Who is Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York, and how much does he earn?

A historic, landslide victory that has given New York its first Muslim, socialist, and millennial mayor. Zohran Mamdani is the new mayor (111th overall) of the most important and influential metropolis in the United States—and the entire West—at just 34 years old, with a voter turnout of over 50%. A momentous triumph, especially since it occurred in the city that gave birth to the current US President, Donald Trump, who is decidedly distant from Mamdani’s ways and thoughts, as he demonstrated during the election campaign.

And it was precisely with the challenge to Trump that his term began, as he himself declared to the crowd after his victory: "Donald Trump, I know you’re following, I have four words for you: ’turn up the volume’." Tipping the scales in favor of the Democratic Muslim candidate is the New York that matters: from Manhattan to the immigrant communities of the Bronx, all the way to the workers of Queens and that Brooklyn that reflects the changing metropolis.

There is an "America" that follows Trump’s line, conservative, nationalist, and capitalist; there is also an "America" that looks to progressive standards, with defined political paths and an opposition that, often, makes little headlines; and then there is a new, different "America," one that challenges and subverts taboos, that follows different trends that have almost nothing to do with the logic we are accustomed to. Zohran Mamdani fits this last identikit, and that is also why he became the new mayor of New York.

Born in 1991, with decidedly un-American cultural traits: Ugandan by birth, Indian by origins, the new mayor is the "nemesis" of Trumpism, which, with the support of Obama—another expert in firsts—is aiming for a radical transformation of the Big Apple.

But who really is Zohran Mamdani, the man Wired has dubbed the "internet mayor"? How much does the new mayor earn? Here’s what we know today about his biography, his young political career, and his net worth.

Who is Zohran Mamdani? The biography of New York’s first Muslim mayor

There are biographies that seem to have come straight out of a book, and that of Zohran Kwame Mamdani is one of them. Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, he is the son of two iconic figures in global culture: his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is one of Africa’s most renowned political scientists and a professor at Columbia University; his mother, Mira Nair, is an internationally celebrated film director, the creator of films such as Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake.

His childhood was a veritable journey. First in Africa, then in South Africa, and finally in New York, where the family settled when Zohran was just seven years old. It was in the city that he discovered the complexity of the urban world, the inequalities and stories of redemption that, years later, would become the living material of his politics. After attending the Bronx High School of Science, Mamdani earned a degree in African Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine in 2014.

His journey didn’t begin in elite political circles, but with a cutting-edge job: that of an eviction prevention consultant in Queens, where he assisted families at risk of losing their homes. Here, in contact with tenants struggling every month to pay the rent, Mamdani understood the meaning of politics in its most basic form: fighting for daily survival.

Ugandan by birth, Indian by descent, New Yorker by adoption, and American by choice—he only obtained citizenship in 2018—Mamdani embodies the living synthesis of a generation without borders. He’s a Muslim, a millennial, the son of two global intellectuals, yet rooted in New York’s harshest social reality.

It’s no surprise that his name has become synonymous with the "new urban left": the one that speaks the language of the internet, mixes Marxist quotes and memes, and transforms radicalism into pop narrative.

From Zero to Mayor of New York: Mamdani’s Political Rise

Zohran Mamdani’s political history is a climb that no analyst would have predicted just five years ago. Until 2020, he was little more than a local activist, primarily involved, as mentioned, in campaigns against evictions and in defense of Queens tenants. But that’s precisely where his popularity stems. That year, he ran for the New York State Assembly in District 36, a complex area that includes Astoria and Long Island City. With a door-to-door campaign and direct language, he managed to defeat Aravella Simotas, a member of the Democratic establishment, becoming one of the youngest faces in the chamber.

In the Assembly, Mamdani established himself as a radical voice on social justice issues. He was among the first to propose free buses and subways, to call for the conversion of vacant properties into public housing, and to advocate for a progressive tax on higher incomes to fund social services. His motto, "build public, not profit," went viral, as did his Instagram videos, filmed in the working-class neighborhoods of Queens and edited with a TikTok beat.

In fact, the turning point came only in 2025. After a campaign driven by the Democratic Socialists, Mamdani triumphed in the Democratic Party primaries. His victory, greeted enthusiastically among young voters, marks a paradigm shift in city politics: for the first time, an avowedly socialist candidate is leading the race for mayor of America’s most capitalist city.

The secret to his success is twofold. On the one hand, his acclaimed digital power: Mamdani has transformed social media into a true political platform, speaking the language of twenty-somethings without sounding like an outdated politician. Indeed, it’s a tool, a political propaganda weapon, more effective today than ever. On the other, his empathetic radicalism: he doesn’t just denounce injustices, but he also speaks about them in a calm voice and an almost teacher-like tone, using real stories from citizens. This is, perhaps, the most pop-culture aspect that appeals to the traditional left.

Of course, there are some dark sides. The more conservative press accuses him of inexperience and of having extreme "woke" positions; The New York Times, while acknowledging his political intelligence, called him "an idealist with no administrative experience." But the wave that supports him seems unstoppable. In post-pandemic New York, tired of compromises and broken promises, Mamdani represents a new kind of hope: a young outsider who speaks of equality, but with an awareness of the system he wants to change.

How much does Zohran Mamdani earn? The net worth of New York’s mayor

Behind the image of the idealistic politician lies the question many are asking: How much does Zohran Mamdani really earn? Unlike many of his colleagues in Congress or major metropolitan mayors, his numbers are surprisingly modest.

As a member of the New York State Assembly, Mamdani earned—until his election as mayor—an annual salary of approximately $142,000, the base salary for state representatives (source: Business Outstanders).

Added to this are small residual earnings tied to his artistic past: before entering politics, Mamdani produced hip-hop music under the pseudonym "Mr. Cardamom," and even today, as reported by the New York Post, he still receives small annual royalties of approximately $1,200.

His total net worth, according to some international sources, is estimated to be between $200,000 and $300,000. No Manhattan mansions or million-dollar accounts, but a modest financial profile, which reinforces his image as a "working-class politician."

Among his few declared assets is a four-acre plot of land in Uganda, valued between $150,000 and $250,000, a family legacy rather than an investment.

A curious fact, highlighted by the New York Post, is that Mamdani reportedly declared he had less than $2,000 in the bank. Whether it’s a symbolic gesture or genuine modesty, it matters little: the image that emerges is that of a man who lives not to accumulate but to embody, even financially, a political message.

Now that he’s been elected mayor, his salary by law rises to about $260,000 a year, the current salary for New York’s mayor.

This salary nearly doubles his salary as a member of the New York State Assembly.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi è e quanto guadagna Zohran Mamdani, il primo sindaco musulmano di New York