Who Is Sonny Perdue? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on December 20, 1946, Sonny Perdue is an influential American politician known for his significant contributions to agriculture, trade, and rural development during his tenure as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021. As of 2025, Perdue is 78 years old and continues to impact American policy and politics.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 20, 1946 |
| Age | 78 Years |
| Birth Place | Perry, Georgia, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | Georgia |
Popularity
Sonny Perdue's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements of Sonny Perdue's height and weight are not publicly documented, he is generally recognized as having a robust physique, which reflects his active lifestyle. His presence and persona align with his background in agriculture and public service.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Sonny Perdue has been married to his wife, Mary Perdue, since 1972. The couple has three children and has maintained a close-knit family life despite their busy careers in politics. As of 2025, he is not publicly known to have any significant relationships outside of his marriage.
Perdue and his wife, Mary (née Ruff), were married in 1972 after dating for four years. They have four children (Leigh, Lara, Jim, and Dan), 14 grandchildren (six boys and eight girls), and have also been foster parents for many children. Perdue lives in Bonaire, Georgia.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Sonny Perdue’s net worth is estimated to be in the range of $10 million to $15 million. His wealth stems from a combination of his political career, business ventures, and investments in the agriculture sector. Although his exact salary is not publicly disclosed, it is known that his previous role in the government provided a substantial income.
Late in the evening of March 29, 2005, the penultimate day of the legislative session, Representative Larry O'Neal, who also worked part-time as Perdue's personal lawyer, introduced legislation making capital gains tax owed on Georgia land sales deferrable if the income goes to purchase out-of-state land, also, unusually, making the tax break retro
active.
Perdue signed the legislation into law on April 12, 2005, three days before tax day. Perdue then used the new law on his 2004 tax return to defer $100,000 in taxable gains from the sale of land.
Career, Business and Investments
Sonny Perdue has had a prominent career in politics and business. Before serving as Secretary of Agriculture, he was the Governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011. His initiatives as governor focused on education, economic development, and agricultural reforms. After his term in the federal government, he remained active in consulting and speaking engagements, further enhancing his business portfolio. In addition, Perdue is involved in various agricultural investments and has advocate for policies benefiting farmers and rural communities.
Founder and partner in an agricultural trading company, Perdue was elected governor of Georgia in 2002, defeating incumbent Roy Barnes and becoming the first Republican to hold the office since the Reconstruction era. He was reelected in 2006 with nearly 60% of the vote. He later served from 2012 to 2017 on the Governors' Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Social Network
Sonny Perdue is active on several social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook, where he shares insights on agricultural policies, family updates, and personal anecdotes. His online presence allows him to engage with both constituents and the general public, providing a platform for discussion on current agricultural issues.
In June 2021, a news story broke of financial dealings Perdue had after his nomination as Secretary of Agriculture but before his confirmation. On December 30, 2016, Perdue's company AGrowStar purchased property and a facility from Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), a large American agribusiness corporation that the Department of Agriculture regulates.
The property (in Estill, South Carolina) had originally been purchased by ADM for 5.5 million dollars, and independent assessments and government tax assessors agree on that as a fair range; however, AGrowStar was offered the property for US$250,000, a fraction of its value.
After the sale, the huge boiler on the property was sold for approximately $500,000, easily covering the cost of the purchase even if the rest of the land had been valueless. A low-ball estimate of the value of storage in the grain silos was US$3 million.
Critics argued that the deal should be investigated, and speculated that ADM, which spends millions of dollars on lobbying regardless, used the property sale as a bribe for favorable treatment.
Education
Sonny Perdue earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Georgia. He later earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the same institution. His educational background has significantly influenced his policy-making, especially in agricultural sectors.
Perdue played quarterback at Warner Robins High School and was a walk-on at the University of Georgia, where he was also a member of the Beta-Lambda chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Perdue was named Kappa Sigma Man of the Year in 2005.
