Last updated on June 3rd, 2025 at 08:06 am
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is not just a supportive partner but a trailblazer in his own right.
As the first-ever Second Gentleman and the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. Vice President, Emhoff’s life story is a blend of legal expertise, family devotion, and historic significance.
This article dives deep into his journey, his contributions, and the pivotal role he plays alongside Harris.
Kamala Harris Husband Name
Kamala Harris’s husband is Douglas Craig Emhoff, commonly known as Doug Emhoff. Born on October 13, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, Emhoff is an accomplished American lawyer and was the first Second Gentleman of the United States during Harris’s vice presidency from 2021 to 2025.
Emhoff and Harris met on a blind date in 2013 and married on August 22, 2014, in Santa Barbara, California, with Harris’s sister, Maya Harris, officiating the ceremony. This was Harris’s first marriage and Emhoff’s second. He has two children, Cole and Ella, from his previous marriage to film producer Kerstin Emhoff. Harris has embraced her role as a stepmother, with the children affectionately calling her “Momala”
Professionally, Emhoff has had a distinguished legal career. He co-founded a boutique law firm in 2000, which was acquired by Venable LLP in 2006. He later joined DLA Piper as a partner in 2017, working in both their Washington, D.C., and California offices. In 2020, he took a leave of absence from DLA Piper to support Harris’s vice-presidential campaign and subsequently left the firm to avoid potential conflicts of interest upon her election. During his tenure as Second Gentleman, Emhoff also served as a distinguished visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center, contributing to legal education initiatives .
After Harris’s term as Vice President concluded in January 2025, Emhoff returned to private practice, joining the international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as a partner. In this role, he advises clients on complex litigation, business crises, and sensitive investigations, leveraging his extensive experience in the legal field.
Emhoff’s role as the first Second Gentleman marked a significant moment in U.S. history, reflecting evolving norms around gender roles and political partnerships. His support for Harris and active engagement in public service have been widely recognized and appreciated.
Kamala Harris Husband Age
Douglas Craig Emhoff, born on October 13, 1964, is 60 years old as of June 2025. He is an American lawyer and the husband of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Emhoff made history as the first Second Gentleman of the United States, serving from 2021 to 2025 during Harris’s vice presidency. He is also the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. vice president.
Kamala Harris Husband Religion
Douglas Emhoff, the husband of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, is Jewish. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents, Emhoff was raised in New Jersey, where he had his bar mitzvah at Temple Shalom, a Reform synagogue in Aberdeen Township .
Emhoff has described how his marriage to Harris, a Baptist Christian, has deepened his connection to his Jewish faith. He noted that Harris attends High Holiday services with him, while he joins her for Easter celebrations, reflecting their interfaith family’s mutual respect and shared traditions .
As the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. vice president, Emhoff has been an active advocate against antisemitism. During his tenure as Second Gentleman, he led initiatives to combat antisemitism, including participating in the launch of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism in May 2023 .
What Does Kamala Harris Husband Do
As of June 2025, Douglas Emhoff, the husband of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, is a partner at the international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. He joined the firm in January 2025, shortly after concluding his tenure as Second Gentleman of the United States.
In his role, Emhoff advises corporations, boards of directors, and individuals on complex litigation, sensitive investigations, and business challenges with significant reputational concerns, often involving international scope. He splits his time between the firm’s offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Emhoff’s return to private practice marks a continuation of his longstanding legal career, leveraging his extensive experience to advise clients on high-stakes legal matters.
In April 2025, Willkie Farr & Gallagher reached a settlement with the Trump administration, agreeing to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services for causes such as aiding veterans and combating antisemitism. The agreement also included commitments to avoid certain diversity-related employment practices. This settlement led to public scrutiny and calls for Emhoff to resign from his position at the firm.
Despite the controversy, Emhoff continues to serve as a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, focusing on advising clients on complex legal and reputational challenges.
Kamala Harris Husband And Children
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, is married to Douglas Emhoff, a prominent attorney. Through this marriage, she became the stepmother to his two children, Cole and Ella Emhoff.
👨👩👧👦 Blended Family
Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff married in 2014. Emhoff had two children, Cole and Ella, from his previous marriage to film producer Kerstin Emhoff. Harris has embraced her role as their stepmother, with both children affectionately referring to her as “Momala” .
👦 Cole Emhoff
- Birth: September 15, 1994
- Education: Graduated from Colorado College in 2017 with a degree in psychology
- Career: Works in the entertainment industry, having held positions at William Morris Endeavor and Plan B Entertainment
- Personal Life: Married Greenley Littlejohn on October 14, 2023, in a ceremony officiated by Kamala Harris
👧 Ella Emhoff
- Birth: May 29, 1999
- Education: Graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2021, majoring in fine arts with a focus on apparel and textiles
- Career: An artist and fashion designer, Ella gained national attention during the 2021 presidential inauguration for her unique style. She has since signed with IMG Models and launched her own creative brand, Soft Hands.
Kamala Harris has spoken openly about her relationship with her stepchildren, emphasizing the importance of building trust and being a consistent presence in their lives. She has described Cole and Ella as “brilliant, talented, funny kids who have grown to be remarkable adults” .
The Emhoff-Harris family continues to exemplify a close-knit and supportive blended family dynamic.
Kamala Harris Husband Divorce
Douglas Emhoff, husband of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, was previously married to film producer Kerstin Emhoff. The couple married in 1992 and divorced in 2010. They have two children together, Cole and Ella.
In August 2024, Emhoff publicly acknowledged that he had an extramarital affair during his marriage to Kerstin. The affair involved a teacher at their children’s school in Culver City, California, and reportedly contributed to the dissolution of their marriage. Despite this, both Doug and Kerstin have maintained a supportive relationship, co-parenting their children and building a blended family that includes Kamala Harris.
Emhoff and Harris began dating in 2013 and married in 2014. Harris has embraced her role as stepmother, with both Cole and Ella referring to her affectionately as “Momala.”
As of June 2025, there is no public information indicating that Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff have divorced. While there have been rumors about potential marital issues, no official statements or confirmations have been made regarding their current marital status.
🏡 Early Life and Education
Doug Emhoff was born on October 13, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents, Michael and Barbara Emhoff. His family later moved to Matawan and Old Bridge Township in New Jersey before settling in Southern California when Doug was 17. He graduated from Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, before pursuing higher education at California State University, Northridge, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. He then went on to achieve a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 1990.
Emhoff’s upbringing in a middle-class Jewish household and his experiences growing up on both coasts of the United States contributed to his well-rounded perspective and deep-rooted values of justice and equality.
⚖️ A Remarkable Legal Career
Doug Emhoff’s legal career spans over 30 years, with a primary focus on media, entertainment, and intellectual property law. His journey began at Pillsbury Winthrop’s litigation group, followed by a stint at Belin Rawlings & Badal, a boutique law firm. In 2000, Emhoff co-founded his own firm, which was later acquired by Venable LLP in 2006. At Venable, he served as the managing director for the firm’s West Coast operations, representing high-profile clients such as Walmart, Merck, and Dolarian Capital.
In 2017, Emhoff joined DLA Piper as a partner, working across its Washington, D.C., and California offices. He was known for his strategic acumen and conflict resolution skills, earning around $1.2 million per year. However, after Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for Vice President, Emhoff stepped back from his role to fully support Harris’s campaign and avoid conflicts of interest.
💍 Love Story with Kamala Harris
Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris’s love story began in 2013 on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. Their chemistry was immediate, and they got engaged less than a year later. The couple married on August 22, 2014, in a modest ceremony at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The wedding beautifully merged their backgrounds with Indian and Jewish traditions, symbolizing their unity and cultural respect.
Harris’s bond with Emhoff’s children from his previous marriage is another testament to their strong family values. His two children, Cole and Ella, affectionately call her Momala, a term of endearment that reflects their close-knit family dynamics.
👨👩👧👦 Family Life and Strong Bonds
Emhoff’s first marriage was to film producer Kerstin Emhoff, with whom he shares two children. Their co-parenting journey is often highlighted as a model of mutual respect and family harmony. Despite the divorce, Kerstin and Doug have maintained a friendly relationship, which Kamala Harris has openly praised.
Kamala Harris’s stepmother role is a defining part of their family. She’s embraced it wholeheartedly, earning the love and respect of both Cole and Ella. Their family dynamic is often celebrated as a representation of modern American families.
Kamala Harris Husband Law Firm
Douglas Emhoff, husband of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, has had a distinguished legal career spanning over three decades. After serving as the nation’s first Second Gentleman from 2021 to 2025, Emhoff returned to private practice, joining the prominent law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as a partner in January 2025 .
🏛️ Career Highlights
- Early Career and Entrepreneurship: Emhoff began his legal journey in the early 1990s, focusing on litigation in the entertainment and media sectors. In 2000, he co-founded a boutique law firm, which was later acquired by Venable LLP in 2006, where he became the managing director of the firm’s West Coast offices .
- Tenure at DLA Piper: In 2017, Emhoff joined DLA Piper as a partner, working primarily in their Washington, D.C., and California offices. He took a leave of absence in 2020 during Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential campaign and subsequently left the firm to avoid potential conflicts of interest upon her election .
- Academic Role: During his time as Second Gentleman, Emhoff served as a distinguished visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center, contributing to the institution’s legal education initiatives .
⚖️ Return to Private Practice
Upon concluding his role as Second Gentleman, Emhoff joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, a prestigious international law firm headquartered in New York City. At Willkie, he advises clients on complex litigation, business crises, and sensitive investigations, leveraging his extensive experience in the legal field .
🌐 About Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Founded in 1888, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a leading international law firm with over 1,200 attorneys across 15 offices worldwide. The firm specializes in various practice areas, including corporate law, litigation, regulatory matters, and more .
Emhoff’s association with Willkie Farr & Gallagher marks a significant chapter in his legal career, as he continues to contribute his expertise to the firm’s diverse legal practices.
Kamala Harris Husband Job Now
As of June 2025, Douglas Emhoff, husband of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, is a partner at the international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. He joined the firm in January 2025, shortly after concluding his tenure as Second Gentleman of the United States. In his role, Emhoff advises corporations, boards of directors, and individuals on complex litigation, sensitive investigations, and business challenges with significant reputational concerns, often involving international scope. He splits his time between the firm’s offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Prior to his current position, Emhoff had an extensive legal career, including roles as managing director at Venable LLP’s West Coast offices and as a partner at DLA Piper. He also served as a distinguished visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center during his time as Second Gentleman.
In April 2025, Willkie Farr & Gallagher reached a settlement with the Trump administration, agreeing to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services for causes such as aiding veterans and combating antisemitism. The agreement also included commitments to avoid certain diversity-related employment practices. This settlement led to public scrutiny and calls for Emhoff to resign from his position at the firm.
Emhoff’s return to private practice marks a continuation of his longstanding legal career, leveraging his extensive experience to advise clients on high-stakes legal matters.
A Historic Role as Second Gentleman
When Kamala Harris was inaugurated as Vice President in January 2021, Doug Emhoff became the first Second Gentleman of the United States. He embraced his role with enthusiasm, focusing on issues like access to legal aid and combating antisemitism. He even led a White House roundtable on antisemitism and visited Auschwitz to honor Holocaust victims.
Emhoff also began teaching at Georgetown University Law Center, where he imparts his vast knowledge of entertainment law disputes. His role in public service, combined with his legal expertise, marks him as a unique figure in American politics.
kamala harris husband net worth
Douglas Craig Emhoff, born on October 13, 1964, is an American lawyer who gained national prominence as the first Second Gentleman of the United States during his wife Kamala Harris’s vice presidency from 2021 to 2025. His financial journey is marked by a successful legal career, strategic investments, and a notable increase in wealth following his marriage to Harris.
💼 Career and Earnings
Emhoff’s legal career began in the early 1990s, and he quickly established himself in the entertainment and intellectual property law sectors. He served as managing director at Venable LLP’s West Coast offices and later became a partner at DLA Piper. At DLA Piper, Emhoff earned approximately $1.2 million annually.
In August 2020, Emhoff took a leave of absence from his law firm to support Harris’s vice presidential campaign. He permanently left DLA Piper before the inauguration to avoid potential conflicts of interest. After Harris assumed office, Emhoff joined Georgetown University Law Center as a distinguished visiting professor.
In January 2025, following Harris’s departure from office, Emhoff joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as a partner, splitting his time between Los Angeles and New York .
🏠 Real Estate and Investments
Emhoff’s wealth is significantly bolstered by real estate investments. He and Harris own a home in Brentwood, California, valued at over $4 million . Additionally, they have investments in stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts, with total assets ranging between $3.6 million and $7.36 million, excluding real estate .
📚 Book Royalties
Emhoff’s financial portfolio includes royalties from books authored by Harris. In 2018, Harris received an advance of more than $300,000 for her memoir, “The Truths We Hold,” and her children’s book, “Superheroes Are Everywhere”
💰 Estimated Net Worth
As of 2024, Emhoff’s estimated net worth is approximately $8 million, primarily derived from his legal career, real estate investments, and book royalties.
🧾 Financial Disclosures
Emhoff’s financial disclosures reveal a conservative investment strategy, with holdings in index funds, retirement accounts, and cash. The couple’s assets are managed with a focus on long-term financial security .
Emhoff’s financial trajectory reflects a blend of legal expertise, strategic investments, and prudent financial management, contributing to his substantial net worth.
🌟 Breaking Gender Norms and Redefining Roles
Doug Emhoff’s position as the first male spouse of a Vice President challenges traditional gender norms in political partnerships. His visible support for Harris, his willingness to step back from his career, and his advocacy for social issues redefine what it means to be a political spouse in the 21st century.
He has stated his hope that his role would inspire others: “I’m the first man to take this role, but I definitely don’t want to be the last.” His actions set a precedent for more inclusive and supportive political partnerships.
Kamala Harris Husband Handshake
In January 2025, a notable incident involving Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of Senator Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) for her third term. As Vice President Harris extended her hand to congratulate Senator Fischer’s husband, Bruce Fischer, he declined the handshake, responding with a simple “thank you” and avoiding eye contact. Harris, attempting to lighten the moment, remarked, “I’m not going to bite, don’t worry,” but the handshake did not materialize.
Later, during a ceremonial tea at the White House, Doug Emhoff confronted Bruce Fischer about the earlier incident, reportedly saying, “Why would you try to shake my hand when you wouldn’t shake my wife’s hand?” This exchange highlighted Emhoff’s support for his wife and drew attention on social media.
📸 Humanizing Moments and Personal Life
Emhoff is known for his down-to-earth personality and relatable moments on social media. From baking challah to celebrating Jewish holidays with Harris, he often shares glimpses of their private life that resonate with many Americans.
His interactions with Harris are often light-hearted and genuine, reflecting a partnership built on mutual respect and joy. This public display of affection and unity makes him a standout figure among political spouses.
💡 Final Thoughts
Doug Emhoff is more than just Kamala Harris’s husband—he is a trailblazer, advocate, and symbol of modern partnership. His contributions as Second Gentleman, his commitment to public service, and his support for Harris redefine traditional expectations and inspire future generations.
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