my wife.
08:12She's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.
08:14You can critique my views, but not my family.
08:18A clear and powerful response.
08:20We have to stand up and fight back.
08:22While Rama has mostly stayed quiet throughout all this, she did post a sweet election day
08:26message.
08:28It was a photo carousel.
08:29Some adorable photo booth pics from an Eid celebration.
08:33A classic I voted sticker selfie.
08:36And even a childhood snap of Zoran that honestly belongs in a campaign ad.
08:39Her caption couldn't possibly be prouder.
08:44Ah, how cute is that?
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