Amanda Gorman is the voice of a generation — a poet, activist, and cultural icon who turned words into a global movement. Raised by a single mother in Los Angeles, she overcame an auditory processing disorder and childhood speech impediment to become America's first National Youth Poet Laureate. Her 2021 inaugural poem "The Hill We Climb" captivated over 33 million television viewers and catapulted her to literary superstardom overnight. She has since declined approximately $17 million in endorsement offers that did not align with her values, and appeared on the cover of Vogue as the first poet in the magazine's 126-year history.
Early Life and Education
Amanda Gorman was born on March 7, 1998, in Los Angeles, California. She was raised by her single mother, Joan Wicks — a 6th-grade English teacher in Watts — alongside her twin sister Gabrielle and one other sibling. Gorman grew up with an auditory processing disorder and a childhood speech impediment, challenges she channeled into a deep love of poetry. She famously used songs from Hamilton as speech therapy, describing her impediment as a gift that sharpened her literary voice.
Gorman attended New Roads private school in Santa Monica from K–12, receiving a Milken Family Foundation scholarship. She then studied Sociology at Harvard College, graduating cum laude as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 2020, and spent a semester studying abroad in Madrid in 2019.
Career and Rise to Fame
Gorman was selected as LA Youth Poet Laureate in 2014, founded the nonprofit One Pen One Page in 2016, and became the first U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate in April 2017. On January 20, 2021, she read "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's inauguration — becoming the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. Her books shot to #1 on Amazon and the NYT bestseller list before publication. She was signed by IMG Models, appeared on the cover of Time and Vogue, served as the first Estée Lauder Global Changemaker, and co-hosted the 2021 Met Gala alongside Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, and Naomi Osaka. She performed at Super Bowl LV, becoming the first poet to do so.
Books and Publications
Gorman's celebrated works include The Hill We Climb (2021, foreword by Oprah Winfrey), Call Us What We Carry (2021), Change Sings: A Children's Anthem (2021), and Something, Someday (2023). She received a Grammy nomination at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.
Net Worth
Amanda Gorman's estimated net worth in 2026 is $5 million, from bestselling book deals, the Estée Lauder contract, speaking fees, her IMG Models contract, and selected brand partnerships. She famously turned down ~$17 million in deals that did not reflect her values.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Amanda S. C. Gorman
- Date of Birth: March 7, 1998
- Age (2026): 28 years old
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Nationality: American
- Religion: Catholic
- Education: Harvard College – BA Sociology, cum laude (2020)
- Profession: Poet, Activist, Author, Model
- Net Worth (2026): ~$5 Million
