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Meet Gavin Newsom, the multimillionaire governor who is the face of California's response to the coronavirus pandemic

Meet Gavin Newsom, the multimillionaire governor who is the face of California's response to the coronavirus pandemic

Taylor Borden

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a state of emergency in California on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Democrat Gavin Newsom is in his second year as California's governor. He previously served two terms as San Francisco's mayor and then two terms as California's lieutenant governor.
Newsom has been praised for his swift response to the coronavirus pandemic, similar to his New York counterpart, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Newsom warned of a second wave of COVID-19 on Wednesday, saying "I don't anticipate that normalcy that many of us wish for happening any time soon."
The governor is also a multimillionaire thanks to his ownership of PlumpJack Group, which operates wineries, restaurants, bars, and more.
Newsom was once married to Donald Trump Jr.'s current girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and is now married to an actress and filmmaker, Jennifer Siebel, with whom he has four children.
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As lieutenant governor, his main duty was to step in should the governor be temporarily absent from the office. In 2015, Newsom announced he would campaign to succeed Jerry Brown as the governor of California in 2018.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with his wife and family, wave after taking the oath office during his inauguration in January 2019. Rich Pedroncelli/AP Images

Source: Sacramento Bee, Politico, Ballotpedia

After serving two terms as San Francisco mayor, Newsom went on to become the lieutenant governor of California in 2010. He failed to land the gubernatorial nomination that same year.

Former President Bill Clinton and Gavin Newsom listen as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown speaks at a campaign event in 2010. Chris Carlson/AP Images

Source: New York Times

The coronavirus pandemic set the stage for yet another state of emergency in California, and in an April 22 press briefing, Newsom said: "I don't anticipate that normalcy that many of us wish for happening any time soon."

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks in front of the hospital ship USNS Mercy that arrived into the Port of Los Angeles on March 27. Carolyn Cole-Pool/Getty

Source: Business Insider

Newsom has also faced challenges like mass blackouts, for which he publicly faulted California's largest utilities provider, Pacific Gas & Electric, and earthquakes, which he responded to by issuing a state of emergency.

Newsom speaks at a press briefing in October 2019. Reuters

Source: Los Angeles Times

As governor, Newsom halted all death row executions, blocked the approval of fracking in the state, and pulled many National Guard troops from the US-Mexico border.

$As governor, Newsom halted all death row executions, blocked the approval of fracking in the state, and pulled many National Guard troops from the US-Mexico border.$

Newsom speaks at a press briefing in October 2019. Reuters

Source: Los Angeles Times

Both Newsom's supporters and critics have noted he had an erratic first year as governor, focused on too many causes, resulting in Newsom telling the Los Angeles Times: "If today's critique is we're swinging at a lot of pitches, absolutely, that is fair criticism."

Newsom speaks at a press briefing in June 2019. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: Los Angeles Times

Newsom earns a yearly salary of $201,680 as California's governor.

Newsom speaking at a press briefing in March 2020. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

At his inauguration in January 2019, he said: "We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people."

Gov. Gavin Newsom holds his son while giving his address at his inauguration on Jan. 7, 2019. Eric Risberg/AP Images

Source: Washington Post

Newsom ran for governor positioning himself as the antithesis to President Trump, pledging to support initiatives ranging from healthcare to affordable housing and public education.

Gavin Newsom and his son during his gubernatorial inauguration on Jan. 7, 2019. Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Source: Los Angeles Times, Washington Post

He married Jennifer Siebel, a filmmaker and actress, shortly after in 2008. They currently live just outside of Sacramento and have four children together.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Gov. Gavin Newsom at Sacramento City College on July 1, 2019. Rich Pedroncelli/AP Images

Source: People

In 2007, it surfaced that Newsom had an affair with his secretary, who was also the wife of his deputy chief of staff, in 2005. Following headlines, he publicly sought counseling for alcohol abuse. He was re-elected as mayor that year with 72% of the vote.

Gavin Newsom smiles at supporters at his re-election campaign headquarters in San Francisco in November 2007. Paul Sakuma/AP Images

Source: The New Yorker

Newsom was always known to champion liberal causes. As mayor, he prioritized affordable housing and gained national attention when he issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples in spite of state law at the time.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, center, waves to the crowds at the 34th annual Gay Pride Parade down Market Street in San Francisco, Sunday, June 27, 2004. Dino Vournas/AP Images

Source: Los Angeles Times

In 2004, Guilfoyle told The New Yorker: "If San Francisco were a woman, [Newsom] would have married her."

Gavin Newsom, takes the oath of office from his father Judge William Newsom, with wife Kimberly Guilfoyle, during his mayoral inauguration in January 2004. AP

Source: The New Yorker

Newsom was married to Kimberly Guilfoyle when he took public office in 2004. The pair married in 2001 and divorced in 2006. She went on to become a Fox News host and is currently in a relationship with Donald Trump Jr.

Newsom and Guilfoyle after voting in the mayoral election in 2003. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

A 2017 disclosure showed that Newsom had more than $6 million in investments and assets. There is also an additional $10 million-plus held by PlumpJack businesses, which now sit in a blind trust out of Newsom's control.

Newsom in a press conference in October 2019. Reuters

Source: Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Los Angeles Times

While he sold his stakes in San Francisco-based businesses after becoming mayor, he has always maintained his stakes in businesses based elsewhere. Today, that amounts to 23 businesses under the PlumpJack Group umbrella.

A PlumpJack Wine & Spirits store in 2018. Eric Risberg/AP Images

Source: Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker

By the early 2000s, Newsom was involved with 11 businesses including PlumpJack, and Getty was the main investor in 10 of them. Newsom owned 49% of the label when he became the mayor of San Francisco in 2003.

Gavin Newsom, left, celebrates with then-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle, center, after winning the election for Mayor of San Francisco in San Francisco in December 2003. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker

Getty, who has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, previously said he "thought of Newsom as a son," according to The New Yorker.

Gordon Getty at a winery-related event in 2013. Eric Risberg/AP Images

Source: Forbes, The New Yorker

After graduating, Newsom opened PlumpJack Wine & Spirits with his father's close friend, billionaire Gordon Getty, in 1992. They went on to open off-shoots, including bars, restaurants, and liquor stores under the umbrella company, PlumpJack Group.

Gavin Newsom, Gordon Getty, and Jerry Brown enjoy a glass of wine during a hospitality event at the PlumpJack Winery in Oakville, California in June, 2004. Eric Risberg/AP Images

Source: Forbes, The New Yorker

Newsom studied political science and played baseball on a partial scholarship at Santa Clara University.

Santa Clara University. Getty

Source: San Francisco Gate

His parents divorced when he was two-years-old. His father was a California judge and close counsel to the oil billionaire Gordon Getty.

Gavin Newsom, shakes hands with his father, a former Associated Justice of the California Court of Appeals, who swore his son into office as Lt. Governor in July 2011. Rich Pedroncelli/AP Images

Source: The New Yorker

The 52-year-old is a San Francisco native.

Gavin Newsom. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File

Source: The New Yorker

Newsom's swift response to the pandemic has been generally praised. Before the pandemic, his approval rating was 42%. Now, Newsom's approval rating is 83%, according to Morning Consult polls.

Gavin Newsom in 2014. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Source: FiveThirtyEight, Morning Consult

Additionally, he requested autopsies be performed on individuals who may have died due to the novel coronavirus as far back as December, following news that two individuals who died in February posthumously tested positive for COVID-19.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressing the coronavirus pandemic on April 14, 2020. Associated Press

Source: Mercury News

He is also planning a multi-state response to the pandemic along with Oregon and Washington, which entails a coordinated economic reopening effort.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Source: The Atlantic, Business Insider

Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, issued a state-wide stay-at-home order on March 19. He was the first US governor to do so.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a state of emergency in California on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Source: The Atlantic, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider

Meet Gavin Newsom, the multimillionaire governor who is the face of California's response to the coronavirus pandemic

Taylor Borden

As lieutenant governor, his main duty was to step in should the governor be temporarily absent from the office. In 2015, Newsom announced he would campaign to succeed Jerry Brown as the governor of California in 2018.

After serving two terms as San Francisco mayor, Newsom went on to become the lieutenant governor of California in 2010. He failed to land the gubernatorial nomination that same year.

The coronavirus pandemic set the stage for yet another state of emergency in California, and in an April 22 press briefing, Newsom said: "I don't anticipate that normalcy that many of us wish for happening any time soon."

Newsom has also faced challenges like mass blackouts, for which he publicly faulted California's largest utilities provider, Pacific Gas & Electric, and earthquakes, which he responded to by issuing a state of emergency.

As governor, Newsom halted all death row executions, blocked the approval of fracking in the state, and pulled many National Guard troops from the US-Mexico border.

Both Newsom's supporters and critics have noted he had an erratic first year as governor, focused on too many causes, resulting in Newsom telling the Los Angeles Times: "If today's critique is we're swinging at a lot of pitches, absolutely, that is fair criticism."

Newsom earns a yearly salary of $201,680 as California's governor.

At his inauguration in January 2019, he said: "We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people."

Newsom ran for governor positioning himself as the antithesis to President Trump, pledging to support initiatives ranging from healthcare to affordable housing and public education.

He married Jennifer Siebel, a filmmaker and actress, shortly after in 2008. They currently live just outside of Sacramento and have four children together.

In 2007, it surfaced that Newsom had an affair with his secretary, who was also the wife of his deputy chief of staff, in 2005. Following headlines, he publicly sought counseling for alcohol abuse. He was re-elected as mayor that year with 72% of the vote.

Newsom was always known to champion liberal causes. As mayor, he prioritized affordable housing and gained national attention when he issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples in spite of state law at the time.

In 2004, Guilfoyle told The New Yorker: "If San Francisco were a woman, [Newsom] would have married her."

Newsom was married to Kimberly Guilfoyle when he took public office in 2004. The pair married in 2001 and divorced in 2006. She went on to become a Fox News host and is currently in a relationship with Donald Trump Jr.

A 2017 disclosure showed that Newsom had more than $6 million in investments and assets. There is also an additional $10 million-plus held by PlumpJack businesses, which now sit in a blind trust out of Newsom's control.

While he sold his stakes in San Francisco-based businesses after becoming mayor, he has always maintained his stakes in businesses based elsewhere. Today, that amounts to 23 businesses under the PlumpJack Group umbrella.

By the early 2000s, Newsom was involved with 11 businesses including PlumpJack, and Getty was the main investor in 10 of them. Newsom owned 49% of the label when he became the mayor of San Francisco in 2003.

Getty, who has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, previously said he "thought of Newsom as a son," according to The New Yorker.

After graduating, Newsom opened PlumpJack Wine & Spirits with his father's close friend, billionaire Gordon Getty, in 1992. They went on to open off-shoots, including bars, restaurants, and liquor stores under the umbrella company, PlumpJack Group.

Newsom studied political science and played baseball on a partial scholarship at Santa Clara University.

His parents divorced when he was two-years-old. His father was a California judge and close counsel to the oil billionaire Gordon Getty.

The 52-year-old is a San Francisco native.

Newsom's swift response to the pandemic has been generally praised. Before the pandemic, his approval rating was 42%. Now, Newsom's approval rating is 83%, according to Morning Consult polls.

Additionally, he requested autopsies be performed on individuals who may have died due to the novel coronavirus as far back as December, following news that two individuals who died in February posthumously tested positive for COVID-19.

He is also planning a multi-state response to the pandemic along with Oregon and Washington, which entails a coordinated economic reopening effort.

Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, issued a state-wide stay-at-home order on March 19. He was the first US governor to do so.

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