Jill Biden is an American educator. She is best known for her role as the First Lady of the United States since 2021, as the spouse of President Joe Biden. She previously served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 during her husband's vice presidency. She has held the position of a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College since 2009. She is renowned for her philanthropic work, including founding the Biden Breast Health Initiative, co-founding the Book Buddies program, co-founding the Biden Foundation, actively participating in Delaware Boots on the Ground, and co-founding Joining Forces with Michelle Obama.
Jill Biden, an American educator, has served as the First Lady of the United States since 2021 alongside her husband, President Joe Biden. She previously held the role of Second Lady from 2009 to 2017 during her husband's vice presidency. She holds degrees in English, education, and a doctoral degree in education. Jill has a long career in teaching, including high schools and Delaware Technical & Community College.
Jill Biden was born on June 3, 1951, in Hammonton, New Jersey, USA. She holds American nationality and she belongs to a Mixed ethnicity as she has Italian and German ancestry on her father’s side and is of German, English, Scottish, French Huguenot, and Dutch descent on her mother’s side. She was born as the eldest daughter to her parents, Donald Carl Jacobs (1927–1999), who worked as a bank teller and a U.S. Navy signalman during World War II, later becoming the head of a savings and loan institution in Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill neighborhood, and Bonny Jean Jacobs (1930–2008), a homemaker. Raised in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, and later in Willow Grove, Jill spent her childhood with her four younger sisters: Jan, Bonny, Kelly, and Kim. She started working at the age of 15 as a waitress in Ocean City, New Jersey.
For her education, Jill attended Upper Moreland High School, excelling in English classes, and after graduating in 1969, she briefly studied fashion merchandising at Brandywine Junior College in Pennsylvania. She later earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware in 1975. In 1987, Jill obtained her second graduate degree, a Master of Arts in English from Villanova University, and in January 2007, at the age of 55, she achieved a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.
Jill Biden, a dedicated educator, pursued a Master of Education degree while teaching and later took a break to raise her children. She returned to teaching, working with emotionally disabled students, and obtaining a Master of Arts in English. She taught in public high schools for thirteen years and then became an Instructor in English at Delaware Technical & Community College from 1993 to 2008, focusing on instilling confidence in her students. She founded the Biden Breast Health Initiative and supported various charitable organizations. Jill earned her Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership and played a significant role in her husband Joe Biden's 2008 presidential campaign, balancing teaching with campaigning responsibilities, advocating for education, and connecting with the audience.
She served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 during her husband Joe Biden's first term as Vice President. While in this role, she continued her career as an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College, making her the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband was in office. She also initiated and supported various causes, including raising awareness about community colleges, military families, and humanitarian efforts. In her second term as second lady, she remained active in education and charity work. After leaving the White House, Jill Biden continued teaching, authored a memoir, and played a significant role in her husband's 2020 presidential campaign, ultimately becoming the First Lady of the United States when Joe Biden was elected President.
Biden then became First Lady of the United States in 2021, holding the unique distinction of previously serving as both Second Lady and First Lady non-consecutively. She continued to teach at NOVA, making her the first wife of a sitting U.S. president to hold a paying job outside the White House. Her advocacy focused on military families, education, and healthcare. She revived the Joining Forces program, worked on free community college tuition legislation, and actively promoted COVID-19 vaccination. Jill Biden also engaged in political activities, criticized policies, and made numerous foreign trips, including visits to the UK, Japan, Vatican City, Ukraine, Africa, and other nations. Despite some controversies and a decline in favorability ratings, she remained a prominent figure in American politics and diplomacy.
Jill Biden's literary contributions encompass a diverse range of works, from her 2006 doctoral dissertation, "Student Retention at the Community College: Meeting Students' Needs," to her 2012 children's book, "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops," illustrated by Raúl Colón. In 2019, she penned "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself," followed by the children's book "Joey: The Story of Joe Biden" in 2020, featuring illustrations by Amy June Bates. Beyond her books, she has authored insightful articles, including collaborative pieces such as "This is what our kids deserve" with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and "The service and sacrifice of our military caregiver kids deserves to be supported and recognized" with Elizabeth Dole, emphasizing her commitment to education, military families, and vital societal issues.
As of 2023, Jill Biden's estimated net worth stands at over $50 million, primarily fueled by her diverse income streams, which collectively exceed $10 million annually. Her earnings stem from her roles as an educator, professor, and as the First Lady of the United States. With a career that began in the 1970s, Jill has maintained her influence, even serving as the Second Lady of the United States starting in 2008 during her 30-year-long career. Her financial portfolio includes assets totaling $22 million, offset by liabilities and loans amounting to $13 million. She has substantial investments worth $14 million and generates an annual income of $10 million.
In June 2017, Jill and her husband, Joe, acquired a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, valued at $2.7 million, situated near Cape Henlopen State Park. They also leased a $4 million mansion in McLean, Virginia, with monthly payments of $20,000. By 2019, the couple reported a combined income of $15 million since leaving the vice presidency, which included $700,000 from Jill's speaking engagements.
She owns several luxury vehicles, including a BMW X6 valued at $85,000 and a Ferrari F8 costing $290,000. Her car collection also includes an Audi RS Q8, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Range Rover Evoque. Additionally, Jill Biden's assets encompass eight real estate properties, five cars, two luxury yachts, and cash reserves exceeding $15 million. She holds an investment portfolio of 10 stocks valued at $12 million, featuring prominent companies like Microsoft, FedEx, IBM, McDonald's, Visa, and Tesla. Her primary residence is an expansive 8,100 square-foot luxury home in Hammonton, New Jersey, purchased for an estimated $15 million, boasting eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms. She is leading a lavish lifestyle at present.
Jill Biden's marriage to her husband, Joe Biden, a prominent politician, began on June 17, 1977, at the Chapel at the United Nations in New York City, officiated by a Catholic priest. In 1975, Jill's life took a significant turn when she met Joe Biden on a blind date, arranged by Joe's brother Frank, who knew her from college. Despite their age difference, Jill was drawn to Joe's gentlemanly demeanor and formal appearance, leading to a deep connection that eventually resulted in their enduring and happy marriage.
Their marriage followed Joe's tragic loss of his first wife, Neilla Hunter, and their infant daughter in a car accident four and a half years earlier. Jill initially hesitated to marry Joe, as he had proposed multiple times, concerned about taking on the responsibility of raising his two surviving sons, Beau and Hunter. They eventually tied the knot and welcomed their daughter, Ashley, in 1981. Ashley now works as a social worker at the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families, and the Biden family continues to lead a contented life together.
Everything To Know About Joe Biden
Before her marriage to Joe, Jill was previously married to Bill Stevenson, a former college football player, in 1970, taking on the name Jill Stevenson. However, the marriage faced challenges, and they separated after nearly four years, finalizing their divorce in 1974.
Jill Biden, a slender and elegant woman standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 55 kg, possesses a fair complexion, complemented by her blonde hair and striking blue eyes. However, her health has faced challenges recently, as in August 2022, she tested positive for COVID-19. Subsequently, in January 2023, it was disclosed that she underwent the removal of two cancerous lesions, one above her right eye and another on her chest. Unfortunately, in September 2023, she tested positive for COVID-19 once again, emphasizing the ongoing health concerns she has had to navigate.
First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for Covid-19, with mild symptoms, while President Joe Biden tested negative. This has disrupted her plans to start teaching at Northern Virginia Community College and attend an event in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She will be monitored by the White House medical team and follow their advice for returning to the White House. Both President and First Lady have previously tested positive for Covid-19 last summer, and the White House maintains strict testing protocols for anyone meeting the President. This diagnosis comes amidst ongoing concerns about Covid-19, with a new variant, BA.2.86, raising alarm due to its high mutation rate.
Jill Biden's dedication to education spans decades, and she has a distinguished teaching career. Serving as a long-time professor at Northern Virginia Community College since 2009, where she imparts knowledge in English, she began her tenure just before President Barack Obama's first inauguration. Prior to that, Jill taught at various public schools in Delaware, including Delaware Technical Community College and Brandywine High School in Wilmington, where she delivered a notable speech during the 2020 DNC. Expressing her deep passion for teaching, she shared, "I have always loved the sounds of a classroom, the quiet that sparks with possibility just before students shuffle in, the murmur of ideas bouncing back and forth as we explore the world together." Her commitment to education culminated in earning a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware in 2007.
Jill Biden is recognized for her playful side and sense of humor. In celebration of April Fools' Day this year, she pulled off a memorable prank on a flight from California to Washington by disguising herself as a flight attendant, complete with a short black wig and a "Jasmine" name tag. She even surprised both the airline staff and the press on board by distributing ice cream bars, making it a legendary April Fools' stunt.
Jill Biden is an avid and dedicated marathon runner, embarking on her running journey in the early 1990s. Her dedication to the sport led her to participate in the 1998 Marine Corps Marathon, where she achieved her goal of completing the marathon with a remarkable finish time of 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 32 seconds, a significant accomplishment, particularly for someone not affiliated with the Marine Corps.
Jill Biden and Joe Biden's love story began when he unexpectedly called her in 1975, and their journey to marriage was marked by persistence and genuine connection. Joe proposed five times before Jill accepted, as she wanted to ensure his sons, Beau and Hunter Biden, were comfortable with the idea. They finally exchanged vows on June 17, 1977, at the United Nations Chapel in New York City, and later welcomed their daughter, Ashley Biden, in 1981. Prior to marrying Joe, Jill was previously married to Bill Stevenson, while Joe's first wife, Neilia Hunter, tragically passed away in a car accident in 1972 along with their daughter, Naomi Biden. Jill embraced and raised Joe's sons as her own, and their family bond was deep and loving.
Among her diverse pursuits, Jill Biden is an accomplished author of children's literature. Her book, "Joey: The Tale of Joe Biden," released in June 2020, eloquently chronicles Joe Biden's remarkable path from being the eldest among four siblings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to achieving the distinction of becoming one of the youngest U.S. state senators ever elected.