Michael Steele Biography
Michael Steele is an American politician, attorney, and political commentator best known as the first African American to serve as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC; 2009–2011). He also served as the seventh lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007.
Michael Steele’s Age and Birthday
How old is he? Born on October 19, 1958, at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Michael is 67 years old as of 2025.
Quick Bio/Wiki
| Real Name | Michael Stephen Steele |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1958 |
| Age | 67 Years old as of 2025 |
| Hometown | Prince George’s County, Maryland |
| Residence | Maryland, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Net Worth | Over $ 5 million as of 2025 |
| Occupation | Politician, Attorney, and Political commentator |
Michael Steele Family, Parents, and Siblings
Steele was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and adopted by William and Maebell Steele. After his father died in 1962, his mother raised him and his sister Monica in a stable, racially integrated community in Washington, D.C., while resisting public assistance despite financial struggles. Monica later married and divorced boxer Mike Tyson.
Michael Steele Education
Steele attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., where he participated in the glee club, the National Honor Society, and several of the school’s drama productions. During his senior year, he was elected president of the student council. In 1981, Steele earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
After graduating from Hopkins, Steele taught high school for a year before preparing for the Catholic priesthood, which he left to pursue civil service. He graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1991, passing the Pennsylvania bar exam, and worked as a corporate securities associate in Washington, D.C., before founding his own consulting firm, the Steele Group.
Michael Steele Height
Steele’s approximate height is 5 feet 9 inches, equivalent to 1.75 meters.
Michael Steele’s Wife
Steele is happily married to his wife, Andrea Derritt, a Community Organizer and Philanthropist. The couple exchanged their marriage vows in 1985, which means they have been together for over 20 years. Michael and his husband are parents of two children, Drew Steele and Michael Steele II. They all reside in Maryland, USA.
Career (Political)
Raised a Democrat, Michael Steele switched to the Republican Party, influenced by his mother’s refusal to seek welfare and Ronald Reagan’s self-reliance philosophy. He became chair of the Prince George’s County Republican Party in 1994 and later led the Maryland Republican Party. In 2002, he was selected as the lieutenant governor nominee and won, becoming Maryland’s first African American statewide officeholder, serving from 2003 to 2007. He lost a Senate bid in 2006 but became chair of GOPAC in 2007.
After Barack Obama’s election in 2008, Steele was encouraged to run for chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Elected on January 30, 2009, he became the first African American to hold the position. Steele called for a GOP makeover to appeal to urban and suburban voters. However, he faced backlash for controversial remarks, including dismissing Rush Limbaugh as merely an entertainer and later apologizing. He also criticized Republicans who endorsed third-party candidates and suggested the party might not regain control of the House in the 2010 midterms, angering party members.
Steele faced scrutiny for accepting large speaking fees and for introducing a health care plan without consulting party leaders. Despite these controversies, he directed Republican opposition to Obama on issues like abortion and health care, encapsulated in his 2010 book, “Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda.”
Although Republicans gained seats in the 2010 midterms, Steele’s popularity waned. He withdrew from the 2011 chair race, indicating the party’s desire for a new direction. Later that year, he became a political analyst for MSNBC and, in 2018, a faculty fellow at Brown University.
In the 2016 election, Steele did not support Donald Trump and became increasingly critical of him. By 2020, he was a senior adviser to the Lincoln Project, a group of former Republicans aiming to defeat Trump and other GOP candidates in the elections.
Michael Steele Net Worth
There is no public information available regarding Michael’s net worth, but it is estimated to be over $ 10 million as of 2025. However, his primary source of income comes from his career as a Politician, Attorney, and Political commentator.
Social Media
You can follow him via Instagram and Twitter. However, Michael doesn’t appear to have a public Facebook, TikTok, or Snapchat account.