Former first lady Michelle Obama is revisiting her roots, sharing intimate details about her childhood in a new podcast alongside her brother, Craig Robinson. In the debut episode of “IMO,” set to air on March 12, the former first lady opens up about growing up in a modest Chicago apartment, a stark contrast to her current luxurious lifestyle.
Michelle Obama: From Humble Dwellings
The first episode of the podcast takes listeners back to Obama’s early years, with special attention given to the small apartment where she and her brother shared a room. The home, located on South Euclid Avenue in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, was a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in a two-family building that also housed her great-aunt and her husband. Obama’s parents, Marian and Fraser Robinson, rented the second-floor unit, where she spent much of her youth.
Although the apartment was cramped, Obama has often recalled that it was filled with warmth and love. During a 2023 appearance on the “Your Mama’s Kitchen” podcast, she reflected on the deep family connection fostered by the modest space. “When I hear about [families] who don’t eat dinner together, I can’t envision that,” she said. “You have to sit at the table. There was a process, a ritual of dinnertime.”
The Robinson family lived in the apartment until Obama was a young adult. The entire property, which was owned by her great-aunt Robbie in Michelle Obama’s childhood, sold for $70,000 in 1997. Today, the home is valued at approximately $180,000, according to Realtor.com.
In “Becoming,” her 2018 memoir, Obama elaborated on the details of the home, explaining that it had originally been designed as a single-family residence but had been converted into two apartments. Her parents rented the upper floor, while her aunt and uncle lived below. Despite the small size, Obama described the apartment as a place of enduring family memories, especially the shared meals and rituals.
Her childhood home offers a stark contrast to the sprawling homes Obama and her husband now inhabit. The couple owns several properties across the United States, including a multimillion-dollar estate in Martha’s Vineyard and a luxurious residence in Washington, D.C., where they’ve lived since leaving the White House. They also maintain a property in Chicago’s upscale Kenwood neighborhood, as well as a multimillion-dollar mansion in Hawaii.
Their D.C. home, a nine-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom mansion in Kalorama Heights, cost the Obamas $8.1 million when they purchased it in 2017. This property, which was previously owned by Joe Lockhart, former press secretary to President Bill Clinton, serves as the couple’s primary residence. Obama has jokingly mentioned in interviews that her husband, Barack, was “shortchanged” with the smallest room for his office, despite the home’s vast size.
The family’s Martha’s Vineyard property, purchased in 2019 for $11.75 million, offers a seven-bedroom estate with a private coastline and luxurious amenities. Their Hawaii home, situated on Oahu, is part of a private development by their close friend Marty Nesbitt, with a waterfront location and a luxurious compound.
While Obama’s current lifestyle is far removed from the humble apartment of her youth, she continues to speak fondly of her early experiences. Through the podcast and other platforms, Obama is sharing her journey with the world — offering a glimpse into the person she became despite growing up in challenging circumstances. As the series unfolds, it promises to highlight not only the challenges of her upbringing but the resilience and strength that shaped her life and career.
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