Justin Trudeau Biography: Age, Net Worth, Spouse, Parents, Siblings, Children, Career, Books, Awards

Justin Pierre James Trudeau PC MP, is a Canadian politician who has been serving as the 23rd prime minister of Canada since 2015 and as the leader of the Liberal Party since 2013.

He has been involved in various roles such as chair for the youth charity Katimavik and director of the not-for-profit Canadian Avalanche Association. In 2006, he was appointed as chair of the Liberal Party’s Task Force on Youth Renewal.

Trudeau is known for several major government initiatives during his first term as prime minister, including the legalization of recreational marijuana through the Cannabis Act, attempts at Senate appointment reform, and the establishment of the federal carbon tax.

He is also notable for being the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history and the first to be the child of a previous prime minister.

Profile

• Full Name: Justin Pierre James Trudeau
• Date of Birth: December 25, 1971
• Age: 53 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Nationality: Canadian
• Profession: Politician
• Height: 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm)
• Parents: Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair
• Siblings: Alexandre Trudeau, Michel Trudeau
• Spouse: Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
• Children: Xavier James Trudeau, Ella-Grace, Hadrien Grégoire Trudeau
• Relationship Status: Married
• Net Worth: $10 million

Early Life and Education

Justin Pierre James Trudeau, now aged 53, was born on December 25, 1971, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau.

Growing up amidst the political spotlight, Trudeau spent his formative years primarily in Montreal, Quebec. Raised in a bilingual and culturally diverse environment, he embraced his heritage with pride.

He holds the distinction of being the second child in Canadian history to be born to a prime minister in office, with the first being John A. Macdonald’s daughter Margaret Mary Theodora Macdonald.

Trudeau has two younger brothers, Alexandre (Sacha) born on December 25, 1973, and Michel born on October 2, 1975 and passed away on November 13, 1998.

Trudeau’s ancestry is predominantly Scottish and French Canadian. His grandfathers were businessman Charles-Émile Trudeau and Scottish-born James Sinclair, who served as the minister of fisheries in the cabinet of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent.

Trudeau’s maternal great-grandfather, Thomas Bernard, immigrated to Penticton, British Columbia from Makassar, Indonesia at the age of 15 in 1906.

Through the Bernard family, Trudeau is also a descendant of Major-General William Farquhar, a key figure in the founding of modern Singapore, and has distant ethnic Malaccan and Nias ancestry.

Trudeau completed his undergraduate studies with a bachelor’s degree in literature from McGill University, followed by another bachelor’s degree in education from the University of British Columbia.

During his time at McGill, he encountered his future principal secretary, Gerald Butts, introduced to him by a mutual connection. This led to an invitation to join the McGill Debating Union.

Post-graduation, Trudeau ventured into the teaching profession in Vancouver, initially taking on roles as a substitute teacher before securing a position as a French and math educator at West Point Grey Academy.

He briefly explored engineering studies at École Polytechnique de Montréal and commenced a master’s program in environmental geography at McGill before redirecting his focus towards a career in public service.

Personal Life

Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire first met during their childhood in Montreal. Grégoire happened to be a classmate and childhood friend of Trudeau’s youngest brother, fostering an early connection between them. They rekindled their relationship as adults in 2003 and soon after embarked on a romantic journey.

After dating for several months, the couple got engaged in 2004 and exchanged vows in a wedding ceremony held in 2005, taking place in Montreal. Together, they are blessed with three children: Xavier, born in 2007, Ella-Grace, born in 2009, and Hadrien, born in 2014.

Following Trudeau’s ascent to the leadership of the Liberal Party in June 2013, the couple made significant changes in their living arrangements. They opted to sell their residence in Montreal and relocated to a rented home situated in Ottawa’s Rockcliffe Park.

However, their peaceful abode was disrupted in 2014 when an intruder trespassed into their home while Grégoire and the children were asleep, prompting Trudeau to seek enhanced home security measures from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Subsequently, after emerging victorious in the 2015 election, Trudeau decided to reside at Rideau Cottage, situated within the grounds of Rideau Hall.

On August 2, 2023, Trudeau publicly announced his separation from Grégoire. In a subsequent statement made on August 21, Trudeau emphasized his commitment to prioritizing his children and focusing on their collective future endeavors.

Career

Trudeau has been a supporter of the Liberal Party since he was young, initially backing party leader John Turner in the 1988 federal election. In the 2000s, following his father’s passing, he became more involved with the party, co-hosting events and chairing a task force on youth renewal.

He also expressed his opposition to Quebec nationalism and publicly supported leadership candidates Gerard Kennedy and Stéphane Dion. There were rumors of him running in a by-election in Outremont, but he ultimately announced his intention to seek the Liberal nomination in the nearby riding of Papineau for the next general election.

Trudeau and his Cabinet were officially sworn in by Governor General David Johnston on November 4, 2015. He emphasized his commitment to lowering taxes for middle-income Canadians and increasing taxes for the top one percent of income earners once parliament resumed on December 3, 2015.

Trudeau also pledged to improve relations with Indigenous peoples in Canada and ensure a transparent and ethical government.

Additionally, the Liberal party announced the reinstatement of the mandatory long-form census during their first caucus meeting after forming a majority government on November 5, 2015.

As prime minister, Trudeau initiated three significant independent investigations, including the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, the Joint Federal/Provincial Commission into the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks, and the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.

The latter was prompted by allegations of foreign interference in Canadian federal elections, particularly from the Chinese government, as well as other states hostile to Canada.

The MMIWG investigation concluded that Canada’s response to the issue amounts to genocide, a finding which Trudeau acknowledged. Trudeau faced criticism in November 2016 for his fundraising practices, which were perceived as “cash for access” schemes by opposition members.

He defended these tactics, stating that they did not violate any ethics rules, despite concerns about attendees paying high fees for access to him and other cabinet members, including foreign businessmen seeking government approval for their businesses.

Awards

• NoBEL Peace Prize (2022)
• Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (2017)
• Global Citizen Award for Leadership in the Fight Against Poverty (2018)

Net Worth

Justin Trudeau’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $10 million.

Social Media

• Instagram: @justinpjtrudeau
• Twitter: @JustinTrudeau

Books

• Common Ground
• The Munk Debates