Vivek Ramaswamy | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Ramaswamy in 2024 | |
| Commissioner of the Department of Government Efficiency | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump (elect) |
| Succeeding | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy August 9, 1985 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Apoorva Tewari (m. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Occupation |
|
Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy (/vɪˈveɪk rɑːməˈswɑːmiː/;[1][2] vih-VAYK rah-mə-SWAH-mee; born August 9, 1985) is an American entrepreneur. He founded Roivant Sciences, a pharmaceutical company, in 2014. In February 2023, Ramaswamy declared his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination in the 2024 United States presidential election. He suspended his campaign in January 2024, after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Trump.[3] On November 12, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Ramaswamy and businessman Elon Musk had been tasked to lead the newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency.[4]
Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati to Indian immigrant parents. He graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in biology and later earned a degree from Yale Law School. Ramaswamy worked as an investment partner at a hedge fund before founding Roivant Sciences. He also co-founded an investment firm, Strive Asset Management.
Ramaswamy sees the United States in the middle of a national identity crisis precipitated by what he calls "new secular religions like COVID-ism, climate-ism, and gender ideology".[5] He is also a critic of environmental, social, and corporate governance initiatives (ESG).[6] In January 2024, Forbes estimated Ramaswamy's net worth at more than $960 million; his wealth comes from biotech and financial businesses.[7][8]
- ^ Huynh, Anjali (August 24, 2023). "However People Say It, Vivek Ramaswamy Is Happy to Be in the Conversation". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Wants a Second American Revolution Archived August 30, 2023, at the Wayback Machine" (Vivek Ramaswamy says his own name at 17m17s), Honestly with Bari Weiss, August 1, 2023.
- ^ Weisman, Jonathan (January 15, 2024). "Vivek Ramaswamy, Wealthy Political Novice Who Aligned With Trump, Quits Campaign". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ "Trump says Elon Musk will lead Department of Government Efficiency with Vivek Ramaswamy". NBC News. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ "'Woke, Inc.' author Vivek Ramaswamy enters White House race". AP News. February 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
Ramaswamy, 37, formally launched his longshot bid by decrying what he called a "national identity crisis" that he claims is driven by a left-wing ideology that has replaced "faith, patriotism and hard work" with "new secular religions like COVID-ism, climate-ism and gender ideology."
- ^ Gans, Jared (February 21, 2023). "Conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announces GOP presidential bid". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Hyatt, John. "How Vivek Ramaswamy Got Richer While Pumping Millions Into Failed Presidential Campaign". Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Toppan, Jamel (August 21, 2023). "How Vivek Ramaswamy Became A Billionaire". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.