Who Is Jimmy Hoffa? Age, Biography and Wiki
Jimmy Hoffa was born on February 14, 1913. As of 2025, he would have celebrated his 112th birthday. Hoffa is best known as a powerful figure in the American labor movement. He rose through the ranks to become the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, significantly influencing labor negotiations and union politics. However, his life took a tragic turn when he disappeared in 1975, and he was declared dead in absentia in 1982. His legacy remains a topic of interest and speculation, with numerous books and films dedicated to his life and mysterious fate. For more detailed information, you can refer to his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Presidents |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 14, 1913 |
| Age | 112 Years |
| Birth Place | Brazil, Indiana, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Brazil |
Popularity
Jimmy Hoffa's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific height and weight details for Hoffa are often not consistently documented in historical records, he was known to be an imposing figure with a robust physique characteristic of his hardworking background. His deep involvement in labor unions and influence in negotiations reflects his strong presence both physically and professionally.
Hoffa married Josephine Poszywak, an 18-year-old Detroit laundry worker of Polish heritage, in Bowling Green, Ohio, on September 25, 1936. The couple had met six months earlier during a non-unionized laundry workers' strike action; Hoffa described the meeting as feeling as though he had been "hit on the chest with a blackjack".
They had two children: a daughter, Barbara Ann Crancer, and a son, James P. Hoffa. The Hoffas paid $6,800 in 1939 for a modest home in northwestern Detroit. The family later owned a simple summer lakefront cottage in Orion Township, Michigan, north of Detroit.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Jimmy Hoffa was married to Josephine Hoffa for over 20 years, and together they had two children, Barbara and James. Their family life, however, was overshadowed by Hoffa's intense focus on his career and the underbelly of labor politics. There is no publicly confirmed information regarding any romantic relationships outside of his marriage, as Hoffa was known to be quite private about his personal life.
The doctor who delivered him thought Hoffa's mother had a tumor, not a baby, in her abdomen, so he was initially referred to as “The Tumor.” His father, who was of German descent from what is now referred to as the Pennsylvania Dutch, died in 1920 from lung disease when Hoffa was seven years old. His mother was of Irish ancestry.
The family moved to Detroit in 1924, where Hoffa was raised and lived for the rest of his life. He left school at the age of 14 and began working full-time manual labor jobs to help support his family.
Net Worth and Salary
At the height of his career, Jimmy Hoffa's net worth was estimated to be in the millions, significantly bolstered by his role in the Teamsters Union. One of the highest-paid labor leaders of his time, Hoffa’s financial dealings, including investments and contributions from union funds, remain a part of his complex legacy. However, following his disappearance, the exact figures and assets related to his estate have been obscured by time and investigation.
Career, Business and Investments
Hoffa began his career in labor organizing in the 1930s and quickly made a name for himself. Under his leadership, the Teamsters Union expanded significantly, gaining unprecedented negotiating power. His work on behalf of laborers brought about significant changes in worker rights and wage negotiations. However, Hoffa's career was also mired in controversy, including allegations of corruption and ties to organized crime.
Over the years, Hoffa's investments included various real estate ventures and associations with businesses that intersected with labor contracts. These dealings have been scrutinized for their legality and ethical implications, contributing to the myths surrounding his disappearance.
Hoffa began union organizational work at the grassroots level as a teenager through his job with a grocery chain, which paid substandard wages and offered poor working conditions with minimal job security. The workers were displeased with that situation and tried to organize a union to better their wages.
Although Hoffa was young, his courage and approachability in that role impressed fellow workers, and he rose to a leadership position. By 1932, after refusing to work for an abusive shift foreman, Hoffa left the grocery chain, partly because of his union activities.
He was then invited to become an organizer with Local 299 of the Teamsters in Detroit. Between 1933 and 1935, Hoffa organized by pulling up at the side of the road alongside sleeping truck drivers, waking them up, and giving them his sales pitch.
Social Network
During his lifetime, Jimmy Hoffa had a significant social network that included prominent figures in labor, politics, and organized crime. His assassination and mysterious disappearance have left fans and historians conjecturing the role of these connections. As Hoffa has been gone for decades, there are no current social media profiles or public communications. However, Hoffa's influence persists, and discussions about him continue across various social media platforms, often sparked by new films, documentaries, or books exploring his life and legacy.
In 1952, a petty criminal living in New York, Marvin Elkind, was assigned by gangster Anthony Salerno to work as Hoffa's chauffeur. In a 2008 interview, Elkind said of his four years working as a chauffeur: "Mr. Hoffa was a tremendously intimidating man.
This man had no fear at all, of nothing, showed very little emotion, had completely no sense of humour, and was dedicated to the people that belonged to his union. When you drive these people you learn a lot and I’ll tell you why. They don’t know you’re there.
You become a piece of the car, just like an extra gear shift or a brake, and they talk."
Education
Hoffa's formal education was limited; he was not a university graduate but became an adept negotiator and organizer through experience. His early involvement in labor organizing shaped his understanding of worker rights, which he turned into a lifetime commitment to labor activism. Many consider his real-world education and street smarts to be among his most significant attributes, enabling him to navigate the complex landscape of American labor relations effectively.
From an early age, Hoffa was a union activist: he became an important regional figure with the IBT by his mid-20s. By 1952, he was the national vice-president of the IBT and between 1957 and 1971, he served as its general president. Hoffa secured the first national agreement for teamsters' rates in 1964 with the National Master Freight Agreement.
He played a major role in the growth and the development of the union, which eventually became the largest by membership in the United States, with over 2.3 million members at its peak, during his terms as its leader.
