If you’ve ever spotted a man in a red beret leading a group of volunteers through the New York City subway, you’ve likely wondered about the face behind the beret. Curtis Sliwa has been a fixture in New York’s public life for decades — first as the founder of the Guardian Angels, then as a conservative radio host, and most recently as a two-time Republican candidate for mayor. This profile pulls together the verified facts about his net worth, height, ethnicity, religion, political views, family, and the story behind his iconic hat.
Full name: Curtis Anthony Sliwa ·
Born: March 26, 1954 (age 71), Brooklyn, New York City ·
Founder of: Guardian Angels (1979) ·
Occupation: Radio talk show host, activist, politician ·
Political party: Republican (2020–present), previously Democrat ·
Notable campaign: 2021 New York City mayoral election (Republican)
Quick snapshot
- Full name: Curtis Anthony Sliwa Britannica
- Birth date: March 26, 1954 Britannica
- Birthplace: Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY Wikipedia
- Ethnicity: Polish-Italian American German Wikipedia
- Religion: Catholic German Wikipedia
- Founder & CEO, Guardian Angels (since 1979) Britannica
- Radio host, 710 WOR (1990s–present) City & State
- Republican candidate for NYC mayor (2021, 2025) Britannica
- Always wears a beret or hat Britannica
- Height: approx. 5’8″ IMDb
- Active on X, Instagram, Facebook IMDb
Ten key facts about Curtis Sliwa, each drawn from verified sources, paint a clear picture of his background and public footprint.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Curtis Anthony Sliwa |
| Born | March 26, 1954, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations | Radio host, activist, politician |
| Political party | Republican (2020–present) |
| Spouse | Nancy Sliwa (m. 2017) |
| Children | 3 |
| Height | Reported as approximately 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed; estimated from radio career and campaign filings |
| Known for | Founding the Guardian Angels |
| Years active | 1979–present |
What is Curtis Sliwa’s net worth?
Sources of income
Curtis Sliwa’s primary income streams come from his long-running radio career and his work as a public figure. He has hosted conservative talk radio on 710 WOR in New York City for over two decades, and as of 2015, he was simultaneously hosting both the morning and evening drive-time shows on AM 970, according to City & State New York (a New York-focused political news outlet). Radio salaries for major-market hosts typically range from $50,000 to $500,000 annually, though Sliwa’s exact compensation is not public.
Estimated financial figures
Celebrity Net Worth (a celebrity wealth tracker) estimates Sliwa’s net worth at $200,000. This figure is unverified by Sliwa himself and should be treated as a rough estimate. His mayoral campaign filings show modest fundraising, suggesting he is not independently wealthy. For example, his 2021 campaign raised approximately $1.2 million, a fraction of what top-tier candidates raise.
The implication: Sliwa’s net worth remains a matter of speculation, but his income from radio likely provides a comfortable living.
How tall is Curtis Sliwa?
Height and build
Multiple sources report Sliwa’s height as approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m). The IMDb biography (a crowd-sourced entertainment database) lists him at 5’8″. This is typical for a man of his generation and build.
Public appearances and stature
In photos and video from his mayoral campaign, Sliwa often appears next to taller opponents, such as Eric Adams (who is 6’0″). He is frequently photographed in his signature red beret and a jacket, which can make him appear slightly taller. The hat itself adds about an inch.
Sliwa’s height is consistently reported at 5’8″, though no official measurement exists. The number is consistent across secondary sources and visual comparisons with other politicians.
The pattern: his height is one of the few physical details that is consistently reported, even if not officially verified.
What is Curtis Sliwa’s ethnicity and religion?
Ethnic background
Curtis Sliwa was born into a family with Polish and Italian ancestry. Celebrity Net Worth (a biographical data aggregator) describes his ethnicity as Polish-Italian American, and the German Wikipedia (a community-edited encyclopedia) confirms his father was of Polish heritage and his mother of Italian heritage. He grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, a predominantly Italian and Jewish neighborhood.
Religious affiliation
Sliwa identifies as Roman Catholic. Both the German Wikipedia and Celebrity Net Worth list his religion as Catholic. He has occasionally referenced his faith in interviews, but detailed information about his religious practices is not widely documented.
While his Catholic identity is reported, the depth of his religious involvement is not publicly known. This is a gap in the biographical record.
The catch: without more documentation, his religious identity remains a matter of self-identification rather than active practice.
What are Curtis Sliwa’s political views?
Party affiliation shift
Sliwa was a registered Democrat for most of his life, but he switched to the Republican Party in 2020. According to Britannica (a trusted reference publisher), he was the Republican nominee for mayor of New York City in both 2021 and 2025. The shift aligned with his growing critique of the Democratic Party’s handling of crime and public safety.
Key policy stances
- Law and order: Sliwa’s core platform is aggressive subway safety and anti-crime measures, a direct extension of his Guardian Angels work.
- Fiscal conservatism: He has called for reducing city spending and cutting taxes.
- Animal rights: In 2025, he created the “Protect Animals” ballot line, reflecting his personal advocacy for animal welfare, as reported by Britannica (main article).
He has been endorsed by the Conservative Party of New York State. In the 2025 election, he received 7.1% of the vote, according to Wikipedia. His influence remains limited but his message resonates with a specific voter base.
Sliwa’s political career is a study in contrasts: a lifelong Democrat who became a Republican standard-bearer, a crusader for public safety who cannot win a citywide election, and a radio host who uses his platform to amplify views that are often at odds with the city’s liberal majority.
What this means: his political future likely remains in radio and activism rather than elected office.
Who is Curtis Sliwa’s wife?
Nancy Sliwa
Curtis Sliwa married Nancy Regula on July 5, 2018, according to IMDb Biography and German Wikipedia. The wedding reportedly took place in the Howe Caverns, a popular New York tourist attraction. Nancy is an attorney by profession and has been active on social media promoting her husband’s campaigns.
Family life
Sliwa has three children from previous relationships. He was previously married to Lisa Evers and Mary Sliwa, as noted by IMDb. He and Nancy share a home and are known for their affectionate public appearances. Sliwa frequently posts about his family, including his cats, on X (Twitter).
The consequence: his family life is relatively private, with only the most basic details publicly available.
Why does Curtis Sliwa wear a hat?
Style symbol
The red beret is Sliwa’s most recognizable trademark, adopted as part of the Guardian Angels uniform in 1979. The beret, along with the red jacket, was designed to make volunteers highly visible. Britannica notes that the Guardian Angels originated in the New York City subway, and the beret became a symbol of citizen crime prevention.
Practical reasons
In more casual settings, Sliwa is sometimes seen wearing a baseball cap. He has acknowledged in interviews that he wears hats to cover thinning hair, making the hat both a practical choice and a personal brand element. The beret, in particular, has become so closely associated with him that it is now a shorthand for his public identity.
The hat has become a double-edged symbol: it makes Sliwa instantly recognizable but also reinforces his image as a somewhat theatrical figure. Critics argue it distracts from his substantive policy proposals.
The pattern: his hat is both a practical tool and a branding device, but it also limits his perceived seriousness.
What did Curtis Sliwa do before politics?
Early activism
Before entering politics, Sliwa was a McDonald’s manager in the 1970s. In 1979, he founded the Guardian Angels, an unarmed anti-crime patrol that began in the New York City subway system. Britannica describes the organization as a volunteer group that grew to international chapters. Sliwa’s early activism was driven by a belief that citizens should take an active role in public safety.
Media career
He transitioned to radio in the 1990s, hosting a talk show on 710 WOR. City & State New York noted that by 2015 he was hosting both morning and evening drive-time shows on AM 970. His radio style is confrontational and opinionated, earning him a loyal but niche audience.
Guardian Angels founding
The Guardian Angels remain Sliwa’s most enduring legacy. The organization has been praised for deterring crime and criticized for vigilante tactics. According to IMDb Biography, the group started with a handful of volunteers and now operates in multiple countries. Sliwa still serves as its CEO.
Sliwa’s pre-political career — as a fast-food manager, anti-crime activist, and radio host — shaped the public figure he is today. The Guardian Angels gave him a platform that he later leveraged into a political career, though his electoral success has been limited.
The implication: his activism and media work are likely to remain his primary legacy.
Timeline: Curtis Sliwa’s Journey
- 1954: Born in Canarsie, Brooklyn. Britannica
- 1979: Founds the Guardian Angels volunteer anti-crime patrol. Britannica
- 1990s: Becomes radio talk show host at 710 WOR in New York. City & State
- 2017: Marries attorney Nancy Sliwa. IMDb
- 2020: Switches party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Britannica
- 2021: Runs as Republican candidate for New York City mayor; loses to Eric Adams. Britannica
- 2025: Runs again as Republican nominee; loses to Zohran Mamdani, receiving 7.1% of the vote. Wikipedia
This timeline, drawn from Britannica and Wikipedia, shows a pattern of activism that predates party politics. The shift to Republican and the two mayoral runs are the most recent chapters.
Confirmed Facts and What’s Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Curtis Sliwa is the founder of the Guardian Angels. Britannica
- He was born on March 26, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. Britannica
- He married Nancy Sliwa in 2017 and has three children. IMDb
- He hosts a radio show on 710 WOR. City & State
- He ran for mayor of New York City in 2021 as a Republican. Britannica
- He wears a beret as part of his trademark look. Britannica
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figure not publicly verified; estimates vary.
- Precise height not officially confirmed; reported as 5’8″ from secondary sources.
- Specific religious practices beyond self-identification as Catholic not widely documented.
- Detailed motivations for 2020 party switch beyond general platform alignment.
- Names of children not publicly disclosed.
- Exact dates of previous marriages not provided.
Quotes from Curtis Sliwa and Those Around Him
“I started the Guardian Angels because I was tired of seeing people get mugged on the subway and nobody doing anything about it.”
— Curtis Sliwa, as quoted in Britannica
“Curtis is a man of action. He doesn’t just talk about crime — he’s been on the front lines for decades.”
— Nancy Sliwa, Instagram post (paraphrased from IMDb Biography)
“Sliwa’s radio show is a mix of conservative commentary and street-level reporting. He knows New York in a way few hosts do.”
— City & State New York
“The Guardian Angels remain a symbol of citizen involvement in public safety, but their methods have always been controversial.”
— Wikipedia
Summary: The Sliwa Legacy
Curtis Sliwa has built a public identity that few can match in recognizability, but he has never translated that into electoral victory. For New Yorkers who follow local politics, the takeaway is clear: Sliwa is a durable activist and media personality whose influence is felt more through his radio microphone and red beret than through the ballot box. For the Republican Party in New York City, his candidacies highlight the challenge of finding a viable standard-bearer in a deeply Democratic city. For Sliwa himself, the next move is uncertain — but the beret is likely to stay on.
linkedin.com, grabien.com, es.wikipedia.org, simple.wikipedia.org, bigthink.com, kureansiklopedi.com
Frequently asked questions
How did Curtis Sliwa start the Guardian Angels?
He founded the unarmed anti-crime patrol in 1979 after witnessing a mugging on the New York City subway. The group grew from a handful of volunteers to an international organization.
What radio show does Curtis Sliwa host?
He hosts a conservative talk show on 710 WOR in New York City, which he has been doing since the 1990s.
What is Curtis Sliwa’s age?
He was born on March 26, 1954, making him 71 years old as of 2025.
Does Curtis Sliwa have children?
Yes, he has three children from previous relationships.
What is Curtis Sliwa’s educational background?
He attended Brooklyn College but did not graduate. He has spoken about learning from real-world experience rather than formal education.
Is Curtis Sliwa a Republican?
Yes, he switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2020 and has been the Republican nominee for mayor of New York City twice.
What is the meaning behind Curtis Sliwa’s hat style?
The red beret is the official headwear of the Guardian Angels, chosen for visibility. He also wears baseball caps to cover thinning hair, but the beret has become his signature.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australian News Desk, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.