Andrew Yang Then and Now

Andrew Yang Then

Andrew Yang, born on January 13, 1975, in Schenectady, New York, grew up in Westchester County, where his early life was shaped by a mix of intellectual curiosity and personal challenges. 

As a child of Taiwanese immigrants, he faced the struggles of being one of the few Asian students in his community, which led to frequent bullying. 

In addition to being one of the smallest in his class, his academic acceleration—he skipped a grade due to his intellectual abilities—further intensified his experiences with bullying. 

Nevertheless, Yang excelled in academics, showing a natural aptitude from an early age. 

At just 12 years old, he scored 1220 out of 1600 on the SAT, earning him a spot at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth, a prestigious summer program for gifted children that he attended for five consecutive summers.

Yang’s academic journey continued when his parents sent him to the elite Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, known for its rigorous academic environment. 

There, Yang’s skills extended beyond the classroom as he became part of the 1992 U.S. National Debate team, competing in the world championships in London. 

After graduating from Exeter in 1992, Yang attended Brown University, where he studied economics and political science. 

His time at Brown deepened his understanding of the complexities of society, politics, and the economy, which would later influence his career as a public figure and advocate for policies such as universal basic income. 

Following his undergraduate studies, Yang pursued a law degree at Columbia University, graduating in 1999, marking the beginning of his professional career in law, business, and eventually politics.

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Andrew Yang Business Career

After graduating from Columbia Law School, Andrew Yang initially pursued a career as a corporate attorney in Manhattan. 

However, he quickly found the work to be grueling and unfulfilling, prompting him to resign after only five months. 

In search of a more meaningful path, Yang ventured into the world of entrepreneurship, founding Stargiving in February 2000, a website aimed at raising funds for charitable causes through celebrity involvement. 

Unfortunately, Stargiving was short-lived, falling victim to the collapse of the dot-com bubble, a turbulent period that saw many internet-based companies fail.

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Yang’s entrepreneurial journey continued when he joined a healthcare startup as Vice President from 2002 to 2005. 

In 2005, Yang reconnected with Zeke Vanderhoek, a friend who had founded the test prep company Manhattan Prep. Yang joined the company and, by 2006, had become its CEO. 

Under his leadership, Manhattan Prep expanded significantly, growing from five locations to 69, primarily focusing on preparation for the GMAT exam, which is essential for MBA admissions. 

The company’s success led to its acquisition by Kaplan, Inc. in December 2009. Yang stepped down from his role at Manhattan Prep in early 2012, ready to focus on a new venture.

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In 2011, Yang founded Venture for America (VFA), a nonprofit organization with a mission to foster entrepreneurship in American cities that had been economically struggling. 

The program aimed to mobilize top college graduates and place them in startups in emerging cities, offering them two-year fellowships. 

Yang saw this as a way to create economic opportunities and jobs in places that were often overlooked by traditional corporate recruitment, which tended to focus on larger, wealthier cities. 

Starting with $200,000, VFA placed its first 40 fellows in 2012 in cities like Baltimore, Detroit, and Cleveland. 

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By 2017, the program had expanded to nearly 20 cities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Denver, and Nashville, helping to grow new businesses in these areas.

As VFA grew, so did Yang’s national profile. He stepped down as CEO of the organization in March 2017 to focus on his run for president, driven by his concern about job automation and economic inequality. 

Along the way, Yang wrote two books, “Smart People Should Build Things” and “The War on Normal People.” 

These works reflect his core belief in the need to encourage entrepreneurship and his advocacy for Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a solution to the rising challenges posed by job automation and economic instability in the U.S.

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Andrew Yang Political Career

In 2017, Andrew Yang announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. 

One of the key pillars of his campaign was his proposal for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) plan known as the Freedom Dividend. 

This policy would provide every American adult over the age of 18 with $1,000 a month, aimed at countering the economic disruption caused by the rapid rise of automation and job displacement. 

Yang argued that automation would continue to threaten traditional jobs in industries like manufacturing, retail, and transportation, which required bold and innovative solutions to ensure financial stability for the American workforce.

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Yang’s campaign gained widespread recognition for its innovative and heavily internet-based strategy, capitalizing on the power of social media platforms like Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to engage with a broad and diverse audience. 

His enthusiastic supporters, informally known as the “Yang Gang,” amplified his message and helped propel his campaign into the national spotlight. 

Due to his significant online following, Yang was dubbed “The Internet’s Favorite Candidate” by The New York Times. 

His campaign slogans, such as “Humanity First,” “Not Left, Not Right, Forward,” and “Make America Think Harder” (“MATH”), underscored his forward-thinking approach and resonated with voters who felt disillusioned by traditional political solutions.

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Yang’s platform attracted endorsements from several high-profile figures, including Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, actor Donald Glover, actress Teri Hatcher, actor and doctor Ken Jeong, and comedian Dave Chappelle. 

His unique policy proposals and personable style also drew campaign donations from influential supporters like Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, actors Nicolas Cage and Noah Centineo, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, and internet personality Ryan Higa. 

These endorsements reflected the wide-ranging appeal of Yang’s message, which resonated across industries and demographics.

As the 2020 election season progressed, Yang became a prominent voice in political discussions, particularly regarding the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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In an August 2020 interview with CNN, Yang criticized then-President Donald Trump for attempting to delay the election, calling it a diversion from Trump’s inadequate handling of the pandemic. 

Yang referenced the staggering statistic that 72% of Americans felt they were living through the worst period of their lives, a sentiment he believed would hurt Trump’s re-election chances. 

This emphasis on the economic and psychological impacts of the pandemic further reinforced Yang’s broader campaign message that systemic change was needed to address the challenges facing everyday Americans.

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Andrew Yang’s Wife and Children

Andrew Yang married Evelyn Lu in 2011, and together they have two sons, one of whom is autistic. 

Yang has been open about his experiences as a parent, particularly his family’s journey with autism, and he has often discussed the importance of supporting children with special needs and their families. 

This personal experience has influenced some of his views on healthcare and education policy.

Yang is also a spiritual individual, attending the Reformed Church of New Paltz. 

While he identifies as spiritual, he has noted that his spiritual journey is ongoing, reflecting his openness to personal growth and exploration of faith. 

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In an interview with The Hill, Yang revealed that his favorite U.S. president is Theodore Roosevelt, known for his progressive policies and bold leadership. 

Additionally, Yang shares a unique connection to the Roosevelt family, as he is the godfather of Theodore Roosevelt’s great-granddaughter, further emphasizing his admiration for the historic president. 

This connection highlights Yang’s ties to American history and his appreciation for leaders who have driven change and reform.

Andrew Yang Now

As of 2024, Andrew Yang is 49 years old and has emerged as a prominent figure in American politics, business, and media. 

After gaining national recognition during his 2020 presidential run as a Democratic candidate, Yang has since shifted his focus toward systemic political reform. 

In 2021, Yang made the significant decision to depart from the Democratic Party, announcing on October 4 that he was becoming an independent politician. 

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He cited increasing political polarization as the driving factor behind his decision, stating that he felt more comfortable working to fix a broken system from the outside rather than being confined within the existing partisan framework.

Later that same month, Yang founded the Forward Party, a centrist political party aimed at offering an alternative to the traditional two-party system in the U.S. The Forward Party seeks to unite Americans around pragmatic, solutions-oriented policies that transcend the often divisive rhetoric of both major parties. 

The party emphasizes the need for reforms in areas like election processes, ranked-choice voting, and open primaries, aiming to create a political environment that prioritizes the needs of the people over partisan interests.

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As co-chair of the Forward Party, Yang works alongside former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican, underscoring the party’s commitment to bridging the gap between ideological extremes. 

Yang’s vision for the Forward Party reflects his belief in the importance of finding common ground and working across the political spectrum to address the most pressing issues facing the country. 

Through this effort, Yang continues to advocate for innovative solutions, including universal basic income and economic reforms, while striving to reshape the political landscape by reducing polarization and fostering a more inclusive democracy.

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Andrew Yang’s Net Worth

Andrew Yang, an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, politician, and lawyer, has built a multifaceted career spanning business and politics, with a reported net worth of $600,000. 

Despite his modest net worth compared to other political figures, Yang has made a significant impact through his innovative ideas, such as Universal Basic Income, and his efforts to reshape the political landscape with initiatives like the Forward Party. 

His work reflects a commitment to public service and advocacy for systemic reforms, aimed at addressing the economic and social challenges facing the U.S.

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