“Thank you to Jesús, my husband, for accompanying me.”
That was how Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, acknowledged her husband after her historic election victory. For someone who has spent decades in the public eye, this simple statement offered a rare glimpse into her private life. But who exactly is Jesús María Tarriba Unger, the man standing by her side?
Who Is Claudia Sheinbaum’s Husband?
Jesús María Tarriba Unger isn’t a politician, a celebrity, or a public figure. He’s a physicist and financial risk specialist, a man who has built his career in the banking industry, not on the campaign trail. But his connection to Sheinbaum runs deeper than recent headlines. Their love story began decades ago, long before Mexico even knew her name.
A Love Story Decades in the Making
Sheinbaum and Tarriba first met as students at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), both studying physics. However, life took them in different directions. Sheinbaum became a scientist and later a politician, while Tarriba pursued a career in finance, spending 18 years in Spain working in the banking sector.
They reconnected in 2016 when Sheinbaum was serving as the mayor of Tlalpan in Mexico City. As she recalls:
“We saw each other again around Christmas, and we hit it off very well. He returned to Spain, then came back to Mexico, and then I went to Spain to see him. That’s when he told me, ‘I want to go to Mexico with you.’”
For both of them, it wasn’t just a reunion, it was a second chance. A few years later, their relationship became public, and in November 2023, they officially tied the knot in a small, intimate civil ceremony in Mexico City.
What Does Jesús María Tarriba Unger Do?
Unlike many spouses of world leaders, Tarriba has largely stayed out of the spotlight. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from UNAM and has built a respected career in financial risk management. Currently, he works as a financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico (Banxico), where he has been employed since 2017.
Before that, he spent years working in the financial industry in both Mexico and Spain, where he was a quantitative analyst at Banamex and later worked for Banco Santander in Madrid. His expertise lies in developing models for valuing and measuring financial risks, a highly specialized field that requires both analytical skills and a deep understanding of global markets.
Tarriba has also received recognition for his work. In 1994, he was awarded the Weizmann Prize in Exact Sciences by the Mexican Academy of Sciences for having the best doctoral thesis in the country. His work has contributed significantly to risk assessment models in banking, ensuring stability in financial markets.
A Different Kind of First Gentleman
With Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency, Jesús María Tarriba Unger will step into a role that Mexico hasn’t seen before, a First Gentleman instead of a First Lady. Unlike traditional political spouses, he has no background in public affairs, no interest in policy-making, and no history of political involvement.
This raises an interesting question: what kind of role will he play? So far, he has remained a private and supportive partner, preferring to let Sheinbaum take center stage. But as the first First Gentleman of Mexico, his presence alone is a historic shift in the country’s political landscape.
While past First Ladies in Mexico have taken on highly public roles, promoting social causes and leading initiatives, Tarriba’s background suggests he may continue focusing on his career. However, his expertise in economic risk management could position him as an informal advisor to Sheinbaum, particularly on financial and economic issues that Mexico faces during her administration.
Sheinbaum and Tarriba’s Dynamic as a Couple
Despite his reserved public presence, Tarriba has played an essential role in Sheinbaum’s life. During her campaign, she frequently referenced him as a source of emotional support. Their relationship contrasts sharply with her previous marriage to Carlos Ímaz Gispert, a former politician embroiled in multiple controversies, including a corruption scandal in the early 2000s.
Sheinbaum and Tarriba’s relationship seems rooted in mutual respect and intellectual compatibility rather than political maneuvering. They share a common academic background in physics, and both have had successful careers in highly specialized fields.
While Sheinbaum has taken on a highly visible leadership role, Tarriba appears content to remain behind the scenes, much like Jill Biden before Joe Biden’s presidency or Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron, before he took office in France.
How the Public Views Their Relationship
Mexican media has taken note of how different Sheinbaum and Tarriba’s relationship is compared to past presidential couples. Historically, the spouses of Mexican presidents have been expected to be highly public figures, often spearheading social programs or representing the country on the international stage. Tarriba’s decision to remain largely private has intrigued many, leading to speculation about how much influence he will have in his wife’s presidency.
While some see his low profile as a refreshing change from the often-extravagant roles of First Ladies, others question whether he will take on a more public role as Sheinbaum’s presidency unfolds. Either way, his background in finance could provide valuable insight behind the scenes, even if he never takes the political spotlight himself.
