New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, earned a combined $144,784 in 2025 before taxes, according to newly released tax filings.
The returns, made public by the mayor’s office, offer a financial snapshot of the couple before Mamdani assumed office and began receiving the mayoral salary.
According to the filings, Mamdani accounted for most of the household income, earning $131,926 through his position as a New York state Assembly member. He also received roughly $1,600 in royalty payments tied to music released under his former hip-hop name, “Mr. Cardamom.”
The couple also reported about $1,600 in capital gains.
Duwaji, a visual artist and designer, earned significantly less.
Her business reportedly generated $10,010 before taxes and expenses. After deductions, including $500 for art supplies, her taxable income fell to $8,860.
That amount placed her below the 2025 federal poverty threshold for an individual.
Combined, the household income placed the couple above New York City’s area median income for a two-person household, which stood at $129,600 in 2025.
However, it remained below the $158,954 annual income that SmartAsset estimated an individual would need to live “comfortably” in New York City due to rising housing and living costs.
Since taking office, Mamdani’s financial situation has changed substantially.
As mayor, he now earns more than $258,000 annually and resides rent-free at Gracie Mansion.
The release of the returns also carries political significance.
There is no legal requirement for New York City elected officials to publicly release their tax filings.
Still, many high-level city leaders have voluntarily done so for transparency reasons.
Mamdani’s office released the filings one day after the federal and state tax deadlines.
The documents are likely to draw scrutiny because Mamdani has made affordability and wealth inequality central themes of his political agenda.
During his 2025 campaign, he argued that higher earners should contribute more through taxes and expanded support programs.
The filings also noted that the couple did not report charitable donations on their return.
A spokesperson for the mayor said donations were made but were not itemized because the couple used the standard deduction.
Critics are likely to seize on that detail, while supporters may argue the filings show Mamdani personally understands middle-class financial pressure in an expensive city, per Politico.
The numbers also reinforce one of the political narratives surrounding Mamdani: that he entered office as a relatively young politician without major personal wealth.
That stands in contrast to some city officials who came into public office with significant outside assets or high-earning spouses.
For now, the filings give voters a clearer look at the mayor’s finances before City Hall changed his circumstances.
They also provide fresh material for both supporters and opponents as debates over taxes, affordability, and class politics continue in New York City.
