Kersti Kaljulaid Biography: Husband, Children, Net Worth, Age, Family, Education, Parents, Twitter, Height, Siblings, Awards

Kersti Kaljulaid is an Estonian stateswoman and economist who rose to international prominence as the first female President of Estonia, serving from 2016 to 2021.

She is widely known for her leadership in a nation defined by its digital-first identity and for becoming a globally recognized advocate for e-governance, cybersecurity, and technological innovation.

Her path to the presidency was unconventional, as she emerged as a consensus candidate after several inconclusive voting rounds, transitioning from a highly technical role at the European Court of Auditors to the highest office in her country.

Beyond her presidential tenure, she has remained highly visible internationally as a champion for the rights of women and children and as a frequent speaker on the future of digital societies and global security.

Profile

• Full Name: Kersti Kaljulaid
• Date of Birth: December 30, 1969
• Age: 56 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of Birth: Tartu, Estonia
• Nationality: Estonian
• Profession: Politician, Economist, President of the Estonian Olympic Committee
• Height: 1.75 m
• Parents: Heini Kaljulaid and Eva Kaljulaid
• Siblings: Raimond Kaljulaid
• Spouse: Georgi-Rene Maksimovski
• Children: Silja Märdla, Siim Talvik, Georg Maksimovski, Kaspar Maksimovski
• Relationship Status: Married
• Religion: Lutheran
• Ethnicity: Estonian
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Kersti Kaljulaid (56 years old) was born on December 30, 1969, in Tartu, Estonia, and spent her formative years in Tallinn with her parents, Heini and Eva Kaljulaid. She grew up in an academically oriented household, with her father working as an engineer and her mother as a medical doctor.

She also has a half-brother, Raimond Kaljulaid, who later pursued a career in Estonian politics.

During her school years, she participated actively in a student scientific association focused on ornithology, reflecting a strong early interest in research and science within the context of Soviet-era Estonia.

Kersti Kaljulaid attended Tallinn Secondary School No. 44 and graduated in 1987. She later enrolled at the University of Tartu, where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a specialization in genetics in 1992, graduating with honors.

While building her early professional career, she returned to the University of Tartu to expand her expertise and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in economics in 2001.

Personal Life

Kersti Kaljulaid has been married twice. She was first married to Taavi Talvik, and the marriage produced two children, a daughter, Silja Märdla, and a son, Siim Talvik, before ending in divorce.

In 2004, she began a relationship with Georgi-Rene Maksimovski, a communications engineer, and the couple married in 2011 in a private ceremony. Together, they have two sons, Georg Maksimovski and Kaspar Maksimovski.

During her presidency, Kersti Kaljulaid‘s husband became Estonia’s first “First Gentleman.” He maintained a deliberately low public profile, choosing to focus on family life while she carried out the responsibilities of head of state.

Career

Kersti Kaljulaid began her professional career in the private sector, holding management roles in telecommunications and banking, including positions at Eesti Telefon and Hansabank Markets. In 1999, she entered public service as an economic adviser to Prime Minister Mart Laar, marking her first major step into national governance.

Kersti Kaljulaid broke new ground in 2002 by becoming the first woman to lead a power plant in Estonia when she was appointed director of the Iru Power Plant. In 2004, she relocated to Luxembourg to serve as Estonia’s representative at the European Court of Auditors, a position she held for twelve years.

Her reputation as a technically skilled and politically independent official contributed to her emergence as a surprise consensus candidate in Estonia’s 2016 presidential election.

Kersti Kaljulaid was elected President of Estonia in 2016 after several failed voting rounds, receiving overwhelming support as a non-partisan compromise candidate. Following the end of her term in 2021, she remained active in international affairs, co-chairing technology and security commissions and serving as a United Nations Global Advocate.

In October 2024, she was elected President of the Estonian Olympic Committee for a four-year term.

Awards

• Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the National Coat of Arms (2016)
• Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Star (2016)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (2017)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2018)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon, Iceland (2018)
• Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st Class, Ukraine (2021)
• Global Goalkeeper Award by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2021)

Net Worth

Kersti Kaljulaid has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Her wealth has been accumulated through her long tenure as a senior European official, her presidential salary and representation allowances, and income from international speaking engagements.

Controversy

Kersti Kaljulaid‘s presidency was marked by a strained relationship with Estonia’s right-wing EKRE party. She openly criticized rhetoric she believed threatened Estonia’s democratic values and international reputation.

A notable incident occurred during the 2019 government swearing-in ceremony, when she wore a sweatshirt reading “Sõna on vaba” (“Speech is free”) as a symbolic protest against perceived threats to press freedom. Critics argued that such actions were overly political for a largely ceremonial office, while supporters viewed them as a principled defense of constitutional values.

Social Media

• Instagram: @kerstikaljulaid
• Twitter (X): @KerstiKaljulaid