Michelle Obama

From Chicago's South Side to First Lady of the United States

politics education entertainment
Michelle Obama

Net Worth

$70M

Born

January 17, 1964 (age 62)

Country

United States

Occupation

Former First Lady, Attorney, Author

Gender

female

Generation

Boomer

Marital Status

married

Children

2

Single Parent Household

No

Education

Master's

University

Princeton University, Harvard Law School

Industries

politics, education, entertainment

Wealth Category

multi-millionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Overcame

  • • Grew up in working-class neighborhood on Chicago's South Side
  • • Father had multiple sclerosis and worked through pain his entire career
  • • Faced racial and class barriers at Princeton as one of few Black students
  • • Told by high school counselor she wasn't 'Princeton material'

Michelle Obama is an American attorney and author who served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, she has become one of the most influential women in the world through her advocacy for education, health, and military families. Her memoir 'Becoming' became one of the bestselling memoirs of all time.

Career Timeline

1964

Born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in Chicago, Illinois

1981 Age 17
Achievement

Graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School as salutatorian

1985 Age 21
Achievement

Graduated cum laude from Princeton University with BA in Sociology

1988 Age 24
Achievement

Earned JD from Harvard Law School

1989 Age 25
Turning Point

Met Barack Obama while working at Sidley Austin law firm

1992 Age 28
Milestone

Married Barack Obama

1996 Age 32
Achievement

Became Associate Dean of Student Services at University of Chicago

2009 Age 45
Milestone

Became First Lady of the United States

2010 Age 46
Achievement

Launched 'Let's Move!' campaign to combat childhood obesity

2015 Age 51
Achievement

Launched 'Reach Higher' initiative to promote higher education

2018 Age 54
Achievement

Published memoir 'Becoming' - sold over 10 million copies

2022 Age 58
Achievement

Published 'The Light We Carry'

Notable Quotes

"When they go low, we go high."

— Democratic National Convention Speech, 2016

"You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once, but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have."

— Speech, 2017

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."

"Am I good enough? Yes, I am."