Anna A. Georges Eshoo
Role:
U.S. Representative for California’s 16th, 18th, and 14th Congressional Districts (1993–2025); Technology Policy Leader; Co-chair of the Congressional AI Caucus.
Net Worth:
As of April 2025, Anna Eshoo’s net worth is estimated at $2 million.
Profile Overview:
Anna Eshoo is an American politician and pioneering technology policy leader who represented Silicon Valley in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2025. As the only Assyrian-American in Congress and the only Armenian-American woman to serve, Eshoo became a central figure in bridging innovation and public policy. She is recognized for her bipartisan leadership on technology, artificial intelligence, and internet policy, earning a place on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2023. Eshoo’s legislative legacy includes landmark work on AI regulation, internet access, emergency response modernization, and public safety.
Bio:
Born on December 13, 1942, in New Britain, Connecticut, to Assyrian and Armenian parents, Anna Eshoo was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s call to public service. She moved to California, earned an Associate of Arts degree in English from Cañada College in 1975, and became active in local Democratic politics. Eshoo served as Chair of the San Mateo Democratic Party (1978–1982), chief of staff to Speaker pro tempore Leo McCarthy of the California Assembly (1981–82), and was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors (1982–1992), serving as board president in 1986.
After an initial unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1988, Eshoo won a House seat in 1992 and went on to serve more than three decades in Congress, representing the heart of Silicon Valley. She became known for her deep engagement with technology issues and her commitment to public service and innovation.
Anna Eshoo’s Role in Artificial Intelligence:
Anna Eshoo emerged as a leading voice on AI policy in Congress. As co-chair of the Congressional AI Caucus, she focused on educating lawmakers about AI’s technological, economic, and social impacts. Eshoo convened expert briefings with leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark, ensuring policymakers understood the complexities of AI. She co-introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national commission on AI regulation, aiming to bring together experts from civil society, government, industry, and labor to develop a comprehensive framework for AI oversight.
Eshoo also introduced bills to address AI’s risks to biosecurity, requiring federal studies on how AI could be misused to create novel pathogens. She championed the creation of a National AI Research Resource to expand access to data and computational tools for safe and trustworthy AI development. Her efforts extended to holding social media platforms accountable for algorithmic amplification of harmful content.
Nationality:
American
Educational Qualification:
- Associate of Arts: English, Cañada College (1975).
Sources of Wealth:
- Congressional Service: Salary and benefits from over 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Speaking Engagements & Recognition: Named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023); recognized among the most powerful women in Silicon Valley.
- Board and Advisory Roles: Involvement in various policy and technology advisory groups.
- Public Service: Early career in local government and Democratic Party leadership.
Random Fact:
Anna Eshoo founded the Congressional App Challenge in 2013, which has become the largest student app development contest in the world, inspiring young innovators nationwide.
Anna Eshoo’s career exemplifies her dedication to advancing innovation, public safety, and ethical technology governance. Her leadership leaves a lasting impact on U.S. technology policy and the responsible development of artificial intelligence.
Check here to see the most influential people in AI