Michelle Obama just got real about relationships, money, and the tough choices she made while dating a young Barack Obama who, at the time, wasn’t exactly rolling in cash.
On the latest episode of her “IMO” podcast, the former first lady sat down with her brother and co-host, Craig Robinson, for a candid discussion about finances in relationships. When Robinson posed the question, “Would you be attracted to a guy who’s not financially sound when you meet him?” Michelle didn’t hesitate.
“Uh, I married one,” she admitted, laughing.
Long before the White House, Barack Obama was just a young law associate struggling to find his financial footing. Michelle recalled that when she met him in 1989 at the Sidley Austin LLP law firm in Chicago, she was already on a lucrative career path, while he was still figuring things out. But money wasn’t her top priority.
“I left my corporate firm when I met Barack,” she revealed. “I had somebody who was like, ‘I got your back. The risks you think you’re taking, they aren’t that crazy, and I’m here to help you.’”
That support was more valuable to Michelle than a fat paycheck. “I would rather have that in a partner than a higher income,” she explained. “I would rather have somebody who is ready to do some hard things with me. But that meant I had to be ready to do some hard things with him.”
Robinson chimed in, suggesting that most women today wouldn’t make the same choice, arguing that many are looking for a ‘good catch’ rather than potential. While Michelle agreed that some women prioritize financial stability in dating, she also believes too many people focus on superficial traits rather than deeper values.
At the time of their first meeting, Michelle was 25, and Barack was 28. Just a month after their first encounter, Barack asked Michelle out on a date, and within two years, they were engaged. The couple married in 1992 and went on to build not just a life together but a political legacy that made history.
Of course, their journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. Michelle has previously opened up about the challenges in their marriage, especially during the early years of parenting their daughters, Malia and Sasha. In a 2022 interview, she admitted there was a time when she “couldn’t stand” Barack because of the pressures of balancing career and family.
Despite the struggles, their bond endured. Over three decades later, Michelle and Barack remain one of the world’s most admired power couples proving that sometimes, betting on potential pays off in ways money never could.
