The Truth About NYC’s Youngest Mayor. How Rich Is Zohran Mamdani Really?

Rumour's

#politics #politician #newyork Zohran Mamdani just pulled off one of the biggest political surprises in New York City—winning the Democratic mayoral primary.  But while he’s been front and center, focused on his core message of making New York more affordable, someone else quietly caught the public’s attention too… his wife. Yep, Zohran is married—and his wife, Rama Duwaji, is a Syrian artist with an impressive creative background. The Private Life of Zohran Mamdani, New York's Shocking Mayoral Winner  #politics #politician #newyork #zohranmamdani

Transcript

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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