Sonny Perdue, also known as George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III, is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and politician in the United States of America. George served as the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 until 2021. He was even the 81st Governor of Georgia, serving from 2003 to 2011.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name: | Sonny Perdue |
| Real Name/Full Name: | George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 76 years old |
| Birth Date: | 20 December 1946 |
| Birth Place: | Perry, Georgia, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Weight: | 68 kg |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Wife/Spouse (Name): | Mary Ruff (m. 1972) |
| Children/Kids (Son and Daughter): | Yes (Jim Perdue, Lara Ghioto, Dan Perdue, Leigh Perdue Brett) |
| Dating/Girlfriend (Name): | N/A |
| Is Sonny Perdue Gay?: | No |
| Profession: | Veterinarian, Businessman, Politician |
| Salary: | $750,000 |
| Net Worth in 2024: | $6 Million |
Sonny Perdue Biography
Sonny Perdue was born in the Georgia town of Perry. Ophie Viola and George Ervin Perdue Jr. were his parents when he was born. His mother worked as a teacher, while his father was a farmer by trade. George is, interestingly enough, the first cousin of former American Senator David Perdue.
George attended Warner Robins High School and the University of Georgia for his education. In 1971, he graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. George used to work as a veterinarian in the beginning.
Sonny Perdue Age, Height, Weight
Sonny Perdue was born on December 20, 1946, and is 76 years old as of 2024. He stands 1.72 meters tall and weighs 68 kilograms.
Career
Sonny Perdue was elected to the Senate in 1990, representing the 18th district. As a state senator, he began his career in this manner. George was elected as a Democrat in 1991, 1994, and 1996, and he served as the party’s Senate leader from 1994 to 1997.
Soon after, he was promoted to chairman of the committee, with additional responsibilities in areas such as ethics, finance, and public utilities, tourism and cultural affairs, economic growth, and so on. George switched his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1998. He was elected to the state Senate the same year (this time as a Republican).
George concluded that it was time for him to step down as a state senator and run for Governor of Georgia. He was promoted to Governor in 2002. As Governor, George has made significant progress. He had worked on a number of different economic concerns. In 2003, the governor issued an executive order prohibiting public employees, including himself, from accepting gifts worth more than $25. He even took attempts to enhance the department of tourism. He brought together a $19 million fishing tourism campaign called Go Fish Georgia in 2007.
George instituted significant educational reforms as well. Georgia had been in last place in terms of SAT scores for a long time, but it has now moved up to 46th and 45th place (in 2007 and 2008, respectively). In 2008, George launched the Ready Georgia program to help Georgia prepare for calamities. The major goal of the program was to prepare the public for any unwelcome tragedy. The next year, Georgia was hit by the worst floods in its history. When then-President Donald Trump named George as the United States Secretary of Agriculture in 2017, George quickly departed this position. During the former President’s term, he held this role.
Sonny Perdue’s Net Worth
The former Secretary of Agriculture has a net worth of roughly $6 million as of March 2024. His net worth grew significantly during his time as a state senator, whether as a Democrat or a Republican. Furthermore, since he was the former Secretary of Agriculture, his net worth has skyrocketed.
Mr. Perdue had devoted himself to improving a variety of areas, including educational reforms, tourism, cultural affairs, and financial concerns, among others. He had even garnered numerous honors for giving financial aid to farmers amid trade conflicts as well as for his special pandemic food distribution program.
Sonny Perdue Wife, Marriage
Sonny Perdue For the past four years, he had been seeing Mary Ruff. The couple opted to marry in a private ceremony in 1972. According to recent accounts, the couple has four children and fourteen grandchildren. Aside from that, the couple has fostered a large number of children.
George is recognized for being a sports fan in addition to his professional career. He had, however, previously been involved in a scandal in which he was accused of flying a state helicopter without a license.
