Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, simply referred to by her initials AOC, is a progressive politician and activist. She is a member of the Democratic Party who serves as the representative for New York’s 14th congressional district. Being in office at 29 years old, she is the youngest woman to ever be a part of the US Congress. As of 2022, AOC has a net worth of $500,000.
Early Life
On October 13, 1989, Alexandria was born in Bronx, New York City. Her parents were Sergio and Blanca Ocasio-Cortez and she grew up with a little brother called Gabriel.
Sandy Ocasio was her nickname in high school and college. She graduated from Yorktown High School in 2007. The young lady went on to Boston University to study international relations and economics.
While in college, she was the LDZ Secretary of State. Senator Ted Kennedy’s unit on foreign affairs and immigration issues also hired her as an intern. She graduated cum laude in 2011.
Career Beginnings
When she finished college, she worked as a bartender and waitress. She later formed Brook Avenue Press, a now-defunct publishing house that specialized in publications that portrayed the Bronx positively.
She was also employed at the National Hispanic Institute, a non-profit organization. AOC served as an organizer for Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign throughout the 2016 primary elections.
As a campaign organizer, she got to visit North Dakota’s Standing Rock Indian Reservation, which sparked her interest in politics. She was soon contacted by Brand New Congress, which was looking for progressive candidates.
Joining Congress
The aspiring politician decided to be a part of the Democratic Socialists of America and started her campaign in 2017. In the 2018 primary election, Ocasio-Cortez upset 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley by 57.13%.
Several politically liberal individuals, including Senator Bernie Sanders and former president Barack Obama, have endorsed her candidacy in the general elections. Alexandria challenged the Republican Anthony Pappas. In the end, she clinched 78% of the votes.
AOC, along with Rashida Tlaib, are the Democratic Socialists of America’s first female congress members. She advocates for tuition-free public college, workplace democracy, a federal jobs guarantee, Medicare for All, and other progressive platforms.
Net Worth and Salary
As a congressperson, Alexandria receives a yearly salary of $174,000. In 2019, she disclosed in her initial financial report that she held assets valued at around $3,000 to $45,000. She also revealed that she had liabilities in her student loans.
She had a brokerage account, a savings account, and a 401(k) plan with the National Hispanic Institute that sum up to about $1,000 to $15,000. With this, AOC has been listed by sources as one of the poorest congress members. Still, it is estimated that she has a fortune of $500,000 today.
Personal Life
AOC’s relationship with web developer Riley Roberts is kept under wraps because she is very private about her personal life. However, it is known that they lived together in Parkchester, Bronx, during the 2018 election campaign. Roberts works as the head of marketing for HomeBinder.com.
