J.D. Vance is the 50th Vice President of the United States, an author, and a politician who first gained national attention with his widely acclaimed 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. In July 2024, Donald Trump chose him as his vice-presidential running mate at the Republican National Convention. His rise in politics has also boosted his online presence, earning him over 2.7 million followers on his @jdvance Instagram account.
Before fame
Before stepping into the spotlight, Vance served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He later attended Ohio State University and went on to earn his law degree from Yale University.
Trivia
Vance has worn many hats over the years. He worked as a venture capitalist at Steve Case’s firm and later became an investment partner at Revolution LLC. His memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, was released in 2016 and went on to win the Audie Award for Nonfiction the following year. He is also known for his public opposition to the United States Respect for Marriage Act.
Family life
Born James David Vance, he is married to Usha Vance, whom he met while they were both in law school. Together, they have three children.