Who Is Tom Cotton? Age, Biography and Wiki
Tom Cotton, born on May 13, 1977, is an influential American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Arkansas since 2015. With a military background and a Harvard Law School education, Cotton has been a prominent figure in the Republican Party, advocating for conservative policies and national security. As of 2025, he is 47 years old.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 13, 1977 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Dardanelle, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Tom Cotton's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Tom Cotton stands tall at approximately 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) and weighs around 200 pounds (91 kg). His athletic build, cultivated during his time in the U.S. Army, gives him a notable presence both in person and on the political stage. Specific measurements, including his chest and waist size, are not publicly available, but his overall physique reflects his disciplined lifestyle.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Tom Cotton is married to Anna Pettus Cotton. The couple has two children together, emphasizing their commitment to family values in their public life. While Cotton is known for maintaining a degree of privacy regarding his personal life, he does share glimpses of his family in various media appearances and social networks.
His father, Thomas Leonard "Len" Cotton, was a district supervisor in the Arkansas Department of Health, and his mother, Avis ( Bryant) Cotton, was a schoolteacher who later became principal of their district's middle school. Cotton's family had lived in rural Arkansas for seven generations, and he grew up on his family's cattle farm.
He attended Dardanelle High School, where he played on the local and regional basketball teams; standing 6ft 5in tall, he was usually required to play center.
Net Worth and Salary
Tom Cotton's net worth is estimated to be around $2 million as of 2025. His salary as a U.S. senator is approximately $174,000 per year, alongside income from investments, speaking engagements, and book deals. With a solid background in law and business, Cotton has made wise financial decisions that contribute to his overall wealth.
As a freshman, Cotton became a vocal opponent of the Obama administration's foreign and domestic policies. He voted for an act to eliminate the 2013 statutory pay adjustment for federal employees, which prevented a 0.5% pay increase for all federal workers from taking effect in February 2013.
Cotton voted against the 2013 Farm Bill over concerns about waste and fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, voting later that month to strip funding from that program. He also voted against the revised measure, the Agricultural Act of 2014, which expanded crop insurance and a price floor for rice farmers.
Career, Business and Investments
Tom Cotton began his political career after serving in the U.S. Army, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following his military service, he entered politics, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives before his election to the Senate. His career has been marked by a focus on national security, veterans' affairs, and economic reforms. Additionally, Cotton has made strategic investments in various sectors, ensuring a diversified portfolio that supports his financial independence.
In an article on the controversy, Business Insider wrote, "[w]hile the distinction [between being a "Ranger" and attending Ranger School] is rarely brought up outside of military circles, it has been fiercely debated among veterans and encapsulates the nuances of military titles."
Social Network
Cotton maintains a robust online presence, utilizing social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to engage with his constituents and promote his political agenda. His Twitter handle, @TomCottonAR, showcases his latest updates and thoughts on current events, garnering a significant following and making him a prominent voice in Republican politics.
In 2021, Salon reported that Cotton falsely claimed in campaign ads and videos from 2011 to 2014 that he had served in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a Bronze Star as a U.S. Army Ranger even though he did not serve in the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. Fact-checking site Snopes rated Salon's reporting as true.
In response to the article, Democratic congressman Jason Crow, who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, criticized Cotton for calling himself a Ranger.
A spokesperson for Cotton said, "To be clear, as he's stated many times, Senator Cotton graduated from Ranger School, earned the Ranger Tab, and served a combat tour with the 101st Airborne, not the 75th Ranger Regiment." As the Salon story garnered widespread attention, Cotton's spokeswoman recommended that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette talk to re
tired Command Sergeant Major Rick Merritt, a former regimental sergeant major of the 75th Ranger Regiment, who said that Cotton is "100% a Ranger.
He will always be a Ranger. It’s unfair. It’s almost slanderous."
Education
Tom Cotton graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government in 1999. He later attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 2002. His educational background, combined with his military experience, has provided a strong foundation for his political career, allowing him to approach complex issues with a strategic mindset.
Cotton was accepted to Harvard College after graduating from high school in 1995. At Harvard, he majored in government and was a member of the editorial board of The Harvard Crimson, often dissenting from the liberal majority. In articles, Cotton addressed what he saw as "sacred cows" such as affirmative action. He graduated with an A.B.
magna cum laude in 1998 after only three years of study. Cotton's senior thesis focused on The Federalist Papers.
