Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who has served since 2010. Before joining the Court, she was a leading legal scholar, White House advisor, and the first woman to serve as U.S. Solicitor General. Though often aligned with the Court’s liberal wing, she is widely regarded as a pragmatic and moderate voice.
| Elena Kagan Net Worth | $1.8 Million |
| Date of Birth | April 28, 1960 |
| Place of Birth | Manhattan, New York City |
Elena Kagan Net Worth and Salary
- Estimated net worth: approximately $1.8 million
- Recent disclosure range: $815,000 – $2.1 million
- Annual salary (Associate Justice): about $285,400
Her wealth comes primarily from academic positions, government service, book royalties, and investments.
Early Life
Elena Kagan was born April 28, 1960, in Manhattan, New York City, to Robert Kagan, an attorney, and Gloria Kagan, an educator.
She attended Hunter College High School, where she served as student government president. She later graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1981.
Kagan continued her studies at University of Oxford (Worcester College), earning a Master of Philosophy in politics, before obtaining her law degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1986.
Early Legal Career
After law school, Kagan clerked for Judge Abner J. Mikva and later for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
She then entered private practice before transitioning into academia:
- Professor at University of Chicago Law School
- Professor and later dean at Harvard Law School
As Harvard Law School dean (2003–2009), she modernized the curriculum and oversaw a record-breaking fundraising campaign.
Service in the Clinton Administration
Kagan served in senior policy roles under Bill Clinton, including:
- Associate White House Counsel
- Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
- Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Her work focused on policy development, budget issues, and campaign finance reform.
U.S. Solicitor General
In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Kagan as U.S. Solicitor General — the first woman to hold the role. She argued six cases before the Supreme Court and won four.
Appointment to the Supreme Court
Kagan was nominated in 2010 to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and was confirmed that August.
Her jurisprudence reflects careful legal reasoning and accessible writing. She has authored majority opinions and notable dissents and is known for referencing cultural examples — including Spider-Man — to clarify legal principles.
Observers often describe her as ideologically center-left, comparable in moderation to former justices Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer.
Personal Life
Kagan has never married. She is known for maintaining warm relationships with colleagues across ideological lines and has socialized with fellow justices including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.
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