Joe Biden

Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025, capping one of the longest careers in modern American public life. A Democrat, he spent thirty-six years representing Delaware in the U.S. Senate and then eight years as vice president under Barack Obama before winning the White House by defeating Donald Trump in the 2020 election. His public persona is built around an everyman, working-class sensibility and a personal story marked by profound family tragedy, which he has often woven into his appeals for empathy and resilience.

As president, Biden pursued an ambitious legislative agenda, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. He navigated the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and renewed great-power conflict, notably his support for Ukraine after Russia's invasion. His tenure drew sharp partisan division, with critics targeting his handling of the economy, the border, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, and persistent questions about his age. He ultimately stepped aside during the 2024 campaign.

Admirers cast him as a steady institutionalist who restored normalcy after turbulence; detractors see a long-serving insider out of step with the moment. His legacy is still being debated. Since leaving office, he has established the Biden Foundation and the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, and is writing a memoir about his presidency.[edit]

Joe Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in a middle-class Catholic household. His father, Joseph R. Biden Sr., worked as a used-car salesman and struggled financially, moving the family to Claymont, Delaware, when Joe was ten years old in search of better opportunities. His mother, Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Finnegan Biden, was a homemaker who emphasized resilience. As a child, Biden developed a severe stutter, which he overcame by reciting poetry in front of a mirror for hours. He attended Archmere Academy, a private Catholic high school, where he played football and was a solid student. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Delaware in 1965, then a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, graduating 76th in a class of 85. After law school, he worked as a public defender in Wilmington, Delaware, before entering private practice. A pivotal moment came in 1970 when he was elected to the New Castle County Council. Just two years later, at age 29, he launched a long-shot campaign for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican J. Caleb Boggs, becoming one of the youngest people ever elected to the Senate.[edit]

Biden was sworn into the U.S. Senate in January 1973 at age 30, the fifth-youngest senator in history. His first year was marked by personal tragedy when his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident, but he took the oath of office from the hospital bed of his two injured sons. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee for much of his tenure, chairing it from 1987 to 1995 and presiding over the contentious Supreme Court nomination hearings of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. He also chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2007 to 2009, becoming a leading voice on NATO expansion and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, Barack Obama chose Biden as his vice presidential running mate. The Obama-Biden ticket won the general election, and Biden served two terms as vice president, advising on the Recovery Act stimulus package and the drawdown in Afghanistan, and leading the Cancer Moonshot initiative. After leaving office in 2017, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction from Obama. He returned to politics and defeated incumbent Donald Trump in the 2020 election, receiving over 81 million votes, the most ever cast for a presidential candidate. As president, he signed major legislation including the American Rescue Plan (2021), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021), the CHIPS and Science Act (2022), and the Inflation Reduction Act (2022). In July 2024, after a difficult debate performance and internal party pressure, he withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.[edit]

Biden's public image centers on a folksy, "Uncle Joe" demeanor, often wearing aviator sunglasses and a well-worn leather bomber jacket. His brand is one of blue-collar authenticity and empathy, shaped by his personal tragedies. He is known for his gaffes, which the media often portrays as endearing or concerning. Supporters see him as a steady institutionalist who restored normalcy; critics view him as a long-serving insider out of touch with the times. His social media voice is formal yet warm, frequently tagging his wife, Jill. The unofficial fandom is often called the "Biden Coalition." He has been featured on the cover of TIME multiple times, including in November 2020, January 2021, and July 2024.[edit]

For decades, the public has viewed Joe Biden not as a distant celebrity but as a familiar fixture of American life, a figure whose support base is defined by political loyalty rather than the organized fervor seen in pop culture. There is no formal name for his fanbase; instead, his supporters are constituents and party members who engage through standard political channels, sharing stories of resilience and empathy rather than curated rituals or viral fan campaigns. This unique relationship with the public means his fame rests on institutional presence and personal narrative rather than fandom-specific phenomena like birthday billboards or streaming pushes. Despite this grounded nature, his global stature remains immense, reflecting a career that spanned generations of American politics. The iFANN Global Fame Rankings capture this enduring influence with precision, placing him among the most recognized figures on the planet. He is currently the 57th most famous person in the world, a position he holds steady from the previous cycle, while standing as the 4th most famous person in United States. Within his country of origin, he ranks as the 32nd most famous person from United States, and across the continent, he is the 7th most famous person in North America. In the specific arena of governance, he is the 9th most famous person in Politics. These placements, tracked across media coverage, search trends, and cultural consumption signals worldwide, confirm that even amidst shifting political tides, his visibility remains unparalleled.[edit]

Joe Biden was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and stands 6 feet 0 inches tall. For thirty-six years, he famously commuted from Wilmington to Washington, D.C., by train, a habit that cemented his reputation as a lover of Amtrak. A voracious reader, he often quotes Irish poets and enjoys chocolate chip ice cream. His accolades include the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2005, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2023, and the Order of the Cross of the Eagle awarded by Estonia in 2024. The University of Delaware honored him by naming its public policy school the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. He has appeared on TIME's 100 Most Influential People list and topped Forbes' Most Powerful People list. Recent reports from August 2026 highlight a difficult chapter in his life, noting that his prostate cancer had spread to his bones, a condition his son Hunter described as debilitating. While these events dominate recent headlines, they stand alongside a legacy built on long-term service rather than fleeting viral moments.[edit]

Biden's father, Joseph R. Biden Sr., was a used-car salesman; his mother, Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Finnegan Biden, was a homemaker. He has three siblings: Valerie Biden Owens, James Biden, and Francis Biden. His first wife, Neilia Hunter, was a schoolteacher; they married in 1966 and had three children: Beau, Hunter, and Naomi. Neilia and one-year-old Naomi died in a car accident in December 1972. His son Beau, a Delaware attorney general and Army veteran, died of brain cancer in 2015. Biden married Jill Tracy Jacobs in 1977; she is an educator who earned a Ph.D. in education and taught full-time as a community college professor during her time as Second Lady and First Lady. They have one daughter, Ashley (born 1981), a social worker. The Bidens live in Wilmington, Delaware, and own a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach. He is a devout Roman Catholic. The Biden family also includes several grandchildren and a German Shepherd named Commander.[edit]

Barack Obama, his close friend and political partner, chose Biden as his running mate in 2008. Kamala Harris served as his vice president. His son Beau Biden's death profoundly affected him. Mitch McConnell was a longtime Senate colleague and frequent negotiating partner. Donald Trump was his predecessor and 2020 opponent.[edit]

Biden married Neilia Hunter on August 27, 1966. They met while he was on spring break in the Bahamas. Neilia was a schoolteacher, and they had three children: Beau, Hunter, and Naomi. On December 18, 1972, just weeks after Biden won his Senate seat, Neilia and one-year-old Naomi were killed in a car accident while Christmas shopping. Biden was sworn into the Senate from the hospital bed of his two sons, who survived the crash.

In 1975, a blind date set up by his brother introduced him to Jill Tracy Jacobs, a college student. They married on June 17, 1977. Jill earned a Ph.D. in education and continued teaching full-time as a community college professor throughout her time as Second Lady and First Lady. They have one daughter, Ashley, born in 1981. Jill also helped raise Beau and Hunter. As of 2026, Joe Biden is married to Jill Biden, and they reside in Delaware.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Joe Biden's net worth stands at $12 Million as of 2026. This sum accumulates from decades of earnings as a senator and vice president, supplemented by book advances, speaking fees, and pensions. His memoirs, including Promises to Keep (2007) and Promise Me, Dad (2017), generated significant revenue through advances and royalties. Following his vice presidency, he commanded speaking fees frequently exceeding $100,000 per appearance. The Bidens maintain a primary residence in Wilmington, Delaware, and a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. As a former senator and president, he receives a federal pension. Financial disclosures from his White House tenure revealed assets ranging between $1 million and $8 million, largely held in bank accounts, retirement funds, and a life insurance policy on Jill.[edit]

Biden has received numerous honors for his public service. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 2017 by President Obama. He also received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2005 and the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2023. He holds honorary degrees from over a dozen institutions, including the University of Delaware and Syracuse University.[edit]