Tulsi Gabbard continues to draw plenty of attention in American politics. Beyond her unique political career, many people became curious about her financial journey especially because she has shifted from Congress to media, military service and currently at her high-profile intelligence role. In this article, we will closely delve into how Tulsi Gabbard built her net worth, where her income comes from and address some of the rumors that have circulated about her finances.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Date of Birth | April 12, 1981 |
| Age | 43–44 (as of 2024–2025) |
| Birthplace / Childhood | Leloaloa, American Samoa; raised in Hawaii, with two years in the Philippines |
| Education | Homeschooled; BS in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University (2009) |
| Military Service | Army National Guard/Army Reserve (2003–present); Lt. Colonel; Iraq (2004–05), Kuwait (2008–09); Combat Medical Badge |
| Political Career | HI State House (2002–04), Honolulu City Council (2011–12), US Rep (2013–21), DNI since Feb 2025 |
| Party Affiliation | Democrat (2002–22) → Independent (2022–24) → Republican (2024–) |
| Spouse | Abraham Williams (m.2015; Vedic ceremony); previously married to Eduardo Tamayo (2002–06) |
| Parents | Mike Gabbard (father), Carol Porter Gabbard (mother) |
| Siblings | Four: Vrindavan, Jai, Narayan, Bhakti Gabbard |
| Religion / Ethnicity | Hindu (Vaishnava); Samoan and European ancestry |
Know how Tulsi Gabbard built her career
Born on April 12, 1981, in American Samoa, Tulsi Gabbard moved with her family to Hawaii while she was still very young. By the time she was 21, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002 marking the start of her public service career.
Politics was not the only field she focused on. After joining the Hawaii Army National Guard, Gabbard served in Iraq starting in 2004 and later spent time deployed in Kuwait. Today, she holds up the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve something that is fairly rare among the elected officials.
Gabbard first stepped onto the national stage in 2012 when she won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district. She went on to serve consecutive four terms from 2013 to 2021. While in Congress, she was not even afraid to go against her own party especially on the topics like foreign policy and military involvement.
The 2020 Democratic presidential primaries increased Gabbard’s public profile. Her strong opposition to U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and her support for diplomatic solutions drew significant attention making her one of the most searched candidates. While her positions attracted many supporters, they also faced criticism from some Democrats.
In 2022, Gabbard made the decision to officially leave the Democratic Party becoming an independent. As time went on, she began expressing more conservative viewpoints which has caught more attention from conservative media outlets. In 2025, her political career reached a new level when she was appointed as the Director of National Intelligence under Donald Trump’s second administration putting her back in the center of national headlines.
| Period | Position / Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2002–2004 | Hawaii State Representative | Elected at 21, youngest person in state legislature |
| 2003–2020 | Hawaii Army National Guard / Army Reserve | Deployed to Iraq (2004–05) & Kuwait (2008–09); rose to Lt. Col |
| 2007 | Officer Candidate School (Alabama) | First woman to graduate top of class |
| 2006–2009 | Legislative Aide, U.S. Senate | Worked under Senator Daniel Akaka |
| 2010–2012 | Honolulu City Council Member | Served in local government |
| 2013–2021 | U.S. Representative (Hawaii’s 2nd District) | First Hindu and first American-Samoan in Congress |
| 2013–2016 | Vice Chair, Democratic National Committee | Resigned to endorse Bernie Sanders |
| 2019–2020 | 2020 U.S. Presidential Candidate | First female combat veteran to run; withdrew Mar 2020 |
| 2021–present | Podcast Host & Media Contributor | “This is Tulsi Gabbard” + Fox News guest appearances |
| 2022 | Independent; joined Republican Party in 2024 | After leaving Democratic Party in Oct 2022 |
| Nov 2024 | Nominated DNI by President Trump | Confirmed Feb 2025 by Senate (52–48) |
| Feb 2025–present | Director of National Intelligence (DNI) | Oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies |
Trump commends Gabbard’s new role
As reported by the presidency.ucsb.edu, while introducing Gabbard as the new Director of National Intelligence, former President Donald Trump spoke highly of Gabbard’s experience and leadership skills. He said:
“I am pleased to announce that former Congresswoman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, will serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans. As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!”
This appointment helped Gabbard stand out even more on the national stage and showed that she can bridge political divides without compromising on her own values.
A detailed look at Tulsi Gabbard net worth
Some media sources have inflated the figures she earned but the verified reports from 2025 assessed Tulsi Gabbard net worth to be approximately $1 million far more modest than the headlines might suggest.
Her Income Streams
- Congressional pay: According to thestreet.com, Gabbard’s salary during her time in Congress was roughly $174,000 per year.
- Military Salary: Her military service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve continues to provide her with steady income.
- Media and speaking engagements: After leaving from Congress, she founded Tulsi Media LLC and TOA Studios LLC which generates income from podcasts, speaking engagements, consulting and media appearances. Investopedia reports that her media works had brought her approximately $411,000 in 2024 alone.
- Book Deal: Gabbard received an advance of nearly $300,000 in 2024 for her book “For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind”.
- Fox News Contributor: Her work as a Fox News contributor added roughly $200,000 to her income in 2024.
- Speaking Fees: Her speaking appearances in 2024 brought in an estimated amount of $170,000.
- Investments: Her investment portfolio features companies like Tesla, Rumble, Apple and Nvidia along with cryptocurrency holdings in Bitcoin and Ethereum. So, the total value of these investments is estimated at $200,000 to $400,000.
Additionally, her financial disclosure includes the following investment holdings:
| Organization | Industry | Minimum Value | Maximum Value |
| Mass Mutual Financial Group | $100,001 | $250,000 | |
| USAA Nasdaq 100 Index | Mutual Fund | $1,001 | $15,000 |
| USAA Emerging Markets Fund | Mutual Fund | $1,001 | $15,000 |
| Third Avenue Real Estate Fund | $1,001 | $15,000 | |
| iShares Dow Jones US ETF | Mutual Fund | $1,001 | $15,000 |
| USAA Precious Metals & Minerals Fund | Mining | $1 | $1,000 |
| USSA Money Market | Cash/Money Market/Savings/Checking | $1 | $1,000 |
| Gold & Precious Metals Fund | Mutual Fund | $1 | $1,000 |
The real story behind her property holdings
Over the years, some media outlets have reported that Gabbard owns multiple apartment complexes in Texas valued between $55 million and $125 million. However, the properties belong to an investment fund she is linked to but she does not directly own or manage them. As she does not directly own these assets and so they are not calculated as part of her personal wealth.
Her approach to ethics in government service
Upon taking on the role of Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard made the decision to sell off some of her investments to avoid any appearance of conflict. By doing so, she showcased her focus on meeting federal ethics standards as she returned once again to the public service.
The Truth about her financial status
Unlike many politicians who build large fortunes after leaving office, Tulsi Gabbard net worth remains fairly modest by Washington standards. Her estimated net worth of around $1 million comes from a mix of sources including her congressional salary, military pay, media projects, book sales, speaking engagements and personal investments.
Although some of the headlines may give the impression that she has earned much more but the verified numbers show a more balanced and realistic financial picture. Much of the public interest in her net worth comes from her continued presence in national politics with her unique political path and her current high-profile role.
Tulsi Gabbard On Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle / URL | Followers / Details |
|---|---|---|
| @tulsigabbard | 2 M followers, ~2,954 posts | |
| Twitter / X | @tulsigabbard | Official account for DNI and former Congresswoman |
| Tulsi Gabbard (verified) | 1.1 M+ likes, 28k+ talking about this | |
| TikTok | Not active or public presence | — |
Conclusion
As of 2025, Tulsi Gabbard net worth sits at roughly $1 million built through her diverse career across military service, politics, media, publishing, speaking and investing. At the end of the day, Gabbard’s wealth is not what draws the most attention but her unconventional political path, her military service and the ability to connect with people from both sides of the aisle. With her current role in national intelligence, the public interest in her story continues to grow.
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