JD Vance

Who Is JD Vance?

JD Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio since 2023, is the 2024 Republican vice-presidential nominee alongside presidential candidate Donald Trump. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Vance later graduated from Yale Law School in 2013, worked as a corporate lawyer, and became a venture capitalist. He is also the author of the bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which was adapted into a 2020 film starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close.

Early Life and Family

Born James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio, Vance grew up in a turbulent household. His parents, Beverly Vance and Donald Bowman, divorced when he was young, and his mother remarried. JD was later adopted by his stepfather, Bob Hamel, and his surname was changed to Hamel. However, as his mother struggled with substance abuse, Vance eventually went to live with his maternal grandparents, Bonnie and James Vance, whom he credits for providing him with stability. JD officially adopted their last name, becoming JD Vance.

In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance candidly discusses the challenges he faced growing up, including his mother’s addiction and the many step-siblings that came into and out of his life. His mother has since been sober for 10 years and was present for Vance’s 2024 speech at the Republican National Convention.

Education, Military Service, and Early Career

Vance graduated from Middletown High School in 2003 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Serving as a combat correspondent, he completed a tour in Iraq and was awarded both the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. After his military service, he attended Ohio State University, graduating with a degree in political science and philosophy in 2009, before moving on to Yale Law School.

At Yale, Vance found it challenging to fit in due to his background but formed a close circle of friends. After graduating in 2013, he began his legal career, briefly working as a clerk for U.S. District Judge David Bunning and at the law firm Sidley Austin LLP. However, Vance soon shifted to venture capitalism, joining Mithril Capital, a firm co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, and later co-founding Narya Capital in 2019.

Vance also founded the social welfare organization Our Ohio Renewal in 2016, aimed at addressing issues such as addiction and education in Ohio, though the organization ceased operations within two years.

JD Vance’s journey from a challenging childhood to a prominent figure in U.S. politics reflects both personal resilience and professional success across multiple fields.

Hillbilly Elegy: Book and Movie

In June 2016, J.D. Vance released his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, which recounts his challenging upbringing and reflects on the socio-economic decline in Appalachia. Vance wrote, “I didn’t write this book because I’ve accomplished something extraordinary. I wrote it because I’ve achieved something quite ordinary, which doesn’t happen to most kids who grow up like me.” Despite its success, the book faced criticism for its portrayal of Appalachia, with some arguing that Vance unfairly attributed the region’s poverty to laziness. By July 2024, the book had sold over 3 million copies, marking a significant milestone in Vance’s career.

The memoir’s popularity led to a film adaptation directed by Ron Howard, starring Amy Adams as Beverly Vance and Glenn Close as Mamaw Vance. Released in November 2020 on Netflix with a production cost of $45 million, the film received largely negative reviews. The Independent‘s Clarisse Loughrey called it “a sickeningly irresponsible parade of death and despair.” Despite the criticism, Glenn Close earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. With the announcement of Vance’s 2024 vice presidential run, both the book and the film experienced a resurgence in popularity, with the book selling over 650,000 copies in just 10 days, and the film attracting nearly 5 million views on Netflix within a week.

Political Career: Senator and VP Nomination

By 2018, J.D. Vance began contemplating a political career, considering a challenge for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Sherrod Brown. Although he ultimately decided against running at the time, it was clear Vance harbored political ambitions.

In 2021, Vance entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Rob Portman, securing the Republican nomination with just over 32% of the vote in the May 2022 primary. In the general election, while he underperformed relative to other Ohio Republicans, including Governor Mike DeWine, Vance still won comfortably, defeating Democratic candidate Tim Ryan by a six-point margin. He was sworn in as U.S. Senator for Ohio on January 3, 2023. Notably, Vance was the first Ohio senator since astronaut John Glenn in 1974 to hold office without prior political experience. “I hope that with this position, I can lend my voice to the millions of working- and middle-class Ohioans who have been left behind by decades of failed leadership,” Vance said at the time.

Since taking office, Vance has maintained an active role in Congress. As of July 2024, he has spoken on the Senate floor 45 times and sponsored 57 bills, although none have yet passed. He serves on three Senate committees: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and the Special Committee on Aging.

In July 2024, former President Donald Trump selected Vance as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2024 Republican ticket. Vance, once a vocal critic of Trump, had since aligned with him on various issues, including state-level abortion rights and trade tariffs. His acceptance of the vice-presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee marked a significant moment in his political ascent. However, polling suggested Vance became the first non-incumbent vice-presidential candidate since 1980 to have a net-negative favorability rating after the convention. His previous comments, including derogatory remarks about Democrats, generated additional controversy.

Wife and Family

While studying at Yale Law School, Vance met Usha Chilukuri, a fellow student raised by Indian immigrant parents. They married in 2014 and have three children: sons Ewan and Vivek, and a daughter, Mirabel. Usha has worked as a clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh and later became a trial lawyer at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. However, she stepped down from her position following Vance’s vice-presidential nomination.

Despite facing personal attacks from white supremacists over Usha’s Indian heritage, Vance has remained steadfast in his support for his wife. “She’s such a good mom. She’s such a brilliant lawyer, and I’m so proud of her,” Vance told Megyn Kelly in July 2024.

Net Worth

As of August 2024, Vance’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, while Forbes values his asset portfolio at up to $10 million. His financial disclosures indicate that he earned over $800,000 in royalties from Hillbilly Elegy between 2020 and 2021.