Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a U.S. congresswoman from New York. Learn about her age, education, fiancé, political career, salary and estimated net worth.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an American politician and activist who represents New York’s 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Commonly known as AOC, she has become one of the most recognizable progressive politicians in the United States.
Born on October 13, 1989, Ocasio-Cortez entered Congress in January 2019 after defeating a powerful Democratic incumbent in a surprising primary victory. As of 2026, she remains a Democratic member of Congress and serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Quick Facts About Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez |
| Popular Name | AOC |
| Date of Birth | October 13, 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old |
| Birthplace | The Bronx, New York City, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Politician and activist |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Current Position | U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th District |
| Congressional Service | January 3, 2019 – present |
| Education | Boston University |
| Field of Study | Economics and International Relations |
| Relationship Status | Engaged |
| Fiancé | Riley Roberts |
| Congressional Salary | $174,000 per year |
| Latest Reliable Net Worth Estimate | About $125,000 |
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Early Life and Family
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx on October 13, 1989. Her mother, Blanca Ocasio-Cortez, was born and raised in Puerto Rico, while her father was a Bronx native who operated a small business.
Her family later moved north to Yorktown, New York, in search of stronger public-school opportunities for Alexandria and her younger brother. However, she continued visiting relatives in the Bronx throughout her childhood.
Her father died from cancer while she was in college. The financial difficulties that followed affected her family deeply and later influenced her views on economic security, housing and working-class issues.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Education
Ocasio-Cortez attended Yorktown High School before enrolling at Boston University. She studied economics and international relations and graduated in 2011.
While at university, she interned in the office of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. The experience exposed her to immigration and constituent-service issues before she began her own political career.
After graduation, Ocasio-Cortez worked in several roles, including community organizing. She also worked as a waitress and bartender while helping support her family.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Political Career
Ocasio-Cortez became more involved in electoral politics while volunteering for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign in the South Bronx. She later participated in activism connected with the Standing Rock pipeline protests.
In 2018, she challenged longtime Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley in the primary election for New York’s 14th Congressional District. Crowley had served in Congress for nearly two decades and held a senior position within the Democratic Party.
Ocasio-Cortez defeated Crowley in what became one of the biggest political upsets of the 2018 election cycle. She then won the general election and entered Congress on January 3, 2019.
At age 29, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress at that time. Her victory quickly transformed her from a little-known candidate into a nationally recognized political figure.
Ocasio-Cortez subsequently won reelection in 2020, 2022 and 2024. As of 2026, she continues to represent New York’s 14th Congressional District.
AOC’s Policies and Role in Congress
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is closely associated with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Her political agenda has focused on issues such as climate policy, health care, housing affordability, workers’ rights and economic inequality.
One of her best-known initiatives is the Green New Deal, a congressional resolution aimed at combining climate action with economic and employment policies.
During the 119th Congress, Ocasio-Cortez serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Her assignments include the Energy, Health, and Oversight and Investigations subcommittees.
In 2026, she remained active on issues involving health care costs, artificial intelligence infrastructure, housing, pharmaceutical policy and government ethics.
Her national profile has also fueled questions about her future in American politics. In August 2026, Ocasio-Cortez said she had not ruled out a future presidential campaign or a run for the U.S. Senate, although she had not announced either campaign.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Personal Life and Fiancé
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not married as of 2026. She is engaged to her longtime partner, Riley Roberts, whom she met while they were students at Boston University.
Roberts has worked in technology, web development and digital marketing. The couple generally keeps its relationship away from the political spotlight.
They became engaged in Puerto Rico in 2022. Despite frequent online searches referring to Roberts as AOC’s husband, publicly available information continues to describe the couple as engaged rather than married.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Net Worth and Earnings
There is no authoritative, precisely verified Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez net worth figure for 2026. Financial disclosures filed by members of Congress usually report assets and liabilities in ranges rather than exact values, making precise calculations difficult.
Forbes previously estimated Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth at approximately $125,000. That estimate was originally published in 2024 and subsequently updated in 2025, making it one of the more credible publicly available assessments of her personal wealth.
Claims circulating online that AOC is worth tens of millions of dollars have not been supported by her congressional financial disclosures.
Her primary known income comes from her work in Congress. As of 2026, the standard annual salary for a rank-and-file member of the U.S. House of Representatives is $174,000.
Why Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Became Famous
The Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez biography is unusual because of how rapidly she moved from community organizing and restaurant work into national politics.
Her 2018 primary victory attracted widespread attention because she defeated an established Democratic leader despite having far fewer financial and institutional resources.
Since joining Congress, AOC has built a large national following and become an influential voice in debates over climate change, health care, wages, housing and economic inequality.
Her strong support among many progressive voters and equally strong criticism from political opponents have kept her at the center of American political debate.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2026
At 36 years old, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez remains the U.S. representative for New York’s 14th Congressional District. She continues to play a prominent role within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
From her upbringing in New York to her unexpected congressional victory, the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez biography reflects a rapid rise in American politics. Her future political ambitions remain closely watched, but no presidential or Senate campaign has been formally announced as of August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, commonly called AOC, is an American politician representing New York’s 14th Congressional District. She has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2019.
Q2: How old is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is 36 years old as of August 2026. She was born on October 13, 1989, in the Bronx, New York City.
Q3: What is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth?
The latest reliable published estimate placed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth at approximately $125,000. There is no authoritative exact 2026 figure because congressional financial disclosures report many assets in ranges.
Q4: Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez married?
No. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is engaged to her longtime partner, Riley Roberts, but they are not publicly reported to be married as of 2026.
Q5: Where did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez go to college?
Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she studied economics and international relations. She graduated in 2011.
Q6: What district does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represent?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represents New York’s 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She has held the seat since January 2019.
Q7: What is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s salary?
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Ocasio-Cortez receives the standard congressional salary of $174,000 per year as of 2026. Her congressional salary is her primary publicly documented source of employment income.
