Who Is Joe Arpaio? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Joe Arpaio, born on June 14, 1932, is an American former law enforcement officer and politician widely recognized for his controversial tenure as the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. As of 2025, he is 92 years old. Arpaio is often referred to as “America’s Toughest Sheriff” due to his strict enforcement policies, particularly regarding immigration issues and crime. His biography encompasses a tumultuous career filled with both staunch support and significant criticism.
| Occupation | Law Enforcement Officer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 14, 1932 |
| Age | 93 Years |
| Birth Place | Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Joe Arpaio's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specifics about Arpaio's height and weight aren't frequently highlighted, estimates suggest he stands around 6 feet (183 cm) tall and has maintained a weight of roughly 180 pounds (82 kg) throughout much of his later years. His appearance reflects a strong, commanding presence, which has served him well in his public life.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Joe Arpaio is married to Ava Arpaio, his longtime partner. The couple has been together for decades, and they share multiple children and grandchildren. Given Arpaio's public persona, he has kept his family life relatively private, though they often show support for his political aspirations and initiatives.
Arpaio's mother died while giving birth to him, and he was raised by his father, who ran an Italian grocery store. Arpaio completed high school and worked in his father's business until age 18 when he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1954 in the Medical Department and was stationed in France for part of the time as a military policeman.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Joe Arpaio's estimated net worth is around $500,000 to $1 million. His earnings stem from his career in law enforcement, his time spent as a politician, and various public speaking engagements post-retirement. While not among the wealthiest of politicians, Arpaio's financial stability continues, driven largely by his strategic investments in real estate.
The analysis showed that money from a restricted detention fund which could legally be used only to pay for jail items, such as food, detention officers' salaries, and equipment, was used to pay employees to patrol Maricopa County.
The analysis also showed that many sheriff's office employees, whose salaries were paid from the restricted detention fund, were working job assignments different from those recorded in their personnel records.
Arpaio's office kept a separate set of personnel books detailing actual work assignments, different from information kept in the county's official human resources records.
Career, Business, and Investments
Joe Arpaio began his law enforcement career in the 1950s and rose through the ranks to become an influential figure in Arizona’s law enforcement community. His term as Sheriff from 1993 to 2017 was marked by innovative, if contentious, policies, including the establishment of Tent City—a jail facility designed as a cost-effective alternative to traditional incarceration.
Post-retirement, Arpaio has engaged in various business ventures, focusing on public speaking, book publishing, and ongoing involvement in the political arena, maintaining a connection with his base and advocating for smaller government and immigration reform.
Over the course of his career, Arpaio was the subject of several federal civil rights lawsuits. In one case, he was a defendant in a decade-long suit in which a federal court issued an injunction barring him from conducting further "immigration round-ups".
A federal court subsequently found that after the order was issued, Arpaio's office continued to detain "persons for further investigation without reasonable suspicion that a crime has been or is being committed." In July 2017, he was convicted of criminal contempt of court, a crime for which he was pardoned by President Donald Trump on August 25,
2017.
In a separate racial-profiling case which concluded in 2013, Arpaio and his subordinates were found to have unfairly targeted Hispanics in conducting traffic stops.
Social Network
Joe Arpaio remains active on several social media platforms, utilizing them to connect with supporters and share his perspectives. Despite a polarizing reputation, his social media presence allows him to maintain a loyal following, where he discusses issues related to law enforcement, immigration, and political advocacy.
In 2013, National Geographic Channel featured Arpaio's jail in the Banged Up Abroad episode of "Raving Arizona". The episode told the story of the Ecstasy dealer Shaun Attwood who started the blog Jon's Jail Journal.
Education
Joe Arpaio holds a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His educational background laid the foundation for his future career in law enforcement, providing him with essential knowledge and skills that would shape his approaches to crime and public safety.
In 1995, Arpaio reinstituted chain gangs. In 1996, he expanded the chain gang concept by instituting female volunteer chain gangs. Female inmates worked seven hours a day (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.), six days a week. He also instituted the world's first all-juvenile volunteer chain gang; volunteers earned high school credit toward a diploma.
