Usha Bala Vance (née Chilukuri; born January 6, 1986) is an American attorney, former litigator, and the present Second Lady of the United States since January 20, 2025, after her spouse, JD Vance, was inaugurated as the 50th Vice President of the United States.
She holds the distinction of being the first Indian-American, first Telugu-American, first Hindu, and first Asian-American Second Lady in the annals of U.S. history. Prior to taking on this role, Usha had an accomplished legal career, having served as a clerk for three notable federal judges (including Chief Justice John Roberts), worked as an associate at the prestigious law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, and managed intricate civil litigation and appellate matters in sectors such as higher education, local governance, entertainment, and technology.
In July 2024, she departed from her firm to prioritize her family and assist her husband’s vice presidential campaign.
As Second Lady, she has already engaged in prominent public responsibilities, such as accompanying the Vice President on overseas journeys, sitting on the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts (a position appointed by President Trump in February 2025), and leading the U.S. presidential delegation to the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy (March 2025).
Here is a brief summary of important details regarding Usha Vance:
| Full Name | Usha Bala Chilukuri Vance |
| Date of Birth | January 6, 1986 |
| Age (as of January 2026) | 40 years old |
| Height | Roughly 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) |
| Nationality | American (born in the USA) |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Spouse | JD Vance (married June 14, 2014) |
| Children | Three (two sons and one daughter) |
| Net Worth (estimate, 2025–2026) | $8–15 million (mainly from legal profession, joint properties, and investments) |
Biography
Usha Bala Chilukuri was born in San Diego County, California, on January 6, 1986, growing up in Rancho Peñasquitos within a family that esteemed education and success. Her father, Radhakrishna “Krish” Chilukuri, is a mechanical engineer and educator, while her mother, Lakshmi Yechuri, is a molecular biologist and university provost.
Usha achieved summa cum laude honors from Yale in 2007, majoring in history, during which she took part in campus leadership and volunteer initiatives. She was a Yale–China Teaching Fellow in Guangzhou, China, and subsequently obtained an MPhil as a Gates Cambridge Scholar at Clare College, Cambridge, where she investigated early modern history and copyright legislation.
In 2013, Usha completed her studies at Yale Law School, contributing to multiple law journals and participating in high-profile clinics, such as the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic and the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project.
Upon graduating from law school, Usha worked as a clerk for Judges Amul Thapar and Brett Kavanaugh, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts. While serving as a clerk at the Supreme Court, she dealt with the high-profile case Azar v. Garza.
Further Information
Between 2019 and July 2024, Usha was an associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., concentrating on civil litigation and appeals within education, governance, entertainment, and technology.
In July 2024, Usha left Munger, Tolles & Olson to focus on her family and support her spouse, JD Vance, in his vice presidential campaign. She delivered the welcoming speech for JD at the 2024 Republican National Convention and was actively involved in campaigning, often sharing the stage with him. Following JD Vance’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, Usha took on the role of Second Lady, marking the first Indian-American, Telugu-American, Hindu, and Asian-American to do so.
Usha Vance’s Age
Usha Vance was born on January 6, 1986. By January 16, 2026, she will be 40 years old.
Usha Vance’s Children
Usha Vance and her husband, JD Vance, are parents to three children: two sons and one daughter. The family maintains the children’s names, exact birth dates, and personal lives very privately, seldom sharing photos or specifics publicly. Usha has articulated in interviews the significance of instilling strong values, faith, and a sense of normalcy in their upbringing, despite their parents’ high-profile public roles. The couple prioritizes family life, even as Usha undertakes visible responsibilities as Second Lady.
Usha Vance’s Nationality
Usha Vance is American by birth. She was born in San Diego County, California, and is a natural-born citizen of the United States.
Usha Vance’s Religion
Usha Vance identifies as Hindu. She was brought up in a Hindu household by her Telugu Brahmin immigrant parents from Andhra Pradesh, India. Her spouse, JD Vance, was raised in an Evangelical Christian environment, later converting to Catholicism in 2019, and the couple had an interfaith wedding ceremony in 2014 that incorporated both Christian and Hindu traditions. They have chosen to raise their three children as Christians and regularly attend church as a family.
JD Vance
Usha Vance is married to James David “JD” Vance, the 50th Vice President of the United States (inaugurated January 20, 2025). Their paths crossed at Yale Law School, where their professor, Amy Chua, encouraged them to connect. They wed on June 14, 2014, in an interfaith ceremony in Kentucky. Usha has been an essential supporter of JD’s political aspirations, including his successful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign in Ohio and his selection as Donald Trump’s running companion in 2024.
She delivered the opening speech for him at the 2024 Republican National Convention, participated actively in the campaign, and was recognized by various observers for assisting him in preparing for the vice-presidential debate (which JD was widely perceived as winning). As Second Lady, Usha frequently accompanies the Vice President on official journeys and public occasions. The couple shares three children and fosters a close, supportive partnership.
Wikipedia
As early as 2026, Usha Vance has a dedicated Wikipedia entry titled “Usha Vance.” This article offers a thorough overview of her life, education, legal career, marriage to JD Vance, role as Second Lady of the United States, and family background. The entry features sections detailing her early life, education, clerkships, law firm career, political engagement, public persona, and personal life. It is categorized under “Second Ladies of the United States,” “American lawyers,” “Yale Law School alumni,” and “Indian-American individuals.”
Usha Vance’s Net Worth
As of 2025–2026, Usha Vance’s net worth is estimated to be between $8 million and $15 million.
JD Vance’s own net worth is estimated in the range of $10–20 million (primarily arising from book royalties for Hillbilly Elegy, speaking engagements, venture capital activities, and his Senate salary), and the couple’s combined wealth is generally reported to fall between $15 million and $30 million.
