See Barack Obama’s Best Throwback Photos, as the Former President Celebrates His 65th Birthday
See Barack Obama’s Best Throwback Photos, as the Former President Celebrates His 65th Birthday
Andrea Wurzburger, Stephanie SengweTue, August 4, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC
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Credit: Steve Liss/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty
Happy birthday, Barack Obama!
The former president, who celebrates his 65th trip around the sun on Aug. 4, 2026, grew up in Hawaii with his mother Ann Dunham before pursuing higher education at Columbia University and Harvard. At the Boston school, he received his law degree and met the love of his life, Michelle Obama, with whom he went on to have two daughters: Malia and Sasha.
To mark his 65th birthday, look back at photos of the politician from his early years.
01 of 16
Baby Barack
From left: former President Barack Obama with his mother, Ann Dunham, in Hawaii in the ‘60sCredit: Courtesy The Obama Foundation
Before he was the leader of the free world, he was just a little boy in Hawaii. Here he is pictured with his mother, Ann Dunham, in the ‘60s.
02 of 16
Congrats, Grad
Credit: Laura S. L. Kong/Getty
In 1979, a young Barack Obama escorted a classmate during the graduation ceremony at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii.
03 of 16
Young Love
Michelle Obama/Twitter
In 1989, Barack Obama met Michelle Robinson while they worked together at a Chicago-based law firm. Michelle, who was also a Harvard Law alumna, was assigned to be his mentor.
04 of 16
Read All About It
Barack Obama/Instagram
The former FLOTUS was originally not interested in dating her co-worker. “After about a month, Barack, about a month in, asked me out, and I thought no way. This is completely tacky,” Michelle told ABC News.
Eventually, though, she gave in — and the rest is history!
05 of 16
Booked and Busy
Credit: Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty
The former President of the United States was also the President of the Harvard Law Review in 1990. Above, the future president is photographed in school’s library.
06 of 16
Harvard Grad
Credit: Joe Wrinn/Harvard University/Corbis via Getty
Obama is one of the few people we know who looks great in a yearbook photo. This shot is from the Harvard Law 1991 yearbook.
07 of 16
Winning Smile
Credit: Steve Liss/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty
Obama showed off his megawatt smile in this snap taken while on campus.
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08 of 16
Power Couple
Name a couple more iconic than this duo, we’ll wait.
09 of 16
To Have and to Hold
Michelle Obama/Instagram
After getting engaged in 1991, the pair wed in Chicago on Oct. 3, 1992. According to Michelle, “Barack didn’t pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he delivered.”
10 of 16
Life of the Party
On their 25th anniversary, Michelle wrote of her husband on Instagram, “You can’t tell it from this photo, but Barack woke up on our wedding day in October, 1992 with a nasty head cold. Somehow, by the time I met him at the altar, it had miraculously disappeared and we ended up dancing almost all night. Twenty five years later, we’re still having fun, while also doing the hard work to build our partnership and support each other as individuals. I can’t imagine going on this wild ride with anybody else.”
11 of 16
One Lucky Guy
Some friendly advice: Get a man who looks at you the way Barack Obama looked at his wife on their wedding day!
12 of 16
He’s a Cool Dad
The Obamas welcomed their oldest daughter, Malia Ann Obama, on July 4, 1998, and her little sister Sasha on July 10, 2001.
13 of 16
Family Fun
Posting a throwback photo from a family vacation, Michelle wished her husband a happy birthday, captioning the sweet pic, “Happy birthday to my favorite guy. Here’s to all the good days, blue skies and new adventures to come.”
14 of 16
Lots of Laughs
“Thank you for the way you love our girls—and all the young people in this country, no matter who they are or where they come from,” Michelle wrote on Father’s Day 2020. “We feel your warmth and generosity today and everyday. Happy Father’s Day, Barack! ❤️”
15 of 16
There’s Snow-body Like Obama
Obama enjoyed some winter fun with his little snow angels in this throwback photo.
16 of 16
Making History
Barack Obama and family membersCredit: STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty
Barack was joined by Michelle and their two girls when he made history as the first African American president of the United States in 2008.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
