Who Is Kirsten Gillibrand's Husband? New Details On Jonathan Gillibrand
He's a venture capitalist.
getty Since 2009, Kirsten Gillibrand has served as a U.S. Senator from New York. But this isn’t her first rodeo in politics; she was a U.S. Representative for the state, and was elected to an empty seat, vacated by Hillary Clinton, by then-Governor David Patterson. She won a special election in 2010, and was re-elected in 2012 for a six-year term, eventually winning again in the 2018 midterm elections.
She was known by her colleagues as a centrist, or conservative Democrat, while serving in the House but her views have since moved in a more liberal direction. She’s a supporter of gun control, abolishing ICE, abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and having a public healthcare option. She’s also outspoken on issues like female equality, women’s rights, and sexual assault.
But what about her family? Do they share the same views as her? What is life like for the Gillibrands? And just who is Kirsten Gillibrand’s husband? Here are 8 things to know about Jonathan Gillibrand.
1. He’s from Britain.
Though he planned to only be in the U.S. for a year while studying at Columbia University, he stayed after striking up a relationship with his future wife.
2. He’s a venture capitalist.
He’s also worked as a financial consultant for his own firm, and worked for a real estate investment firm. In addition, he’s been a finance manager for GBS Holdings LLC.
According to an article in the Daily Gazette, “[Jonathan] made trades nearly every day from mid-January to mid-April, a month before their second child was born, and also conducted frequent transactions from late August through the end of November.”
3. They met on a blind date.
In an interview with New York Family Magazine in 2013, Gillibrand revealed that the couple met in New York City while Jonathan was getting his master’s degree. They were set up by friends and according to her, “We hit it off right away.”
4. They’ve been married for over 15 years.
The couple wed in 2001 in a Catholic church in Manhattan. And he’s extremely supportive of her.
“He’s always said, ‘As long as you’re making a difference, as long as you’re helping people, this is something we’re going to do. And the day that you’re not is the day we’re not going to do it!’” she said.
5. They have two children.
They are parents to two sons: Theo, born in 2003, and Henry, born in 2008. While pregnant with Henry, Kirsten worked up until the day she delivered! And according to the family, their two sons are quite different. Theo is introverted and enjoys computers and building things, while Henry is an extrovert and loves meeting new people.
“They’re both sensitive boys, very sensitive of other people, but very different in personality. Henry is much more like me and Theo is much more like Jonathan,” she said.
6. But they have very different parenting styles.
Kirsten described her and her husband as being “the yin and the yang.” She’s the encouraging parent who likes to do things with her kids, while her husband is more focused on the academic aspects.
According to her, “We balance each other well in letting our children develop as young people who will hopefully be strong adults with strong character and good integrity.”
7. They split their time between upstate New York and Washington, D.C.
The Gillibrands moved to Brunswick, NY in 2011, purchasing their home for $335,000. Their home is located near her high school.
Bethany Lesser, Gillibrand’s spokesperson, said, “The Senator just wanted to be closer to her family. The home is within minutes of her family.” It’s full of amenities too, with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a tennis court.
8. His family gave them a $500,000 gift.
In 2015, they received a $457,200 gift from his family, which wasn’t subject to federal tax income, and was “speculated as being part of estate planning by Jonathan’s family.”
Kirsten defended the large sum, saying, “It’s just information. I think it’s good, I think you should report your taxes. I think transparency and accountability (are) helpful to the democratic process.”
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.