Michael Cohen: Age, Education, Wife, Daughter, Father In Law, and Trump
Michael Cohen Biography
Michael Cohen is an American former attorney and political figure, widely recognized for his role as personal counsel to Donald J. Trump and as a former executive vice president of The Trump Organization. He also held leadership roles as co-president of Trump Entertainment and served on the board of the Eric Trump Foundation, a children’s health charity. In addition, Cohen served as deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Following legal troubles linked to his work with Trump, Cohen was sentenced to prison. On April 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that Cohen would be released early to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Education
Michael Cohen attended Woodmere Academy before earning a Bachelor of Arts from American University in 1988. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1991.
Michael Cohen Age and Birthday
Born on August 25, 1966, in Lawrence, New York, Michael Dean Cohen is 59 years old as of 2025. He celebrates his birthday annually on August 25.
Nationality and Ethnicity
Cohen is American by nationality. He was born and raised in Lawrence, New York, and comes from a Jewish-American heritage.
Family Background
Michael Cohen was raised in a Jewish family on Long Island. His father, a Holocaust survivor, worked as a surgeon, while his mother was a nurse. Specific names and further details about his parents are not publicly disclosed.
Michael Cohen Wife and Marriage
In 1994, Cohen married Laura Shusterman, a Ukrainian-born American. Her father, Fima Shusterman, immigrated from Soviet Ukraine to the U.S. in 1975. According to various reports, Fima Shusterman was instrumental in introducing Michael to Donald Trump—a connection that would eventually shape Cohen’s professional trajectory.
Children
Michael and Laura Cohen have two children: a daughter, Samantha Blake Cohen, and a son, Jake Ross Cohen.
Michael Cohen Daughter – Samantha Blake Cohen
Samantha Cohen, the eldest child of Michael and Laura, graduated in 2018 from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in political science. During her time there, she was a member of the Tabard Society, a non-Greek women’s social group. Samantha occasionally made headlines during her father’s legal battles, standing publicly by his side.
Height
Michael Cohen is approximately 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall. Other body measurements are not publicly available.
Cohen Michael – Trump
Michael Cohen was once one of Donald Trump’s most trusted confidants and legal representatives. Serving as Trump’s personal attorney for over a decade, Cohen was often referred to as Trump’s “fixer”—handling sensitive, and at times ethically questionable, matters on his behalf. Cohen worked as Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization and was deeply involved in managing Trump’s legal and business affairs.
However, their relationship soured dramatically after Cohen became a central figure in investigations into Trump’s campaign finances and potential misconduct. Once fiercely loyal, Cohen turned into one of Trump’s harshest critics—publicly accusing him of lying, corruption, and abuse of power. He has testified before Congress, offering explosive allegations about Trump’s conduct, and continues to speak out against the president.
Why Did Michael Cohen Go to Jail?
Michael Cohen went to jail after pleading guilty in 2018 to multiple federal crimes, including:
Campaign finance violations: Cohen admitted to paying hush money to two women (Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal) during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence allegations of affairs with Donald Trump. He stated he made those payments at Trump’s direction in order to influence the election.
Tax evasion: He failed to report millions in income and evaded taxes over several years.
Bank fraud: Cohen made false statements to secure loans from financial institutions.
Lying to Congress: He admitted to misleading lawmakers about the extent of Trump’s business dealings in Russia—specifically, discussions about the proposed Trump Tower Moscow project.
Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison, serving part of that time at Otisville Federal Correctional Institution before being released to house arrest due to COVID-19 concerns.
Did Biden Pardon Michael Cohen?
No, President Joe Biden did not pardon Michael Cohen. Although Cohen served time in prison and later under house arrest for crimes linked to his work with Donald Trump—including campaign finance violations and lying to Congress—he was not granted a presidential pardon. His sentence was completed in 2021 without clemency from either Trump or Biden. Notably, Cohen has stated he never expected a pardon from Trump after their falling out, and he remained critical of both administrations regarding his legal treatment.
Michael Cohen Testimony and Hearings
Cohen became a key witness in multiple investigations involving Donald Trump. His public testimony before Congress in 2019 was a high-profile moment, during which he implicated the former president in various unethical and potentially criminal activities.
Father-in-Law: Fima Shusterman
Fima Shusterman, Cohen’s father-in-law, is a Ukrainian-born businessman who immigrated to New York in the 1970s. According to Trump biographer David Cay Johnston, Shusterman introduced Cohen to Trump—a relationship that would ultimately define much of Cohen’s public life.
COVID-19 Prison Release
After pleading guilty and beginning his prison sentence, Cohen’s legal team petitioned for his early release due to the coronavirus pandemic. Initially rejected, the court later approved house arrest to complete his sentence. Following a 14-day quarantine, he was permitted to finish serving his time at home.
Michael Cohen Book
Michael Cohen is the author of the explosive memoir titled “Disloyal: A Memoir – The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump”, published in September 2020. The book offers a damning insider account of Cohen’s years working with Trump. In it, Cohen details Trump’s alleged dishonesty, manipulation, racism, and willingness to bend or break the law for personal gain. The memoir also serves as a confession and a form of atonement, as Cohen reflects on his role in enabling Trump’s behavior and the consequences he faced. The book quickly became a bestseller and has been used by investigators, journalists, and political analysts to better understand the inner workings of Trump’s orbit.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Michael Cohen’s estimated net worth is $8 million, significantly lower than his former financial standing prior to legal issues and incarceration.
In the News
Once known as Trump’s most loyal confidant, Cohen has since repositioned himself as one of Trump’s most vocal critics. He has written a memoir titled “Disloyal: A Memoir”, in which he chronicles his time with Trump and his path to redemption. Cohen remains a figure of interest in ongoing legal and political analyses involving the former president.