Amy Carter is popularly known as the daughter of the 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his first lady Rosalynn Carter. She was born on October 19, 1967, in Plains, Georgia. Amy became popular when she lived in the White House during the Carter presidency. In this post, we will take a look at Amy Carter’s net worth and other details. Keep reading for more.
ALSO READ: Amy Carter Children: Meet Her Son, Hugo James Wentzel
Amy Carter Biography
Carter, born on October 19, 1967, in Plains, Georgia, has a unique story that stretches far beyond her upbringing in the most prestigious residence in the United States. As the daughter of President Jimmy Carter, Amy’s life was destined to be extraordinary from the beginning.
Amy spent her early years in Plains until her father’s political career propelled the family to the Georgia Governor’s Mansion in Atlanta. At the tender age of nine, she moved into the White House when her father was elected President of the United States in 1976. Amy’s presence in the White House garnered significant media attention, as she was one of the first young children to reside there since the Kennedy era.
During her four years in the White House, Amy attended public schools in Washington, starting at Stevens Elementary School and later transferring to Rose Hardy Middle School. She was not just an ordinary resident; she brought with her a Siamese cat named Misty Malarky Ying Yang, who became the last feline occupant of the White House until the arrival of Socks, owned by President Bill Clinton. Amy also received an elephant as a gift from an immigrant, which found a new home at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
After her father’s presidency came to an end, Amy moved to Atlanta, where she completed her senior year of high school at Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia. She then embarked on her academic journey at Brown University but faced academic dismissal in 1987 due to difficulties keeping up with her coursework. Undeterred, Amy went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Memphis College of Art and later pursued her passion for art history, obtaining a master’s degree from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1996.
Amy Carter’s life was not solely defined by her upbringing or her academic pursuits. She developed a reputation for political activism, embodying the spirit of change and speaking out against injustice. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she participated in sit-ins and protests, advocating for a shift in U.S. foreign policy concerning South African apartheid and Central America.
In 1986, Amy made headlines when she was arrested, along with activist Abbie Hoffman and others, during a demonstration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The protest targeted the recruitment efforts of the CIA on campus. In a well-publicized trial in Northampton, Massachusetts, Amy was acquitted of all charges. Her defence attorney, Leonard Weinglass, skillfully employed the necessity defence, arguing that impeding CIA recruitment was akin to trespassing in a burning building, given the agency’s involvement in criminal activities in Central America and other regions.
Amidst her activism, Amy Carter found time to contribute to her father’s literary endeavours. She illustrated “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer,” a children’s book published in 1995, showcasing her artistic talent alongside her father’s storytelling.
In September 1996, Amy married James Gregory Wentzel, a computer consultant she met while attending Tulane University. They settled in the Atlanta area and focused on raising their son, Hugo James Wentzel, born in 1999. The couple eventually divorced, and Amy went on to marry John Joseph “Jay” Kelly in 2007. In 2010, she welcomed another son into her life.
Since the late 1990s, Amy Carter has maintained a relatively low profile, refraining from public protests and interviews. However, she continues to contribute to her father’s legacy by serving as a member of the board of counsellors of the Carter Center. Through this role, she actively supports the organization’s work in advocating for human rights and diplomacy, a cause close to her father’s heart.
Amy Carter Net Worth: How Much Is She Worth?
Carter’s net worth is estimated at around $5 million.