Who Is Leo Varadkar? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on January 18, 1979, Leo Varadkar is an Irish politician serving as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and again since 2022. His political career has made him one of the most recognizable figures in Irish politics. As of 2025, he is 46 years old. Varadkar's journey to leadership began with his election as a TD (Teachta Dála) in 2007, and he has since held multiple ministerial positions, including Minister for Health and Minister for Social Protection.
Learn more about Leo Varadkar on Wikipedia.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 18, 1979 |
| Age | 46 Years |
| Birth Place | Dublin, Ireland |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Ireland |
Popularity
Leo Varadkar's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Leo Varadkar stands at an impressive height of 6 feet (183 cm). While specific weight details fluctuate, he maintains a healthy physique, often attributed to his active lifestyle. His body measurements reflect his dedication to fitness, although exact figures may not be publicly available.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Leo Varadkar is openly gay and has been in a relationship with Matt Barrett since 2018. Their relationship has been well-received by the public, showcasing a more personal side to the political figure. They have often been spotted together at various public events, signifying a strong bond. Varadkar continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, fueled by his own experiences and pride in his identity.
Born in Dublin, Varadkar is multiracial, with a father from Mumbai, India, and a mother from Dungarvan, County Waterford. He studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and worked as a non-consultant hospital doctor and general practitioner.
A member of Fine Gael since his teenage years, he ran unsuccessfully in the 1999 local elections but was co-opted onto Fingal County Council in 2003. He was elected to the council in the 2004 local elections, attaining the highest number of first-preference votes of any candidate in the country.
First elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2007 general election, he was appointed to the cabinet of Taoiseach Enda Kenny following the 2011 general election, which saw Fine Gael return to government after 14 years in opposition.
He served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2011 to 2014, Minister for Health from 2014 to 2016, and Minister for Social Protection from 2016 to 2017. During the campaign for the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, he came out as gay, the first serving Irish minister to do so.
Net Worth and Salary
Leo Varadkar's estimated net worth in 2025 is around €2 million. His salary as Taoiseach is approximately €200,000 annually, not including additional income from his political journey and public engagements. Varadkar's financial savvy is evident in his investments and business dealings in the public sector.
In 2010, the Irish Examiner described Varadkar as "conservative" while that same year the Irish magazine Hot Press described his policy positions as "radical right", although in the same article, he described himself as "centre-right", which he defined as "to be somebody who is right of centre is somebody who has broadly liberal-conservative/Christ
ian-democrat ideals, and the basic principles of that is that before you can distribute wealth you have to create it.
So the first thing that you need to do is set up an environment in which wealth can be created, and then it's the role of the government to distribute it reasonably equitably." In 2017, the Guardian stated that "Varadkar's centre-right politics are clearly conservative".
In 2022, the political magazine the Phoenix suggested that in 2010 Varadkar was the ideological leader of a "hard-right" faction within Fine Gael who unsuccessfully sought to replace leader Enda Kenny with Richard Bruton, but over the course of the next decade Varadkar was brought further and further into the political centre.
Career, Business and Investments
Varadkar's career has been marked by significant milestones, particularly in health and social policy. His tenure as Taoiseach was highlighted by responses to major health crises and economic challenges. Beyond politics, he has shown keen interest in various business ventures, often advocating for social enterprises and sustainable practices. His leadership style combines modern governance with traditional values, significantly influencing Ireland’s political landscape.
Varadkar served as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to December 2022, when he exchanged positions with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to begin his second term as Taoiseach.
Citing personal and political reasons, he resigned as Fine Gael leader on 20 March 2024 and resigned as Taoiseach on 8 April; he was succeeded by Simon Harris. He subsequently announced that he would not contest the 2024 general election, saying that he wished to "explore new options and opportunities".
During the Spring 2025 semester, Varadkar served as a Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In April 2025, he took up an advisory position at the US public relations firm Penta Group, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Social Network
Leo Varadkar actively maintains a presence on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. His Twitter handle (@LeoVaradkar) boasts a substantial following, where he shares insights on policy, personal reflections, and engagements with the public. Varadkar's social media is also a platform for promoting Irish culture and political initiatives, reflecting transparency and connectivity in governance.
In May 2011, Varadkar suggested Ireland was "very unlikely" to resume borrowing in 2012 and might need a second bailout, causing jitters on international markets about Ireland's credibility. Many of his cabinet colleagues frowned on Varadkar's forthrightness, as did the European Central Bank.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny repeated the line of the Government of Ireland, that the State would not require a further bailout from the European Union or the International Monetary Fund, and said he had warned all ministers against publicly disparaging the economy. Varadkar said that reaction to the story was hyped up but that he was not misquoted.
The Evening Herald repeatedly described Varadkar as gaffe prone.
Education
Varadkar's educational background solidified his expertise and leadership. He attended the prestigious Trinity College Dublin, where he studied medicine. His educational journey provided him with a strong foundation for his subsequent political career, allowing him to address health and social issues intelligently and empathetically.
Varadkar was educated at the St Francis Xavier national school in Blanchardstown and then The King's Hospital, a Church of Ireland secondary school in Palmerstown. At the age of 16, he joined Young Fine Gael. He was admitted to Trinity College Dublin (TCD), where he briefly studied law before switching to its School of Medicine.
At TCD, he was active in the university's Young Fine Gael branch and served as vice-president of the Youth of the European People's Party, the youth wing of the European People's Party, of which Fine Gael is a member.
Varadkar was selected for the Washington-Ireland Program, a half-year personal and professional development program in Washington, D.C., for students from Ireland. While there, he interned for the US House of Representatives.
