Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
How Much Taller Is Bill De Blasio Than Mayor Bloomberg?
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 10, 2013
Modified Sep 10, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
involving lining up the podiums
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 10, 2013
Modified Sep 10, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last month, Fran Lebowitz psychoanalyzed Mayor Bloomberg for the NY Times, noting that Bloomberg's height has something to do with the man he is today. Lebowitz, who hates Bloomberg, explained:
I think it's very important that we don't ever have a mayor this rich or this short. The richness comes from the shortness, this is what I believe. I believe every single person suffers for what happens to boys on playgrounds. So I really believe that a short boy gets bullied by taller boys, or ignored by them, or doesn't have the same status as they do, they grow up, they get very rich, to kind of get back at these tall boys, and then everyone suffers for this. I like de Blasio for many reasons, but his height is very important.
Jon Stewart also noted that if de Blasio wins, there will be the "greatest incumbent-successor size discrepancy in the history of swearing-in ceremonies" and provided this visual:

So how much taller is de Blasio than Bloomberg? Well, de Blasio is 6'5" and the NY Times has reported, "Mr. Bloomberg’s height has been reported as being anywhere from 5-feet-6 (in news articles) to 5-feet-10 (on his driver’s license)." We haven't been able to locate any photographs of Bloomberg and de Blasio standing next to each other, so we found two images from the 2010 swearing-in ceremony and created the image at top for an approximation of the differential. The original images are below.

Bill de Blasio at the 2010 inauguration (Getty Images)

Mayor Bloomberg at the 2010 inauguration (Getty Images)
Now we just need to know how de Blasio looks in a pair of pleated khaki shorts and loafers with white socks!
Tagged
bill de blasio
daily show
Election 2013
height
mayor bloomberg
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .