Who Is Ariel Sharon? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ariel Sharon was born on February 26, 1928, in Kfar Malal, Israel. He served as Israel's Prime Minister from 2001 until 2006. Sharon was a prominent military leader and politician, known for his decisive actions and controversial policies throughout his career. His legacy includes significant events that shaped modern Israel, as well as complications during his tenure as Prime Minister, including the Second Intifada.
In 2025, Ariel Sharon would have been 97 years old (if he were alive), having become a historical figure whose impact on Israeli politics continues to be studied and debated. Sharon's life was dedicated not only to politics but to the security and identity of the state of Israel.
| Occupation | Prime Ministers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 26, 1928 |
| Age | 85 Years |
| Birth Place | Kfar Malal, Mandatory Palestine |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | Palestine |
| Date of death | 11 January, 2014 |
| Died Place | Ramat Gan, Israel |
Popularity
Ariel Sharon's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Height: Ariel Sharon stood approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall.
Weight: During his later years, he weighed around 220 lbs (100 kg).
Measurements: Specific body measurements are not readily available; however, he was known for his robust build and physical presence.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Ariel Sharon was married to Lily Sharon in 1953 until her passing in 2000. They had three children together: Ganor, Omri, and Gilad Sharon. After his wife’s death, he remained a widower until his health declined in the mid-2000s.
While actively involved in politics throughout his life, there have been no confirmed reports of Ariel Sharon having another romantic relationship following Lily's death. His focus remained primarily on his family and political career.
His parents met while at university in Tiflis (now Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia), where Sharon's father was studying agronomy and his mother was studying medicine. They immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1922 in the wake of the Russian Communist government's growing persecution of Jews in the region. In Palestine, Vera Scheinerman went by the name Dvora.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2014, Ariel Sharon's net worth was estimated to be around $5 million. His wealth stemmed from a successful political career, several agriculture ventures, and his family's investments. Although specific figures regarding his salary as Prime Minister are not publicly detailed, it was standard for a Prime Minister in Israel during his term.
Career, Business and Investments
Sharon’s career began in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), where he advanced through the ranks to become a major general. His military career included significant involvement in various conflicts, notably the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
He transitioned to politics, serving in numerous roles, including Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, before becoming Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, Sharon initiated the controversial Gaza withdrawal plan and faced challenges during the Second Intifada.
A year and a half later, on the direct orders of the Prime Minister, Sharon returned to active service in the rank of major, as the founder and commander of the new Unit 101, a special forces unit tasked with reprisal operations in response to Palestinian fedayeen attacks.
The first Israeli commando unit, Unit 101 specialized in offensive guerrilla warfare in enemy countries. The unit consisted of 50 men, mostly former paratroopers and Unit 30 personnel.
They were armed with non-standard weapons and tasked with carrying out special reprisals across the state's borders—mainly establishing small unit maneuvers, activation and insertion tactics. Training included engaging enemy forces across Israel's borders. Israeli historian Benny Morris describes Unit 101:
Social Network
Ariel Sharon was not known for engaging actively with social media during his life, as platforms like Facebook and Twitter became popular long after his political career began in the mid-20th century. However, the legacy of his decisions and policies continues to be a topic of discussion on various social media platforms today, where many users share opinions, analyses, and insights related to his long-lasting impact on Israel and the region.
Jordanian field marshal Habis Majali said that Sharon was among 6 Israeli soldiers captured by the Jordanian 4th battalion during the battle, and that Majali took them to a camp in Mafraq and the 6 were later traded back. Sharon denied the claims, but Majali was adamant. "Sharon is like a grizzly bear," he assured.
"I captured him for 9 days, I healed his wounds and released him due to his insignificance." A few fellow high-ranking Jordanian officers testified in favour of his account.
" In 1994 and during the peace treaty signing ceremony with Jordan, Sharon wanted to get in touch with his former captor, but the latter determinedly refused to discuss the incident publicly.
Education
Ariel Sharon attended several educational institutions in Israel. He graduated from the Mikve Israel Agricultural School and later studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His education in agriculture played a vital role in his later endeavors in farming.
In summary, Ariel Sharon's legacy as a military and political leader remains prominent in discussions about Israel's past, and his decisions continue to influence current events in the region. In 2025, his contributions to history are still recognized and debated among historians and political analysts.
Unit 101 undertook a series of raids against Jordan, which then held the West Bank. The raids also helped bolster Israeli morale and convince Arab states that the fledgling nation was capable of long-range military action.
Known for raids against Arab civilians and military targets, the unit is held responsible for the widely condemned Qibya massacre in October 1953. After a group of Palestinians used Qibya as a staging point for a fedayeen attack in Yehud that killed a Jewish woman and her two children in Israel, Unit 101 retaliated on the village.
By various accounts of the ensuing attack, 65 to 70 Palestinian civilians, half of them women and children, were killed when Sharon's troops dynamited 45 houses and a school.
