Rama Duwaji contributes $10,010 to Mamdani’s relatively low income, reveals tax filing
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duaji have revealed their combined income in their tax filing.
What took the New Yorker’s notice was the mayor and his wife’s relatively low income and 28-year-old Rama Duwaji contributing only $10,010 before taxes to the cumulative income.
Rama Duwaji contributes $10,010 to combined income
The couple cumulatively earned $145,000 in 2025, to which 28-year-old Rama Duwaji contributed just $10,000.
Duwaji works as a visual artist -known for her political pieces focusing on Middle Eastern themes, having worked with The New Yorker, Vogue, and Tate Modern.
Mamdani and Duwaji's relatively low income is partly due to the first lady's measly contribution - only $10,010 before taxes and expenses from her visual design business.
Mamdani earned $145K last year
The tax filing revealed that Mayor Mamdani and first lady Rama Duwaji earned slightly above the local area median income level.
The information came out through the tax filings released on Thursday by Zohran Mamdani’s office, which show that Mamdani and his partner, Duwaji, earned a combined $144,784 in 2025 before taxes.
Mamdani accounted for most of their combined income, drawing a salary as a state Assembly member and receiving royalty payments from his former music career, according to the filing.
The return also shows the couple is set to receive $7,011 in state and federal tax refunds, mainly because Mamdani paid more in taxes than he owed during the year.
Couple’s income slightly above median income
The tax documents also revealed that the couple only earned slightly more than the media income for a household of two in New York City. The city data reveals that a household of two earned $129,600 in 2025.
The couple made less than the $158,954, which is a must to live a comfortable life in New York, according to SmartAsset, a financial technology firm.
Mamdani is living a comfortable life as he is a mayor living rent-free at Gracie Mansion with Duwaji and drawing more than $258,000 in salary.
Mamdani’s tax filing for year 2025 was released the day after Wednesday’s federal and state tax return deadline. To be sure, there are no legal requirements for New York City elected officials to publicize their tax returns. However, the high profile officials have been releasing their income details voluntarily over years.
