Who Is Rob Ford? Age, Biography and Wiki
Rob Ford, born on May 28, 1969, was a prominent Canadian politician known for his term as the Mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014. His tenure was marked by both significant political aspirations and personal controversies. Ford's life was a mosaic of passionate public service, public scrutiny, and a battle with health issues. Having passed away on March 22, 2016, Ford's legacy continues to influence Canadian politics. As of 2025, he would have been 56 years old.
| Occupation | Football Coach |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 28, 1969 |
| Age | 46 Years |
| Birth Place | Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | Canada |
| Date of death | 22 March, 2016 |
| Died Place | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Popularity
Rob Ford's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Rob Ford was known for his larger-than-life personality, which was often reflected in his physical presence. Although exact measurements can be hard to find, he was approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and had a weight reported to fluctuate around 300 pounds during his later years in office. His body stats became a topic of public and media discussions, reflecting the intersection of personal health and public life.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Rob Ford was married to Renee Ford in 1993, and the couple had four children together. Despite the challenges they faced during his public career, including substance abuse issues that became widely publicized, Renee stood by him throughout much of his life. Following Ford's death in 2016, she has maintained a level of privacy regarding their family. There are no reports of any significant relationships or boyfriends during his life after marriage, as his focus was primarily on his family and political career.
His paternal grandparents were English immigrants. His father, along with Ted Herriott, was co-founder of Deco Labels and Tags, which makes pressure-sensitive labels for plastic-wrapped grocery products at an estimated CA$100 million in annual sales, and was a Progressive Conservative member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) from 1995 to 1999.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Rob Ford's estimated net worth was approximately $1 million. His salary as the Mayor of Toronto was around $177,000 per year. However, much of his net worth stemmed from his family's business, Ford's company, a successful label printing business. It's important to note that Ford’s financial standings were often intertwined with his public image and controversies, particularly relating to his approach to public expenditure.
It was during the 2001 budget deliberations that Ford earned a reputation for passionate speeches. The City of Toronto was facing a several hundred million dollar budget shortfall, enough to require a 32% tax increase after the Government of Ontario shifted the delivery of services from itself to Toronto, who would have to then pay for them.
Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman was pleading with other governments for financial assistance. According to Don Wanagas, the National Post City Hall columnist, the other councillors began to dread when Ford rose to speak.
"I have to give my head a shake because some of the rhetoric that comes out of the mouths of some of these councillors boggles my mind, I swear.... Get the government out of our backyards. It's ridiculous. Government red tape here. Bureaucratic here. It's nonsense having all this government. And it's nonsense. It's so ridiculous.
If you don't like what the province is doing, there's going to be an election in June of '03 – before our election, by the way." Councillor Anne Johnston proposed giving Ford a "neo-con award of the day", while Councillor Joe Pantalone advised Ford to take Prozac.
Ford argued against spending money on the suicide prevention barrier on the Prince Edward Viaduct, and spending it instead on rounding up child molesters "who are the main cause of people jumping off bridges".
Career, Business and Investments
Rob Ford’s political career was a rollercoaster—from city councillor to the Mayor of Toronto. Initially elected to Toronto City Council in 2000, he quickly gained recognition for his outspoken views and commitment to reducing government spending. His scandalous tenure as mayor was punctuated by a series of controversies, including substance abuse allegations which led to significant political fallout. Ford also had a history in business with the Ford family’s label printing business, which contributed to his livelihood before and during his political career.
His political career, particularly his mayoralty, saw a number of personal and work-related controversies and legal proceedings. In 2013, he became embroiled in a substance abuse scandal, which was widely reported in national and foreign press.
Following his admission, Ford refused to resign, but the city council voted to hand over certain mayoral powers and office staff to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly for the remainder of Ford's term.
Social Network
Rob Ford was an active presence in social media, particularly during his mayoral campaign and term. His candid personality attracted a significant following on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Fans and critics alike engaged with his posts, showcasing both support and opposition. Ford's legacy on social media persists, with countless pages and discussions dedicated to his life and controversial moments, reflecting how the public continues to engage with his story even years after his passing.
In June 2006, Ford spoke out against the city donating $1.5 million to help prevent AIDS, arguing that most taxpayers should not be concerned with AIDS. Ford publicly apologized for the comments in May 2010 during his mayoral campaign after his opponent, George Smitherman, called Ford's character into question over the remarks.
At a council meeting on March 5, 2008, Ford stated "Those Oriental people work like dogs", a remark he later formally apologized for while stating that he meant it as a compliment.
Education
Rob Ford attended West Humber Collegiate Institute and later went on to Richview Collegiate Institute. His formal education ended after high school, as he pursued a career in business with the Ford family, rather than attending university. Despite this, Ford's assertive political style and knowledge of local issues earned him a place in the hearts of many Toronto residents, making him a memorable and calculated figure in Canadian politics.
On March 7, 2007, Ford spoke out against cyclists sharing roads with motorists, which were "built for buses, cars, and trucks, not for people on bikes". As councillor, Ford opposed the installation of bike lanes on University Avenue and Jarvis Street and during his election campaign, proposed spending money on off-road cycle paths.
Bike lanes were installed on Jarvis in 2010 over the objection of traffic advocates, and Ford made it a priority to get them removed during his campaign. As mayor, he was able to get council to reverse the decision in 2011, a move which was criticized by cycling advocates and led to protests.
The Jarvis bike lanes, which cost the city $86,000 to install in 2011, were removed in December 2012 at a cost of $200,000–$300,000. At the same time, physically separated bike lanes on Sherbourne Street were installed.
Toronto Cyclist Union president Andrea Garcia praised the Sherbourne lanes installation: "Cities all across North America that are doing way more innovative things for cyclists have been building separated bike lanes for a long time...
It's great to finally see Toronto catch up." However, she also regretted the loss of lanes on Jarvis: "People live and work and go to school on both of these streets and they all need a safe way to get to these places."
