Who is George Santos?
George Anthony Devolder Santos is a former U.S. Representative from New York’s 3rd congressional district. He gained national attention following revelations of extensive fabrications in his personal and professional background. Elected in 2022 as the first openly LGBTQ+ Republican to Congress, his tenure was short-lived due to multiple scandals involving fraud and deception, culminating in his expulsion from the House in December 2023. In April 2025, Santos was sentenced to over seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Early Life and Education
George Santos was born in Queens, New York, to Brazilian immigrant parents. His mother, Fatima Devolder, worked as a housekeeper, and his father, Gercino dos Santos Jr., was a house painter. Raised in a working-class family, Santos spent part of his childhood in Brazil.
Santos claimed to have attended Baruch College and New York University, majoring in finance and economics. However, investigations later revealed these educational claims were false—neither university has any record of his attendance. This revelation was part of a broader pattern of fabrications that eventually led to his political downfall.
Career
Early Career
Santos began his career in customer service and call centers before moving into the financial sector. He worked at Harbor City Capital, an investment firm later accused by the SEC of being a Ponzi scheme. He later claimed to have founded his own firm, the Devolder Organization, a company whose operations remain obscure and widely questioned.
Political Career
Santos first ran for Congress in 2020 but was defeated. In 2022, he ran again for New York’s 3rd congressional district and won. His election made headlines as he became the first openly gay non-incumbent Republican elected to Congress.
However, by late 2022 and early 2023, journalists and investigators uncovered numerous lies in his résumé, including false claims about his education, employment history, and Jewish ancestry. He was also accused of financial improprieties and eventually faced 23 federal criminal charges ranging from wire fraud to identity theft.
In December 2023, following a damning House Ethics Committee report, Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives—the first member to be expelled without a criminal conviction since the Civil War era.
🧾 George Santos: Career Overview Table
| Year | Position / Role | Details / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2008–2011 | Customer Service / Entry-Level Finance Roles | Began working in customer service and low-level positions in financial firms in Florida and New York. |
| 2011–2016 | Worked at various financial institutions | Claimed employment at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, though these claims were later found to be false. |
| 2016 | Founded “Friends of Pets United” | An animal charity that Santos claimed to have founded, though it was never registered as a nonprofit. |
| 2020 | Republican Candidate for U.S. House (NY-3) | Ran for Congress but lost to Democrat Thomas Suozzi. |
| 2022 | Elected U.S. Representative (NY-3) | Won the seat, becoming one of the first openly gay Republicans elected to Congress. |
| Jan 2023 | Sworn into U.S. Congress | Officially began term as a member of the 118th United States Congress. |
| May 2023 | Indicted on 13 federal charges | Charges included wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements. |
| Dec 2023 | Expelled from U.S. House of Representatives | Expelled following bipartisan vote due to ongoing legal and ethical scandals. |
| Oct 2024 | Pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges | Pleaded guilty to several criminal charges including identity theft and wire fraud. |
| Apr 2025 | Sentenced to 87 months in federal prison | Sentenced on April 25, 2025, and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture. |
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Personal Life
George Santos is openly gay, and he has spoken publicly about his identity, often framing it as a part of his political brand. He was previously married to a woman, which further added to controversies and questions about his personal narrative. As of 2025, Santos remains unmarried and is not publicly linked to any romantic partners.
Childhood
George Santos was born on July 22, 1988, in Queens, New York City, to Brazilian immigrant parents. He spent his early years between New York and Brazil, where he reportedly lived for a few years during childhood. Raised in a working-class household, his mother, Fatima Devolder, worked as a housekeeper, and his father, Gercino dos Santos Jr., was a house painter. Santos has spoken about his modest upbringing and often credited it as a source of resilience and ambition. Despite later embellishments of his biography, Santos’s early life was marked by economic hardship and cultural duality—growing up between American and Brazilian influences.
Love Story
George Santos is openly gay, and his personal life has been a topic of both public interest and controversy. Before coming out publicly, Santos was previously married to a woman, a fact that came to light after his election and surprised many of his supporters. The marriage ended in divorce in 2019. After that, Santos reportedly entered a relationship with a man, whom he mentioned in campaign interviews, though little is publicly known about the current status of that relationship. He has spoken about facing struggles with identity and acceptance, which shaped his personal journey. Despite the controversies, Santos has expressed pride in being one of the few openly gay Republicans to serve in Congress, marking his love life as a part of his broader political and personal narrative.
📋 Detailed Biography Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | George Anthony Devolder Santos |
| Date of Birth | July 22, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Jackson Heights, Queens, New York |
| Parents | Fátima Devolder (housekeeper), Gercino Antônio dos Santos Jr. (house painter) |
| Siblings | Tiffany Lee Devolder Santos (younger sister) |
| Height | Approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Congressional Term | January 2023 – December 2023 (Expelled) |
| Education | Claimed attendance at Baruch College and NYU (not verified) |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated between $1 million and $11 million (disputed) |
Family
Santos has described his family history as one of resilience and hard work. His mother, Fatima, passed away in 2016. He claimed she was a victim of the 9/11 attacks, though records show she was not in the U.S. at the time. He also alleged Jewish heritage on his mother’s side and said his grandparents were Holocaust survivors, but genealogical research and public records have refuted these claims.
His father, Gercino dos Santos Jr., has remained largely out of the public eye. The rest of his family has not been prominently featured in media reports, likely due to the legal controversies surrounding Santos.
📰 Latest News: Sentencing for Fraud
On April 25, 2025, former U.S. Representative George Santos was sentenced to 87 months (over seven years) in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentencing, delivered by Judge Joanna Seybert in the Eastern District of New York, also includes nearly $375,000 in restitution and over $205,000 in forfeiture. Santos admitted to misusing campaign funds for personal luxuries, including Botox treatments, designer goods, and subscriptions to adult content platforms. He also fraudulently collected unemployment benefits while employed. Despite expressing remorse during sentencing, the judge questioned his sincerity, citing his continued defiance on social media and lack of genuine accountability. Santos is scheduled to surrender to authorities by July 25, 2025.
📱 Social Media Accounts
| Platform | Handle | Link |
|---|---|---|
| @georgesantosny | instagram.com/georgesantosny | |
| @rep.georgesantos | instagram.com/rep.georgesantos | |
| X (Twitter) | @MrSantosNY | x.com/MrSantosNY |
| X (Twitter) | @RepSantosNY03 | x.com/RepSantosNY03 |
| Podcast | Pants On Fire Podcast | x.com/MrSantosNY |
📏 Height & Physical Appearance
George Santos stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. He has a medium build with dark brown hair and eyes. Throughout his public appearances, Santos has maintained a polished appearance, often seen in formal attire.
💰 Net Worth as of 2025
Santos’s financial disclosures have been inconsistent. In 2022, he claimed a net worth of up to $11 million, including assets like personal bank accounts and a condo in Rio de Janeiro. However, investigations revealed discrepancies, and it’s unclear how much of this wealth was legitimate. As of 2025, his actual net worth remains uncertain due to ongoing legal proceedings and asset forfeitures
FAQs
Q1: Who is George Santos?
A: George Santos is a former U.S. Representative from New York’s 3rd congressional district, known for his controversial career and legal troubles.
Q2: What is George Santos known for?
A: He gained national attention for fabricating much of his biography and was later expelled from Congress and convicted on fraud charges.
Q3: When was George Santos born?
A: He was born on July 22, 1988, in Queens, New York.
Q4: What is George Santos’s current status?
A: As of April 2025, he has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and related charges.
