1. Early life and education
Gibran Rakabuming Raka's early life was rooted in Surakarta, where he completed his foundational education before pursuing studies abroad.
1.1. Birth and family background
Gibran was born in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, on 1 October 1987. He is the eldest child and son of Joko Widodo and Iriana. He has two younger siblings, a sister named Kahiyang Ayu and a brother named Kaesang Pangarep. His father, Joko Widodo, went on to become the Governor of Jakarta and later the seventh President of Indonesia.
1.2. Education
Gibran completed his first nine years of education in Surakarta. After this, he moved to Singapore where he attended Orchid Park Secondary School. Upon graduating from secondary school, Gibran initially enrolled in UTS Insearch, a pathway program designed for foreign students intending to study at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. However, he ultimately decided to return to Singapore for his undergraduate college education. In 2010, he obtained his diploma from the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), which was followed by a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from the collaborated University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.
2. Business career
Gibran Rakabuming Raka established himself as a prominent businessman through various entrepreneurial ventures before entering politics.
2.1. Founding and business activities
After gaining a few years of experience working in his family's furniture business, Gibran ventured into entrepreneurship in 2010 by founding Chilli Pari, a catering business based in Surakarta. He was inspired to start the company after observing a lack of catering services for a conference center owned by his father. Initially, his father, Joko Widodo, who had intended for Gibran to take over the leadership of his furniture business, opposed his eldest son's decision to become a caterer. Despite the initial opposition, Chilli Pari grew significantly, specializing in providing services for wedding parties.
In 2015, Gibran expanded his business portfolio by launching Markobar, a martabak chain. By 2017, Markobar had rapidly expanded to 29 locations across Indonesia. In 2017, Joko Widodo acknowledged that while he had initially disapproved of his son's food business, Gibran's company eventually achieved a higher valuation than his own furniture company.
2.2. Wealth
As a prerequisite for his political candidacy, Gibran Rakabuming Raka publicly declared his financial assets. In 2020, his reported wealth was approximately 22.10 B IDR.
3. Political career
Gibran Rakabuming Raka's political career saw a rapid ascent from local governance to a national leadership role, marked by significant public attention and controversy.
3.1. Mayor of Surakarta
Gibran's tenure as Mayor of Surakarta was relatively brief but impactful, laying the groundwork for his future political ambitions.
3.1.1. Mayoral election and tenure
In July 2019, Gibran was identified as a favored candidate for the 2020 Surakarta mayoral election in a survey conducted by Slamet Riyadi University. This position held particular significance as it was his father's former role before becoming Governor of Jakarta and then President of Indonesia. Two months after the survey, Gibran officially registered as a member of PDI-P, his father's political party, to contest the mayoral election. In July 2020, PDI-P formally endorsed Gibran as their mayoral candidate, pairing him with city council speaker Teguh Prakosa.
Initially, it appeared that the election might be uncontested, as all parties represented in the city council, with the exception of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), endorsed Gibran, acknowledging the formidable influence of the Jokowi family in the city. However, Bagyo Wahyono, a tailor by profession, registered as an independent candidate and was approved on 6 September 2020, ensuring a contested election. In the election held in December 2020, Gibran secured a landslide victory, winning 86.53 percent of the votes, totaling 225,451 votes. His success was attributed not only to his status as the incumbent president's son and the city's most popular former mayor, but also to his campaign's significant financial advantage, reportedly spending nearly 30 times more than Bagyo's campaign, with Gibran-Teguh spending 3.20 B IDR compared to Bagyo's 110.00 M IDR.
Despite his relatively short time in office, Gibran's impact on Surakarta was considerable. He was named the most popular mayor in 2021 by Indonesia Indicator (I2). This recognition was attributed to his close relationship with his father, President Joko Widodo, as well as his proactive measures in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting policies that garnered substantial media coverage.
3.1.2. Resignation from mayorship
Following his victory in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election and his subsequent election as Vice President, Gibran resigned from his position as Mayor of Surakarta on 16 July 2024. His former Vice Mayor, Teguh Prakosa, was sworn in to replace him on 19 July 2024.
3.2. 2024 Presidential Election candidacy
Gibran's entry into the 2024 presidential election as a vice-presidential candidate was a pivotal moment in his career, though it was accompanied by significant controversy.
3.2.1. Vice-presidential candidacy controversy
In late 2022, several groups supporting President Joko Widodo began endorsing Gibran as a potential vice-presidential candidate for the 2024 Indonesian presidential election. At the time of these endorsements, the legal minimum age for a vice-presidential candidate was 40 years old, while Gibran would be 37 at the time of the election.
To enable Gibran's candidacy, the Constitutional Court of Indonesia, led by his uncle-in-law Anwar Usman, issued a controversial ruling on 17 October 2023. This decision created an exception to the minimum age requirement for individuals who had previously been elected as regional leaders. Four days later, on 21 October 2023, the Golkar party, a member of Prabowo Subianto's coalition, declared Gibran as their vice-presidential candidate, despite him still being a member of the PDI-P. Prabowo officially announced Gibran as his running mate the following day, on 22 October 2023. Gibran was absent from this announcement due to his mayoral duties in Surakarta, but he sent a letter to his father, the president, the next day, requesting permission to run.
The leadership of the General Elections Commission (KPU) was later found to have committed ethics violations concerning Gibran's vice-presidential registration. The KPU had allowed him to register his candidacy before it had officially adjusted the minimum age requirement for candidates in its internal regulations. A lawsuit was filed by the Indonesian Democracy Defenders (TPDI) and the Indonesian Advocates Movement (Perekat Nusantara) against Joko Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming, Anwar Usman, and First Lady Iriana, alleging nepotism and the establishment of a political dynasty. However, this lawsuit was dismissed by the Jakarta State Administrative Court just one day before the election. Due to the controversial court decision and Gibran's perceived lack of extensive political experience, Al Jazeera notably referred to him as a "nepo baby".
3.2.2. Election campaign and results
The Prabowo-Gibran campaign focused on continuity with President Joko Widodo's policies, emphasizing economic development and stability. Following the election on 14 February 2024, quick counts showed Prabowo and Gibran leading with an average of 57% of the votes, significantly ahead of the Anies-Muhaimin ticket (average 27%) and the Ganjar-Mahfud ticket (average 16%). This percentage indicated that Prabowo and Gibran had won the election in the first round, avoiding a run-off. They secured approximately 96 million votes.
3.3. Vice Presidency (2024-present)
Gibran Rakabuming Raka officially assumed the second-highest office in Indonesia in late 2024.
3.3.1. Inauguration
Gibran was sworn in as the Vice President of Indonesia on 20 October 2024. At the age of 37 years and 19 days, he became the youngest person to ever assume the Indonesian vice presidency.
4. Controversies
Throughout his public career, Gibran Rakabuming Raka has faced several controversies and criticisms, particularly concerning his eligibility for office and public statements.
4.1. "Sulfuric acid" gaffe
During a campaign event on 3 December 2023, Gibran made a public gaffe while discussing solutions for stunted growth among pregnant mothers. He mistakenly suggested consuming "sulfuric acid" instead of folic acid, stating, "Then when you are pregnant, you have to check. For example sulfuric acid, iodine is fulfilled or not." The following day, he repeated the misstatement during a visit to a Pesantren in Tangerang. Gibran subsequently apologized for the error and corrected himself the next day.
The incident led to widespread ridicule from rival supporters and even prompted Anies Baswedan, a competing presidential candidate, to mockingly suggest that pregnant mothers could obtain the necessary nutrients from plant-based foods, "not from a workshop." The misspelling incident resulted in the public nicknaming Gibran "Samsul," an acronym for sulfuric acid in Indonesian. During the vice-presidential debate on 21 January 2024 at the Jakarta Convention Center, Gibran notably wore a blue jacket featuring the Naruto anime logo and the word 'Samsul' on the back. Arief Rosyid, Chairman of TKN Fanta Prabowo-Gibran election team, later clarified that 'Samsul' was intended as an acronym for semakin sulit disusulIndonesian, meaning "increasingly difficult to overtake," as a strategic move to reframe the public mockery.
4.2. Alleged ownership of former online accounts
In August 2024, a significant controversy emerged surrounding an old Kaskus account named "Fufufafa," which was active between 2014 and 2019. This account was known for posting suggestive comments about celebrities and making critical remarks against various political and non-political figures, including Prabowo Subianto, who had been a political rival of former President Joko Widodo in the 2014 and 2019 elections.
Speculation rapidly spread across social media, linking the "Fufufafa" account to Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Social media users attempted to establish a connection through an email address allegedly associated with Gibran's catering business in Solo, Twitter profiles linked to the Kaskus account, and a phone number reportedly tied to both a Gopay account and the "Fufufafa" account. Tempo magazine reported that the same phone number associated with the account had previously been used by their journalists to contact Gibran before and during his tenure as Mayor of Solo. At the height of the controversy, the hacktivist group Anonymous reportedly leaked personal details of the account, further fueling allegations of Gibran's connection.
Additionally, in September 2024, another old online account, a Formspring profile named "raka gnarly," was also alleged to belong to Gibran. This account was noted for containing sexually explicit comments.
Gibran, however, firmly denied ownership of the "Fufufafa" account, stating, "I don't know, why are you asking me? Ask the owner." The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Budi Arie Setiadi, also stated that there was no conclusive evidence linking Gibran to the account. Despite these denials, the controversy continued to attract public attention, raising concerns about Gibran's public image and his capabilities as Vice President, and contributing to polarization among netizens.
5. Personal life
Gibran Rakabuming Raka's personal life includes his marriage, children, and various hobbies that offer insights into his character beyond his political and business roles.
5.1. Marriage and children
On 11 June 2015, Gibran married Selvi Ananda, who was the winner of the 2009 Puteri Solo (Miss Solo) beauty pageant. They first met when Gibran served as a member of the jury in the competition. The couple's first child, a son named Jan Ethes Srinarendra, was born on 10 March 2016. On 15 November 2019, Gibran's wife gave birth to their second child, a daughter named La Lembah Manah, at Muhammadiyah Hospital in Surakarta.
5.2. Hobbies and interests
Gibran is a devoted fan of FC Barcelona and has publicly stated his long-standing support for the football club. During his mayoral campaign in August 2020, he was seen wearing the club's jersey during an online exercise session with his supporters.
Beyond sports, Gibran is also known for his interest in anime and collecting. His favorite anime series include Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and The Adventures of Tintin. However, he frequently incorporates elements from Naruto into his public appearances and media interactions. He is also known for collecting action figures and Tamiya Mini 4WD model cars.
6. Honours
As the Vice President of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka is automatically bestowed with the highest class of seven out of the eight civilian Star Decorations (Tanda Kehormatan BintangIndonesian), as stipulated by Article 10 paragraph (2) of Law Number 20 of 2009. These honors signify his official status and contributions to the nation.
Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 2nd Class (Bintang Republik Indonesia AdipradanaIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
Star of Mahaputera, 1st Class (Bintang Mahaputera AdipurnaIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
Star of Service, 1st Class (Bintang Jasa UtamaIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
Star of Humanity (Bintang KemanusiaanIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
Star of Democracy Upholder, 1st Class (Bintang Penegak Demokrasi UtamaIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
Star of Culture Parama Dharma (Bintang Budaya Parama DharmaIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
Star of Bhayangkara, 1st Class (Bintang Bhayangkara UtamaIndonesian; 20 October 2024)
7. Filmography
Gibran Rakabuming Raka has made cameo appearances in a few Indonesian films.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sesuai Aplikasi | Markobar Owner | Cameo |
| 2019 | Yowis Ben 2 | Markobar intern | Cameo |