Gibran Rakabuming Raka
Indonesia's youngest-ever vice president, a mayor turned national leader whose rapid ascent is inextricably linked to his father's political dynasty.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Vice President of Indonesia since 2024·Birthday: October 1·Millennials
Biography
Gibran Rakabuming Raka's journey to the vice presidency of Indonesia is a modern political phenomenon defined by lineage and timing. Before 2020, he was known primarily as the eldest son of the wildly popular President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and a businessman running a catering and pastry empire. His entry into politics was swift: a controversial court ruling altered age requirements, allowing him to run for Mayor of Surakarta (Solo), his father's old seat. He won easily in 2021, leveraging the Widodo name and a platform of digital-era economic development. Just three years later, in a dramatic electoral twist, he was selected as the running mate for Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, his father's former rival. The ticket's victory in 2024 propelled the 36-year-old into the vice presidency, making him the youngest in Indonesian history. His rise reflects a complex blend of millennial appeal, dynastic power, and strategic alliances, placing him at the heart of the country's political future while inviting intense scrutiny over experience and the boundaries of family influence in a democracy.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Gibran was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gibran Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Gibran's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected as the 14th Vice President of Indonesia in 2024 as the running mate of Prabowo Subianto.
- Served as the Mayor of Surakarta (Solo) from 2021 to 2024, continuing a political legacy in the city.
- Founded and managed several businesses in the culinary and hospitality sector before entering politics.
- Became the youngest person to hold the office of Vice President in Indonesian history at age 36.
Did You Know?
He is a graduate of Management and Entrepreneurship from Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).
His catering company, Chilli Pari, provided meals for the Indonesian contingent at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He is married to Selvi Ananda, who is the daughter of a prominent Indonesian businessman and politician.
He was a national delegate for Indonesia at the Asian Youth Congress in 2007.
“My focus is on serving the people through practical work and economic development.”
