Angela Davis Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Explore Angela Davis net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday — an in-depth profile of the activist, academic and author’s life and legacy.
Angela Davis Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
Angela Davis is an American political activist, academic and author recognized for her pivotal work in civil rights, prison abolition and feminist theory.
Introduction
Angela Yvonne Davis (born January 26, 1944) has forged a career as a scholar-activist whose influence spans decades. Widely known for her contributions to Black feminism, the prison abolition movement and radical philosophy, she is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $800,000, according to publicly available sources. As for her relationships, she was married to photographer Hilton Braithwaite from 1980 to 1983, and later publicly identified as lesbian, living with her partner, academic Gina Dent. Davis celebrates her birthday on January 26 each year, and her age/birthdate remains a central fact in biographical accounts.
? Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Angela Yvonne Davis |
| Age/Birthdate | January 26, 1944 |
| Birthday | January 26 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Political activist, academic scholar, author |
| Estimated Net Worth | $800,000 (approximate) |
| Relationship Status | Formerly married to Hilton Braithwaite; later lives with partner Gina Dent |
| Known For | Civil-rights activism, prison abolition, feminist theory, authorship |
The Path from Birmingham to Global Resonance
Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama—an environment steeped in racial segregation and civil-rights turbulence—Angela Davis was born on January 26, 1944 in a city known for its “Dynamite Hill” bombings, where African-American families faced intimidation and violence. Her parents, Sallye and Frank Davis, were deeply involved in civic life and African-American community organizing—an early influence on her worldview.
She earned a scholarship to Brandeis University, where she studied French and philosophy under prominent thinkers, before continuing graduate studies in Europe and at the University of California, San Diego.
Her radical political formation intensified when she joined the Communist Party USA and worked alongside members of the Black Panther Party, advancing an intersectional and Marxist understanding of race, class and gender.
Defining moments in Angela Davis’s journey include:
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Being hired at UCLA in 1969 and subsequently dismissed for her Communist Party affiliation—an event that made national headlines.
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Her arrest, trial and acquittal in the early 1970s in connection with a courtroom incident—a pivotal moment in her public identity.
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The publication of influential works such as Women, Race and Class (1981) and Are Prisons Obsolete? (2003), which cemented her intellectual legacy.
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Co-founding the organization Critical Resistance, which advocates for prison abolition and critically shaped contemporary reform discourse.
What Drives Her Wealth: The Core Pillars of Her Income
The core pillars of Angela Davis’s wealth include:
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Academic appointments — decades of teaching and emerita status at institutions such as University of California, Santa Cruz and Rutgers University, providing a steady professional base.
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Book sales and royalties — as an author of multiple influential scholarly and popular works, royalties and speaking engagements add to her income.
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Lecture fees and public appearances — although not at the scale of mainstream celebrity endorsements, her activism and academic standing have allowed for engagements that contribute to her net worth.
Relationships & Family Life
Angela Davis’s personal life reflects both her private values and public activism.
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In 1980 she married Hilton Braithwaite, a photographer, in a marriage that ended in divorce in 1983.
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In a 1997 interview, she publicly identified as lesbian, and she and Gina Dent have lived together and collaborated intellectually and politically.
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Davis has described romantic relationships as something she prefers to keep low-profile, even while maintaining a visible partnership with Dent.
Key insights into Angela Davis’s relationships and personal life:
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Her first marriage coincided with a high-profile period of activism and public attention.
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Later life with Gina Dent reflects a partnership built on shared scholarship, activism and intellectual collaboration.
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Davis’s personal identity and relationships align with her public advocacy for queer rights and intersectional feminism.
Lifestyle, Assets & Interests
Beyond career success, Angela Davis leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:
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A modest material profile—despite her public stature, her net worth remains modest in comparison to many public figures, a fact she has down-played in interviews and profiles.
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Deep commitment to activism and philanthropy—she supports causes related to prison abolition, racial justice and gender equity, often foregoing commercial opportunities inconsistent with her values.
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Intellectual pursuits—writing, lecturing internationally, mentoring younger scholars and activists remain central to her interests.
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Personal hobbies—while less publicly documented, Davis has spoken of reading, music, and travel as part of her ongoing work and self-care.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
Estimating the net worth of an individual like Angela Davis involves piecing together academic income, royalties, speaking engagements and public information. According to multiple independent sources the estimated net worth is approximately $800,000.
| Category | Estimated Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures (academia, books) | ~$500,000 | Derived from analyses on public academic salaries and royalty income |
| Brand Deals & Partnerships | ~$150,000 | Low-to-moderate; she opts out of large commercial endorsements |
| Investments & Assets | ~$150,000 | Estimation based on modest lifestyle and reported net worth |
It is important to note that this breakdown is approximate. Some online sources speculate wildly higher figures, but these lack credible substantiation.
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
Angela Davis’s public image is one of resilience, radical thought leadership and uncompromising moral clarity. Scholars cite her as a pioneering figure in intersectional feminist theory, an early proponent of the term “prison-industrial complex,” and a symbol of global anti-racist activism.
Among students and activists, she is revered for bridging the academy and social movements—her lectures, writings and public appearances continue to inspire younger generations. At the same time, her past affiliations and activism have drawn controversy, particularly from critics who frame her Communist ties and prison-abolition stance as contentious.
Her legacy extends beyond personal biography: texts like Are Prisons Obsolete? remain widely cited, and her partnership with Gina Dent has contributed to contemporary feminist scholarship. The mention of her age/birthdate in profiles underscores the longevity of her impact.
Conclusion
In sum, Angela Yvonne Davis’s journey from Birmingham’s segregated streets to global platforms of intellectual activism is remarkable. With an estimated net worth of around $800,000, a birthday on January 26 and a personal life that includes a former marriage and a current partnership, her story encompasses both the personal and political. Her age/birthdate anchors the arc of a career that has challenged institutions, reshaped discourse on race and incarceration, and inspired countless others. The fact that her wealth remains relatively modest compared to many public figures only underlines her consistent commitment to purpose over profit. Her relationships, birthdate and professional legacy all contribute to a narrative of someone whose life has been lived in service of ideas, justice and community.
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