Donald J. Harris Net Worth: Donald J. Harris is a Jamaican-American economist and professor emeritus at Stanford University. He is known for applying post-Keynesian theories to development economics. He is also recognized as the father of Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, and Maya Harris, a lawyer and political commentator.
Born in 1938, Donald Harris is now 85 years old. He was born in Brown’s Town, St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, to parents Oscar Joseph Harris and Beryl Christie Harris.
Early Life and Education
Donald Jasper Harris grew up in a rural community in Jamaica. He was raised in the Orange Hill area of St. Ann Parish near Brown’s Town. His family was of Afro-Jamaican heritage, but his ancestry also includes European roots.
Harris’s paternal grandmother claimed they were descended from Hamilton Brown, an Irish-born founder of the local Anglican Church. On his maternal side, he descended from John Anderson, a Scottish plantation owner.
As a child, Harris was baptized, confirmed in the Anglican Church, and served as an acolyte. He attended Titchfield High School in Jamaica.
Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 from the University of London while studying at the University College of the West Indies. He then pursued higher education in the United States. In 1966, he earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral research focused on inflation, capital accumulation, and economic growth, supervised by economist Daniel McFadden.
Academic Career
Donald Harris began his academic career as an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1966. He later worked at Northwestern University from 1967 to 1968.
In 1968, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an associate professor. Four years later, in 1972, he became a professor of economics at Stanford University. At Stanford, he achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Black scholar to receive tenure in the Department of Economics.
Throughout his career, Harris held prestigious academic roles. He was a visiting fellow at Cambridge University and the Delhi School of Economics and a visiting professor at Yale University.
He served on the editorial boards of respected publications like the Journal of Economic Literature and Social and Economic Studies. He also directed The Consortium Graduate School of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies from 1986 to 1987.
Harris was awarded Fulbright scholarships to Brazil (1990-1991) and Mexico (1992). In 1998, he retired as a professor emeritus at Stanford University.
One of Harris’s significant contributions was his work on alternative approaches to economic analysis. He also taught a popular undergraduate course on the theory of capitalist development.
Research and Legacy
Harris’s research focused on economic growth, social equity, and policies to reduce inequality. He played a critical role in developing graduate-level studies in alternative economic theories.
Many of his doctoral students went on to have successful careers, including Steven Fazzari, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and Robert Blecker, a professor at American University in Washington, D.C.
Personal Life
In the fall of 1961, Donald Harris arrived at UC Berkeley on an Issa Scholarship, funded by Jamaican businessman Elias A. Issa.
In 1962, he attended a meeting of the Afro-American Association, a student group at Berkeley. There, he met Shyamala Gopalan, a graduate student in nutrition and endocrinology from India. They quickly formed a connection and married in July 1963.
Donald and Shyamala had two daughters:
- Kamala Harris, now the Vice President of the United States.
- Maya Harris, a lawyer and political commentator.
The couple divorced in 1971, when Kamala was around seven years old. Despite the separation, the children maintained a relationship with their father and visited his family in Jamaica.
Sometime before May 2015, Donald Harris became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Family and Descendants
Donald Harris has one grandchild, Meena Harris, a lawyer and author. Meena is the daughter of Maya Harris and has gained recognition for her work as an activist and entrepreneur.
Donald J. Harris Net Worth and Lifestyle
As of 2024, Donald J. Harris’s estimated net worth is around $3 million. Most of his wealth comes from his long academic career, consultancy roles, and published research.
Harris lives a quiet life and prefers to stay out of the public spotlight. Even though his daughter Kamala Harris is in one of the highest political offices, Donald focuses on intellectual pursuits and family connections.
Conclusion
Donald J. Harris has had an extraordinary life. From his humble beginnings in Jamaica to his groundbreaking achievements in academia, his journey is inspiring.
As a scholar and economist, he has made significant contributions to development economics. As a father, he has played a vital role in shaping the lives of two influential women, Kamala and Maya Harris.
Even in retirement, Donald Harris’s legacy continues to influence economics and public policy. His life serves as an example of dedication to education, equity, and social progress.
