Mark Edward Kelly, known as Senator Mark Kelly, is an American politician, retired astronaut, and U.S. Navy captain. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the junior U.S. senator from Arizona since 2020. In 2022, he won reelection to a full term.
If you want to know more about him, such as his age, childhood, career, net worth, personal life, Senator Mark Kelly’s height, and others, then read this entire article.
| Birth Name | Mark Edward Kelly |
| Date of Birth | February 21, 1964 |
| Age | 60 years old ( As of 2024) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | politician, retired astronaut, and United States Navy captain. |
| Spouse | Amelia Babis (m. 1989; div. 2004), Gabby Giffords (m. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
Early Life & Education
Mark Kelly was born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey, and raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He and his identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, are sons of Richard and Patricia Kelly, two retired police officers. He is of Irish descent.
According to his educational background, The senator graduated from Mountain High School in 1982. In 1986, he graduated with highest honors from the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a BSc in marine engineering and nautical science.
He earned an MSc in aeronautical engineering in 1994 from the US Naval Postgraduate School.
Professional Career
Since 2020, Senator Mark Kelly has served as the junior U.S. senator from Arizona. In 2022, he won reelection to a full term.
After serving as a naval aviator in the Gulf War, Kelly was selected for NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 1996. His first space mission was STS-108 in 2001, then STS-121 in 2006, and STS-124 in 2008 before commanding STS-134 in 2011 (the final space mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour).
An assassination attempt was made on Kelly’s wife, then-Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords, in January 2011. Kelly retired from the Navy and NASA in October of that year.
As part of their fight to prevent gun violence, Kelly and Giffords founded American for Responsible Solutions (later merged into Giffords) in 2013, a nonprofit political action committee that advocated for universal background checks and other gun control measures.
Kelly announced his candidacy on February 12, 2019, in a special election to fill Arizona’s Class 3 U.S. Senate seat in 2020. In the general election on November 3, he defeated incumbent Republican Martha McSally, becoming the first Democrat to win this seat since 1962.
On December 2, Kelly was sworn in. After defeating Republican challenger Blake Masters in 2022, he was re-elected to a full term in office. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema will leave the Senate in January 2025, making Kelly the senior senator from Arizona.
In the 2024 presidential election, Kelly was reported to be one of three leading Democrats running for vice president. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined him. Kamala Harris chose Walz for the presidential nomination.
Personal Life
Mark Kelly tied the knot with Amelia Victoria Babis on January 7, 1989, but split up in 2004. The former couple have two daughters together, Claudia and Claire Kelly.
Afterward, he married Tucson US Representative Gabby Giffords on November 10, 2007, in a ceremony officiated by Rabbi Stephanie Aaron.
In 2003, the couple met in China while participating in a trade mission organized by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.
Net Worth
As of 2024, Mark Kelly is estimated to have a net worth between $8 and $34 million, according to AZ Central.
He also reported receiving up to $15,000 in income in 2022 from a media production company he manages with his twin brother, Scott, called Lightspeed Partners.
Based on the range of assets reported on disclosure forms in 2023, Kelly is the wealthiest member of Arizona’s 11-member congressional delegation.
