What Is Stephen Harper’s Net Worth?

Stephen Harper, a prominent figure in Canadian politics, boasts a net worth of $7 million. He held the position of Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015 and took on the role of Chairman of the International Democracy Union in 2018. Harper’s political journey began as a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2016. Over the years, he led several key political entities, serving as the Leader of the Canadian Alliance between 2002 and 2003, the Leader of the Conservative Party from 2004 to 2015, and the Leader of the Opposition from 2004 to 2006. His political roots trace back to his high school days with the Young Liberals Club, but he shifted to conservatism following disagreements with Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program. Harper played a pivotal role in founding the Reform Party and was instrumental in the 2004 merger that formed the Conservative Party. His contributions to public service earned him the Woodrow Wilson Award in 2006, and Time magazine named him Canada’s Newsmaker of the Year. In 2012, he received the World Statesman of the Year award. Harper is also the author of “Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption,” published in 2018.

Early Life

Born Stephen Joseph Harper on April 30, 1959, in Leaside, Ontario, he is the eldest of three brothers. His parents, Margaret (née Johnston) and Joseph Harris Harper, raised him in a family where his father was an accountant at Imperial Oil. Harper’s educational journey took him through Northlea Public School, John G. Althouse Middle School, and Richview Collegiate Institute, where he was part of an academic team competing in “Reach for the Top.” After high school, he briefly attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto before relocating to Edmonton, Alberta, to gain independence. There, he worked at Imperial Oil, initially in the mail room and later in computer systems. He went on to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Calgary, completing his studies in 1985 and 1991, respectively.

Career

Harper’s political allegiance shifted from liberal to conservative during his high school years, driven by his opposition to Trudeau’s National Energy Program. In 1985, he became the executive assistant to Jim Hawkes, a Progressive Conservative MP, but soon left due to discontent with the government under Brian Mulroney. He later became involved with the Reform Party of Canada, speaking at its founding convention in 1987 and contributing significantly as the party’s chief policy officer. Harper crafted the 1988 election platform and coined the campaign slogan, “The West wants in!” Although he lost the 1988 federal election bid for Calgary West, he played a crucial role in the election of Deborah Grey, the Reform Party’s first MP, serving as her executive assistant and chief advisor until 1993. He successfully ran for office in the 1993 federal election and served as a Reform Party MP until 1997, later leading the Canadian Alliance from 2002 to 2003.

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Harper was instrumental in founding the modern Conservative Party of Canada in 2004 and was elected its leader that March. His leadership saw him elected Prime Minister in the 2006 federal election, with re-elections following in 2008 and 2011. According to his official website, Harper’s tenure was marked by significant economic measures, including reducing federal taxes to a 50-year low, creating 1.3 million jobs, balancing the budget, and negotiating crucial trade agreements such as the Canada-Europe Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. After losing the 2015 federal election, Harper stepped down as Conservative Party leader and established Harper & Associates Consulting Inc. in 2016, where he serves as CEO and Chairman. He is also a co-founder and Chairman of Vision One investment fund and President of the Advisory Committee for Awz Ventures. His directorial roles extend to Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Colliers International Group Inc., and Recover Inc.

Personal Life

Stephen Harper married graphic designer Laureen Teskey on December 11, 1993, and they have two children, Rachel and Benjamin. Harper, who became an evangelical Christian in the late 1980s, is a member of RockPointe Church in Calgary and later joined East Gate Alliance Church after moving to Ottawa in 2003. A lifelong fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he published “A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey” in 2013. Harper’s love for music is evident in his extensive record collection, which includes bands like AC/DC and the Beatles. He even performed “With a Little Help from My Friends” with Yo-Yo Ma during a 2009 gala and was once part of a band called The Van Cats.

Throughout his career, Harper has received numerous accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), Alberta Centennial Medal (2005), and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019 and a Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2023. In 2008, he became the first Canadian to receive B’nai B’rith International’s Presidential Gold Medallion for Humanitarianism. The Blood tribe of Alberta honored him as an Honorary Chief of the Kainai Nation in 2011 after he apologized for the Canadian Indian residential school system’s abuses. Harper was named World Statesman of the Year in 2012 and was awarded Ukraine’s Order of Liberty in 2016, the country’s highest honor for foreigners.