Bakari Sellers is an American attorney and politician. He rose to fame when he became the youngest member of the House of Representatives at the tender age of 22 years. Sellers is an active political analyst and commentator and is not short of controversies, one of which cost his current employer, CNN, a lawsuit over a tweet. The outspoken lawyer is also an author, becoming a national bestseller with his debut memoir, My Vanishing Country. Bakari Sellers estimated net worth is between $1million to $5 million USD.
Quick Facts About Bakari Sellers
| Name | Bakari Sellers |
| Real Name | Bakari T. Sellers |
| Date of Birth | 18th September 1984 |
| Age | 37 |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Birth Place | Denmark, South Carolina, US |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Profession | Attorney, Political Analyst |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Ellen Rucker Sellers |
| Children | Stokely Taggart, Sadie Ellen, Kai Mitchell (step-daughter |
| Height | 1.80 m or 5’9 ft |
| Weight | 75 kgs |
| Years Active | 2006-present |
| Net worth | $1-$5 million |
Early Life
Bakari Sellers was born and raised in Denmark, Bamberg County, South Carolina, on September 18, 1984. His parents are Gwendolyn Sellers, a businesswoman, and Cleveland Sellers, a professor of African American studies and political rights activist.
His father is a renowned activist who served a jail term after leading the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee to the Orangeburg Massacre of 1968. Sellers has two siblings, Cleveland L. Sellers III and Nosizwe Sellers.
The outspoken attorney went to Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, a public high school in Orangeburg County. He later went to Morehouse College to pursue a degree in African American studies. While in Morehouse, Sellers served as a student leader, a position that laid a foundation for his successful political career. He graduated from the all-male, Atlanta-based private college in 2005.
Bakari later joined the University of South Carolina, School of Law, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate (J.D). After earning his law degree, he interned at the office of the Congressman, James Clyburn. Later, Sellers interned at the office of the then Atlanta mayor, Shirley Franklin.
Bakari Sellers Career
Bakari Sellers has several careers under his belt, but the one that made him famous was the State Representative of District 90 at the South Carolina House of Representatives. He rose to this seat after winning against 26-year-old Republican Thomas Rhoad. Sellers was only 22 years when he won the elections, making him the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest black elected official.
Sellers served in the House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014. In 2014, he changed gears and vied for Lieutenant Governor in South Carolina on a Democratic Party ticket. Though he lost this seat to Republican Party candidate Henry McMaster, Seller remains an authoritative political voice in South Carolina and America.
The Southerner is passionate about politics and public service, following his father’s footsteps. He has authored a memoir based on his childhood experiences and events surrounding his father’s involvement in the Orangeburg Massacre, which became a New York Times bestseller. He has another book in the works, Who Are Your People, set to be released in 2022.
Sellers has an impressive career, having worked under prominent American leaders such as James Clyburn, Shirley Franklin, and former president Barack Obama. He served in South Carolina’s steering committee for Obama during the former head’s journey to the White House. Sellers continues to lead the Southern African Americans into greatness through his political analysis on CNN, talk shows, conferences, and community mobilizations.
In 2010, he bagged a position in Times Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for his contribution to American politics. Later in 2012, Politico, a politics and policy shaper media house, named Sellers one of the ‘50 Politicos to Watch.’ His accomplishments continued to heap, as in 2014, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) named Sellers as one of the 30 Under 30 individuals on their list. The list honors students and alumni of African American colleges that make history on National and local matters.
Sellers has been practicing law since 2007 and currently works with Strom Law Firm LLC in Columbia, South Carolina. He is the head of Strategic Communication and Public Affairs at the law firm and practices law in criminal defense, civil rights litigation, business litigation, medical malpractice, etc.
Bakari is also a member of the board of directors for two entities, Let America Vote, a voting rights lobby organization, and Level Brands, a brand strategy and management firm.
Bakari Sellers Relationship Status and Personal Life
Bakari Sellers is married to Ellen Rucker Sellers, a chiropractor and an ex-wife of former professional basketballer Vince Carter. The medic-cum-business woman left her private chiropractic practice and founded Rucker Roots, a beauty product line, with her sister Ione Rucker Jamison.
Sellers and Ellen got married in 2015, and they have three children, Kai Mitchell, Ellen’s daughter from her previous marriage, and two fraternal twins, Stokely Taggart and Sadie Ellen Sellers. In 2019, Sadie developed complications that needed a liver transplant. After waiting for a donor for three months, the politician’s daughter underwent a successful transplant at Duke Children’s Hospital.
In 2014, Bakari’s mother, Gwendolyn Sellers, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CML is a form of bone marrow cancer that affects the blood-forming cells. These cells multiply fast and spill into the blood, causing complications that are hard to treat. Bakari’s mother underwent a successful bone marrow transplant, and her health stabilized.
Sellers has two siblings, Nosizwe Sellers, a medical doctor, and Cleveland L. Sellers III, a business management specialist.
Bakari Sellers Height, Weight and Eyes Color
Bakari Sellers is a well-built African American man. He is tall and physically fit from his stature, and his weight compliments his height. Though there are no official records of his body measurements, Sellers is approximately 1.80 m tall (5’9) and weighs around 75 kgs. Furthermore, he has black eyes.
Bakari Sellers Net Worth and Earning
Bakari has many careers, from political analyst, board member, attorney, and author. He amassed significant wealth from his tenure as the state representative of District 90 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He is also a senior lawyer at Strom Law Firm LLC, where he heads the Strategic Planning and Public Affairs department.
It is not clear how much he is worth, but his net worth is estimated between $1million and $5 million USD. As a political analyst at CNN, his earnings range from $51,000 to $120,000 per year.