Kamala Harris has largely withdrawn from public life since losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, a retreat that is now drawing pointed questions from within her own party over her finances, lifestyle and continued use of taxpayer-funded security while residing in an $8 million Malibu mansion.
Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, recently purchased the oceanfront property in a secluded enclave of Malibu, according to people familiar with the transaction. Built in 1979 and set on roughly three-quarters of an acre, the home's listing describes interiors "bathed in natural light" with high wood-beamed ceilings, a built-in speaker system and a gas fireplace.
The purchase has become a focal point for Democrats who expected Harris to remain politically active after her defeat. During the campaign, she pledged she would not "go quietly into the night," but her public appearances since leaving Washington have been limited. The status of the couple's separate 3,500-square-foot Brentwood home, purchased by Emhoff in 2012, remains unclear.
Security arrangements have added to the controversy. After Trump revoked Harris's Secret Service protection, local authorities stepped in, with officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol providing ongoing protection. In September, the Los Angeles Police Protective League board of directors criticized the arrangement, saying: "Pulling police officers from protecting everyday Angelenos to protect a failed presidential candidate who also happens to be a multi-millionaire, with multiple homes and who can easily afford to pay for her own security, is nuts."
Questions about Harris's wealth have intensified alongside her lower profile. Data from Quiver Quantitative estimates her net worth at more than $5.5 million. According to Forbes, Harris entered the Senate with up to $500,000 in savings and a similar amount in investments, in addition to pensions earned from her years in California public office.
Much of the household income historically came from Emhoff's legal career. Before Harris became vice president, Emhoff earned about $1 million a year as an entertainment lawyer. After she joined the Biden administration, he left private practice to teach at Georgetown University, reducing his annual income to roughly $200,000. Since filing joint returns, the couple has consistently reported more than $1 million in annual income.
Some Democrats say the optics are damaging as Harris avoids public engagement. "She's not someone who likes being out and about. She doesn't really want to engage with people in a way that isn't already orchestrated," a Democratic consultant said. "But her absence has been really notable. And to some people, very offensive."
Harris relocated back to Los Angeles in January 2025 amid destructive wildfires, appearing occasionally at recovery-related events before resuming a low-profile routine. The following month, she signed with Creative Artists Agency and launched a website for the "Office of Kamala D. Harris," a move some party officials privately described as more aligned with Hollywood branding than grassroots politics.
