Paul Ryan is a Republican U.S. Representative and politician best known for serving as Speaker of the House from 2015 to 2019.
Paul Davis Ryan was born on January 29, 1970, in Janesville, Wisconsin. His father, Paul Ryan Sr., was a lawyer, and his mother, Betty Ryan, was a homemaker. He has three siblings: one sister, Janet, and two brothers, Tobin and Stan.
Ryan graduated from Joseph A. Craig High School in his hometown. He then attended Miami University in Ohio, where he earned a double major in economics and political science in 1992. After college, Ryan briefly worked for his family's construction company in Wisconsin before beginning his political career.
Paul Ryan was elected as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District in 1998, beginning his term in 1999. He served his district for two decades, becoming a central figure in Republican fiscal policy.
Ryan chaired the House Budget Committee from 2011 to 2015, gaining recognition as a leading advocate for conservative fiscal reform. In early 2015, he became chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. His focus on tax policy and entitlement reform enhanced his reputation as a budget hawk within the party.
In the 2012 presidential election, Ryan was selected as the vice-presidential running mate for Republican nominee Mitt Romney. The ticket ultimately lost to incumbent President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
In October 2015, following Speaker John Boehner's resignation, Paul Ryan was elected as Speaker of the House. At 45, he became the youngest to hold the office in nearly 150 years. As Speaker, Ryan played a key role in advancing the Republican legislative agenda until his retirement in January 2019.
In 2019, Ryan drew renewed attention due to public criticism from then-President Donald Trump. Although Ryan had retired from Congress earlier that year, comments made in a forthcoming book reignited tensions between the two figures. Trump responded to Ryan's criticism with a series of pointed remarks, accusing the former Speaker of misunderstanding core elements of governance. The public exchange underscored lingering divisions within the Republican Party.
Paul Ryan married Janna Christine Ryan (née Little) on December 2, 2000, in Oklahoma City. Janna is a graduate of Wellesley College, where she earned her degree in Spanish, and later obtained a law degree from George Washington University Law School. Prior to marriage, she worked as a tax attorney and lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
Following their marriage, Janna Ryan left her professional career and moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, to raise their family. The couple has three children: a daughter, Elizabeth “Liza” Anne Ryan, and two sons, Charles Wilson Ryan and Samuel Lowery Ryan. Paul Ryan has stated that his decision to retire from Congress was largely influenced by his desire to spend more time with his family and to support his wife in raising their children.
During his time in office, Paul Ryan's estimated net worth ranged between several hundred thousand to a few million dollars, according to congressional financial disclosures. Much of his wealth is attributed to investments, earnings from his political career, and holdings shared with his wife. Ryan also joined the board of directors for Fox Corporation following his retirement, further diversifying his income sources.
| Birth Date: | 29 Jan, 1970 |
| Age: | 50 yrs |
| Occupations: | Politician Congressional staff Congressional staff |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Janesville |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American politician |
| Spouse: | Janna Little [M. 2000] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 7.8 million |
