Alina Habba Biography: Age, Husband, Trump Lawyer Career, U.S. Attorney Role, Height & more

Alina Habba is one of the most controversial and closely watched lawyers in American politics. A Chaldean Catholic Iraqi-American attorney, she rose from a small New Jersey law practice to become Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, a Counselor to the President, and briefly the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey — all while drawing headlines for her fierce loyalty to Trump, courtroom battles, and personal dramas. Her rapid ascent, mixed legal record, and headline-grabbing personal life have made her a polarizing figure in Washington and beyond.

Quick Facts

Related personalities: Donald Trump (former client and political ally), Karoline Leavitt (White House Press Secretary), E. Jean Carroll (opposing party in defamation case), Letitia James (NY Attorney General), Michael Cohen (former Trump attorney, opposing party), Gregg Reuben (ex-husband), Matthew Eyet (ex-husband).

Early Life & Education

Alina Saad Habba was born on March 25, 1984, in Summit, New Jersey, to Chaldean Catholic parents who emigrated from Iraq in the early 1980s to flee religious persecution of Catholic Arabs. She grew up with two siblings in a tight-knit immigrant family that valued faith, education, and hard work.

Habba attended the prestigious Kent Place School, an all-girls preparatory school in Summit, graduating in 2002. She then enrolled at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2005.

Interestingly, Habba did not go straight to law school. After college, she spent two years working in the fashion industry at Marc Jacobs, where she worked in accessories production and marketing. She later joked that she decided to pursue law because she wanted to be able to afford the luxury bags she was helping create: “I decided I wanted to be able to actually afford the bags we made so I decided to go to law school.”

She enrolled at Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Pennsylvania and earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2010. After law school, she completed a yearlong clerkship with then-New Jersey Superior Court Judge Eugene Codey Jr. in Newark’s Civil Division.

Career Journey

Early Legal Career & Fashion Roots (2010–2020)

After her clerkship, Habba spent eight years in private practice at two separate law firms, building experience in civil and commercial litigation. In 2020, she took a bold step and founded her own firm, Habba, Madaio & Associates LLP, based in Bedminster, New Jersey — just minutes from Trump’s National Golf Club. The firm also maintained offices in New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

During this period, she earned recognition as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2016 to 2022 and was named to the “Top 100 Lawyers in America” list. She also handled cases related to negligent nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joining Trump’s Legal Team (2021)

Habba’s life changed dramatically in 2019 when she became a member at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. She met Donald Trump at the club, and by September 2021, he hired her to replace several long-established attorneys who had withdrawn from his cases.

Trump later explained the hiring simply: “I met her at the club. I said, ‘What do you do?’ Other people also know her at the club and they say she’s an excellent attorney, which she is.”

Her first major assignment was filing a $100 million lawsuit against The New York Times, three of its reporters, and Trump’s niece Mary L. Trump over the publication of his tax returns. The suit was ultimately dismissed.

High-Profile Cases & National Spotlight (2022–2024)

Habba quickly became a fixture in Trump’s legal orbit, representing him in some of his most perilous cases:

• Summer Zervos defamation case — Habba filed a countersuit that led Zervos to drop her lawsuit in November 2021.
• E. Jean Carroll defamation trials — Habba served as lead attorney in the 2024 trial that resulted in an $83.3 million jury verdict against Trump. During the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan repeatedly reprimanded her for her cross-examination techniques.
• New York civil fraud case — She defended Trump in the $250 million real estate fraud case brought by Attorney General Letitia James.
• Michael Cohen lawsuit — She successfully argued for dismissal of Cohen’s lawsuit against Trump.

Trump’s Save America PAC paid Habba’s firm nearly $2 million in legal fees in 2022, and a total of $6.9 million by later counts.

Counselor to the President & RNC Stardom (2024)

In December 2024, Trump named Habba Counselor to the President, calling her “a tireless advocate for justice, a fierce defender of the rule of law, and an invaluable advisor.”

At the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Habba delivered an emotional primetime speech, describing herself as a “devout Catholic, a proud first-generation Arab American woman, and a feisty Jersey girl.” She teared up while thanking Trump for empowering her journey.

U.S. Attorney for New Jersey (2025)

In March 2025, Trump appointed Habba as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, replacing John Giordano. The appointment was highly controversial given her lack of prosecutorial experience and her status as Trump’s former personal lawyer.

As U.S. Attorney, Habba targeted Democratic officials and pursued aggressive prosecutions aligned with the administration’s priorities. However, her tenure was short-lived. In December 2025, a federal appeals court ruled her appointment violated the law, and she resigned from the position.

Post-Resignation & Florida Move (2026)

By March 2026, reports emerged that Habba had secretly divorced Gregg Reuben and relocated to Florida near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, signaling a new chapter in her personal and professional life.

Personal Life

Marriages & Family

Alina Habba has been married twice:

First Marriage — Matthew Eyet (2011–2019)
Habba married attorney Matthew Eyet in 2011. The couple had two children together:

• Chloe (daughter)
• Luke (son)

They divorced in December 2019.

Second Marriage — Gregg Reuben (2020–2026)
In 2020, Habba married Gregg Reuben, a Harvard Business School graduate and CEO of Centerpark, a New York-based parking management company. Reuben also worked as a commercial real estate investor. He brought one child from a previous relationship, Parker, into the blended family.

The couple reportedly divorced in secret in 2026, with Habba moving to Florida shortly thereafter.

Children

Habba is a mother of two biological children (Chloe and Luke) and was stepmother to Parker. She occasionally shares family photos on social media. Her son Luke has drawn attention for his impressive height at a young age — at just 9 years old, he was already standing well past his mother’s shoulder in photos.

Hobbies & Interests

Habba maintains an interest in fashion from her Marc Jacobs days, enjoys golf (which is how she met Trump), and is active on social media, where she shares glimpses of her family and lifestyle. She is also involved in charitable work, including support for Birth Haven, a charity for pregnant homeless women.

Controversies

Nearly $1 Million Sanction for Frivolous Clinton Lawsuit

In January 2023, a federal judge ordered Trump and Habba to pay nearly $1 million in legal costs for filing a frivolous RICO lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic National Committee, former FBI Director James Comey, and 28 others. The judge wrote: “No reasonable lawyer would have filed it. Intended for a political purpose, none of the counts of the amended complaint stated a cognizable legal claim.”

An appeals court upheld the $938,000 penalty in late 2025, concluding Habba had engaged in sanctionable conduct.

Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit

In 2022, a former secretary at Habba’s firm sued her for discrimination and creating a hostile work environment, alleging Habba called her a “bitch” and made racist comments. Habba settled the lawsuit in August 2024.

Bedminster NDA Scandal

In 2023, a Trump National Golf Club Bedminster employee alleged in a lawsuit that Habba had induced her into signing an illegal non-disclosure agreement after the employee intended to accuse a club manager of workplace sexual misconduct. The club settled the lawsuit in March 2024.

Praise for Andrew Tate

In January 2025, Habba faced backlash after praising Andrew Tate, the controversial influencer facing human trafficking charges in Romania. The comments drew criticism even from some Trump supporters.

Tax Liens & Financial Issues

In November 2023, In Touch Weekly reported that Habba and Reuben owed more than $1 million in tax liens and warrants. Reuben’s various LLCs were hit with tax liens totaling over $770,000, while Habba’s firm faced smaller liens in Maine.

Awards & Achievements

• Super Lawyers Rising Stars List (2016–2022) — Recognized for excellence in civil litigation
• Top 100 Lawyers in America — National recognition for legal excellence
• Counselor to the President (2024) — One of the highest-ranking advisory roles in the White House
• U.S. Attorney for New Jersey (2025) — First woman of Iraqi descent to hold the position (interim)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“Just because I’m pretty doesn’t mean I’m not a brilliant lawyer.”
— Responding to speculation that Trump hired her for her looks

“I decided I wanted to be able to actually afford the bags we made so I decided to go to law school.”
— On her transition from fashion to law

“He’s the most ethical American I know.”
— On Donald Trump, following his classified documents indictment

Favorites

Earnings

Alina Habba’s exact salary has never been publicly disclosed. Her estimated net worth is between $1 million and $5 million, based on her private legal practice, political advisory roles, and PAC payments. Some 2026 estimates place her net worth at around $5 million.

Trump’s political action committees paid her firm $6.9 million in legal fees, making her one of the highest-paid attorneys in Trump’s orbit.

Her ex-husband, Gregg Reuben, is a successful entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $2–5 million from his parking management empire.

Interesting Facts

• Habba’s parents fled Iraq in the early 1980s to escape religious persecution of Catholic Arabs.
• She worked in fashion at Marc Jacobs for two years before attending law school.
• She met Trump at his Bedminster golf club in 2019 — not through political connections.
• She was only 39 years old when she became Trump’s lead trial attorney.
• She has been described as “the most-cited journalist in the Mueller report” — wait, no, that’s Maggie Haberman. Habba has no such distinction.
• She became the first Chaldean Catholic woman to serve as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey (interim).
• Her son Luke is remarkably tall for his age, drawing comparisons to Barron Trump.
• She secretly divorced her second husband and moved to Florida in 2026, fueling speculation about her next career move.

Did You Know Already?

• Alina Habba had never done legal work for Trump before he hired her in September 2021 — she was a complete outsider to his legal team.
• The judge in the Hillary Clinton case said “no reasonable lawyer would have filed” the lawsuit that got her sanctioned nearly $1 million.
• She was a Super Lawyers Rising Star for six consecutive years before joining Trump’s team.

Social Media Links

• Instagram: @alinahabba
• X/Twitter: Limited public presence
• Official Firm: Habba Madaio & Associates LLP

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Alina Habba?

Alina Habba was born on March 25, 1984, making her 42 years 4 months old years old as of 2026.

Who is Alina Habba’s husband?

As of 2026, Habba is divorced. She was previously married to attorney Matthew Eyet (2011–2019) and businessman Gregg Reuben (2020–2026).

How many children does Alina Habba have?

She has two biological children — daughter Chloe and son Luke — from her first marriage, and was stepmother to Parker, her second husband’s son from a previous relationship.

What is Alina Habba’s net worth?

Her estimated net worth is between $1 million and $5 million, though some 2026 estimates suggest it could be closer to $5 million.

Why did Alina Habba resign as U.S. Attorney?

She resigned in December 2025 after a federal appeals court ruled her appointment violated the law and upheld her disqualification from the position.

Was Alina Habba sanctioned by a court?

Yes. In January 2023, she and Trump were ordered to pay nearly $1 million in sanctions for filing a frivolous lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and others. The penalty was upheld on appeal in 2025.

Conclusion

Alina Habba’s journey from a fashion merchandiser at Marc Jacobs to Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Counselor to the President, and interim U.S. Attorney is one of the most unconventional career arcs in modern American law. Her fierce loyalty to Trump, headline-making courtroom moments, and polarizing public persona have made her both a hero to MAGA supporters and a target of intense criticism from opponents. Whether she continues her legal career in Florida or pursues a new political role, Habba remains one of the most fascinating figures to emerge from the Trump era.

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