Paul Ryan is one of the most notable personalities that have graced American politics in recent times. The Republican politician represented Wisconsin’s 1st district in the House of Reps. for two decades. He also served as the US House of Reps. speaker for four years. Ryan is easily one of the brightest prospects to come out of the GOP in recent years and has been tipped to make a play for The White House. He, however, shocked the public when he announced that he won’t be seeking re-election in 2018. So what brought about this decision? Has he retired from politics? We have the answers right here.

Bio & Age – Who is Paul Ryan?

Paul Davis Ryan was born on the 29th of January 1970 in Janesville Wisconsin. He attended schools such as St Mary’s Catholic School and Joseph A. Craig High School. The young Ryan was a well-rounded student. He not only featured in sports (basketball and soccer) but was also active in school politics. Ryan finished from high school in 1988 and proceeded to the Miami University in Ohio. There, he studied Economics and Political Science and graduated in 1992.

Upon graduation, Ryan went to work as an aide for then Wisconsin senator, Robert Kasten. The job didn’t pay much and he also worked as a waiter, amongst other side jobs, to supplement his income. Between 1993 and 1995, Paul Ryan worked as an adviser and speechwriter for a conservative group known as Empower America. From there, he went on to work for various Republican politicians before returning home to Wisconsin in 1997.

In Wisconsin, he worked for his family’s construction company before declaring his candidature for House of Reps in 1998. He won the election and became a member of the House of Reps at the age of 28. Ryan would go on to serve in the house for two decades (1998 – 2018). During his time in the house, he chaired several important committees. He was also made speaker on the 29th of October 2015. At the time, he was 45, making him one of the youngest speakers the house ever had. Paul Ryan was also a running mate to Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election. They, however, lost to the incumbent, Barack Obama.

Has He Retired?

The Wisconsin native revealed that he would not be seeking re-election in April 2018. He also disclosed that this was so he could spend more time with his family. This, however, does not mean that he has retired entirely from politics. Political analysts have suggested that he may join the board of a giant corporation or work as a lobbyist. They have also suggested that re-entry into politics is very much possible.

His Wife and Family

The congressman hails from a family of six. His father’s name is Paul Murray while his mother’s name is Elizabeth Ann. His father has Irish heritage while his mom has German and English heritage. Ryan’s dad died of a heart attack when he was just 16. This left a lasting impression on the congressman as he was the one who discovered his father’s body. Asides his parents, Ryan has three older siblings. They are two brothers, Stan and Tobin, and a sister, Janet.

Paul Ryan is married to Janna Ryan (nee Little). Janna is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and is a former attorney and lobbyist. They tied the knot in December 2000. It is interesting to note that while Ryan is a conservative through and through, his wife hails from a Liberal Democrat background. The couple did not allow their political differences to overshadow their love for each other. The Ryans have three children together. Their children include a daughter named Elizabeth and two sons, Charles and Samuel.

Net Worth

The congressman has a net worth of $6 million. His considerable fortune is not as a result of his two decades of public service. Rather, it stems from his wife. His wife hails from a wealthy family and when her mom died in 2010, she received a trust worth $3 million. The Ryans have joint assets and as such, what belongs to one, also belongs to the other. The trust, therefore, made Paul Ryan’s net worth shoot up from $1.5 million to $6 million.

Height

The former House speaker has a tall slim build. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall (1.85m) and weighs 86 kg or 190 lbs. His eye color is blue while his hair color is black. Paul Ryan is a well-known fitness enthusiast; he once worked as a fitness trainer. The reason for his enthusiasm is not to develop a hot bod but rather for health reasons. His family has a history of fatal heart attacks and as such, he is doing what is humanly possible to stave off that possibility. Ryan relies on fitness regimen including the popular P90X. The regimen combines several types of exercise such as push-ups, cardio, sit-ups, and karate as well as nutrition and dietary supplements.