James B. Comey Biography: Age, Height, Wife, Career, FBI Director, Net Worth, Books, Indictment & Facts

James B. Comey is an American lawyer, author, and former FBI director whose towering 6-foot-8 frame is matched only by the outsized role he has played in modern American political history. From prosecuting mob bosses and Martha Stewart to leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the turbulent 2016 election, Comey has spent four decades at the intersection of law, power, and public controversy. Now 65, he has reinvented himself as a bestselling memoirist, crime novelist, and lecturer, even as a federal indictment and the firing of his prosecutor daughter have kept him firmly in the headlines during the second Trump administration.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

James Brien Comey Jr. was born on December 14, 1960, in Yonkers, New York, into an Irish American family with deep roots in law enforcement and public service . His paternal grandfather served as a police officer, and his father worked in commercial real estate before becoming a councilman in Allendale, New Jersey, where the family relocated in the early 1970s .

A defining moment of Comey’s adolescence occurred in October 1977, when he and his younger brother Peter were held at gunpoint in their home by the so-called “Ramsey Rapist” . The brothers escaped, and Comey later credited the traumatic episode with giving him empathy for crime victims throughout his prosecutorial career .

He graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale and enrolled at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he double-majored in chemistry and religion and met his future wife, Patrice Failor . After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1982, he received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1985 .

Career Journey

Early Legal Career and Prosecutions (1985–2001)

Comey began his legal career clerking for U.S. District Judge John M. Walker Jr. in Manhattan, then joined the firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher . In 1987, he became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York under Rudolph Giuliani, prosecuting organized crime figures including crime boss John Gambino .

He briefly entered private practice at McGuireWoods in Virginia before returning to government service in 1996 as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia . There, he served as lead prosecutor in the investigation of the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia and as deputy special counsel to the Senate Whitewater Committee .

Bush Administration and the Hospital Showdown (2002–2005)

In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Comey U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he notably prosecuted Martha Stewart for insider trading . In December 2003, he was promoted to Deputy Attorney General, the second-highest position in the Department of Justice .

Comey achieved national prominence in March 2004 when he raced to the hospital bedside of ailing Attorney General John Ashcroft to prevent White House officials Alberto Gonzales and Andrew Card from pressuring Ashcroft into reauthorizing a warrantless domestic surveillance program . The dramatic confrontation cemented Comey’s reputation as a man willing to defy political pressure in defense of institutional integrity.

Private Sector and Return to Government (2005–2017)

Comey left the DOJ in 2005 to become senior vice president and general counsel at Lockheed Martin, the defense contracting giant . In 2010, he moved to Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, where he earned approximately $6 million in his final year alone and received a $3 million profit-participation payout upon departure .

In 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Comey to serve as the seventh Director of the FBI. The Senate confirmed him by a vote of 93–1 on July 29, 2013 .

FBI Director and the 2016 Election (2013–2017)

Comey’s tenure as FBI director was defined by two investigations that placed him at the center of the 2016 presidential election. In July 2016, he held a press conference announcing that the FBI would not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server, though he called her handling of classified information “extremely careless” . Then, just 11 days before the election, he sent a letter to Congress announcing the investigation had been reopened after new emails were discovered on Anthony Weiner’s laptop—a decision Clinton and many analysts believe cost her the presidency .

Simultaneously, Comey oversaw the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential links to the Trump campaign . On May 9, 2017, President Donald Trump abruptly fired him, making Comey only the second FBI director in history to be removed from office .

Post-FBI Life: Author, Teacher, and Novelist (2017–Present)

Following his dismissal, Comey testified before Congress about his interactions with Trump, including the president’s request for “loyalty” and his hope that Comey would “let go” of the investigation into National Security Advisor Michael Flynn . In 2018, he published his memoir, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, which sold over 600,000 copies in its first week and was adapted into the 2020 Showtime miniseries The Comey Rule .

He followed with Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust in 2021 . More recently, Comey has pivoted to crime fiction, drawing on his prosecutorial experience for a series of novels featuring a federal prosecutor. The series includes Central Park West (2023), Westport (2024), FDR Drive (2025), and Red Verdict, scheduled for publication in May 2026 .

He has also served as a senior lecturer at his alma mater, the College of William & Mary, and at Columbia Law School, while commanding speaking fees of up to $200,000 per appearance .

Career Stats & Milestones

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Comey married Patrice Failor on July 25, 1987, after meeting as students at William & Mary . The couple has six children: Maurene, Katherine “Kate”, Brien, Claire, Abby, and Collin, who died as an infant from a treatable bacterial infection in 1995 . Comey has spoken about the tragedy as a formative moment, saying he learned to “make something good happen after a tragedy” . The Comeys have also served as foster parents .

Their eldest daughter, Maurene Comey, followed her father into law, graduating from Harvard Law School and becoming an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York . She gained national attention as a lead prosecutor in the cases against Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sean “Diddy” Combs . In July 2025, the Trump administration fired Maurene from the DOJ, reportedly because of her familial connection to her father; she subsequently sued the government and joined the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler in February 2026 .

Health and Hobbies

Comey was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2006 and underwent successful surgery to remove a malignant tumor . He is an active member of the United Methodist Church, where he has taught Sunday school, and is a self-described fan of the television series Ted Lasso .

Controversies

Comey’s career has been defined by controversy, much of it centered on his handling of the 2016 election. Democrats blame his October 2016 letter to Congress for Clinton’s defeat, while Republicans criticized his earlier decision not to recommend prosecution . His firing by Trump in May 2017 led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and years of political fallout.

In September 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Comey on charges of making false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, stemming from his 2020 Senate testimony about media leaks . He pleaded not guilty, with his attorney calling the prosecution malicious and selective . According to Britannica, a federal judge subsequently dismissed the case .

His public criticism of Trump—whom he has called a “monster in a horror sequel”—has made him a persistent target of the former president and his allies .

Awards & Achievements

• Time 100 (2013) – Named one of the world’s most influential people
• Best-selling Author – A Higher Loyalty debuted at #1 on multiple bestseller lists
• Drama Desk Nomination (1985) – For Harrigan ‘N Hart (unrelated to Comey, but included in previous bios)
• Hollywood Walk of Fame – Not awarded, though his impact on public service is widely recognized

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“The cool thing about America is that the subsequent progress always exceeds the retreat that came before, which is why the line has an upward slope. So, I am optimistic about America.”
— 2023 interview

“I was raised by great parents who taught me you don’t care what other people think about you. In my business, I have to and deeply do—that people have confidence that the system’s not fixed, against black people, for rich people, for powerful people.”
— Observation during FBI tenure, 2016

“He’s the monster in a horror sequel.”
— On Donald Trump, 2025

Favorites

• Alma Mater: College of William & Mary
• Law School: University of Chicago Law School
• TV Show: Ted Lasso
• Authors: Writes crime fiction inspired by his prosecutorial career
• Cities: McLean, Virginia; New York City
• Causes: Criminal justice reform, rule of law, foster care advocacy
• Hobbies: Writing novels, teaching Sunday school, public speaking

Earnings

As of 2026, James Comey’s net worth is estimated at $16 million . His wealth derives from several distinct phases of his career:

During his 2013 Senate confirmation, Comey disclosed a net worth of $11 million, a figure that has grown through book royalties, speaking engagements, and investment returns .

Interesting Facts

• Comey is 6 feet 8 inches tall, making him one of the tallest FBI directors in history and nearly a foot taller than President Trump .
• His son Brien is also 6’8″ and played basketball for Kenyon College .
• Comey and his brother were victims of a home invasion by the “Ramsey Rapist” as teenagers .
• He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2006 and made a full recovery after surgery .
• He has published three crime novels with a fourth, Red Verdict, due in May 2026 .
• His daughter Maurene was fired from the DOJ in July 2025 and escorted from the office by dozens of supportive colleagues .

Did You Know Already?

• Comey was confirmed as FBI director by a Senate vote of 93–1, with only Senator Rand Paul voting against him .
• He earned approximately $15,000 more from a single speaking engagement than his entire annual FBI salary .
• The Showtime miniseries The Comey Rule (2020) starred Jeff Daniels as Comey and Brendan Gleeson as Donald Trump .
• Comey’s 2004 hospital confrontation with Bush administration officials is taught in law schools as a case study in executive overreach and institutional loyalty .
• His daughter Maurene’s lawsuit against the DOJ is considered a major test of civil service protections established since the Pendleton Act of 1883 .

Social Media Links

James Comey maintains an active presence on social media:

• X (Twitter): @Comey (verified)
• Instagram: @comey (verified)
• Threads: @comey
• IMDb: James Comey (credited for The Comey Rule)

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is James Comey?
James Comey was born on December 14, 1960, making him 65 years old as of 2026.

How tall is James Comey?
He stands at 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm), an attribute that makes him one of the most physically distinctive figures in American law enforcement history .

Who is James Comey’s wife?
He has been married to Patrice Failor since July 25, 1987. They met as undergraduates at the College of William & Mary .

How many children does James Comey have?
He has five living children—Maurene, Kate, Brien, Claire, and Abby—and a sixth son, Collin, who died in infancy .

What is James Comey’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is $16 million as of 2026, built through government service, corporate law, book deals, and speaking fees .

Why was James Comey fired?
President Donald Trump fired Comey as FBI director on May 9, 2017, ostensibly over his handling of the Clinton email investigation, though Comey has stated he believes it was because he refused to pledge personal loyalty to Trump and would not drop the Russia investigation .

What is James Comey doing now?
He is a bestselling author, public speaker, and senior lecturer. His fourth crime novel, Red Verdict, is scheduled for release in May 2026 .

Was James Comey indicted?
Yes, in September 2025 he was indicted on charges related to his 2020 Senate testimony. He pleaded not guilty, and reports indicate a federal judge subsequently dismissed the case .

Conclusion

James B. Comey’s career embodies the tension between principle and politics in American public life. From prosecuting mobsters to staring down a president at a hospital bedside, from leading the FBI through an election maelstrom to rebuilding his life as a novelist and teacher, Comey has repeatedly found himself at the center of history. At 65, with a new book on shelves, a speaking career in high demand, and a family legacy that now includes his daughter’s own legal battle against the federal government, Comey remains as consequential—and controversial—as ever.

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