Digital MileiEverything you need to know about Javier Milei.
Javier Milei at the La Libertad Avanza election-night venue
Milei at the La Libertad Avanza bunker on election night (El Siete TV, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons).

Timeline

Eighteen events, 1970–2026. Dates marked ● are firmly documented; ◐ rest partly on Milei's own account.

● 22 October 1970 — Born in Buenos Aires

Javier Gerardo Milei is born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Norberto Horacio Milei and Alicia Lucich. He grows up in the Palermo neighborhood.

● 1993 — Economics degree

Graduates in economics from the University of Belgrano. Later completes postgraduate studies in economic theory and a master’s at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.

● c. 2008 — Chief economist

Milei becomes chief economist of Corporación América, the conglomerate of businessman Eduardo Eurnekian, capping two decades as a professional economist (Fundación Acordar, HSBC, Máxima AFJP, Estudio Broda). His teaching, books, and consultancy career run through the 2010s.

● 2015 — Television breakthrough

Begins regular appearances as an economics panelist on Argentine TV (Intratables, A dos voces, radio). His combative style — shouting matches, whiteboard monetary theory, denunciations of the political class — makes him a national figure.

● December 2021 — Elected to Congress

Founding the La Libertad Avanza coalition, Milei is elected national deputy for the City of Buenos Aires with about 17% of the vote. He raffles his deputy’s salary monthly by public lottery, as promised on the campaign trail.

● 13 August 2023 — Wins the PASO primary

Milei shocks the establishment by winning the open primary (PASO) with about 29.9% of the vote — the single largest force in a three-way race. Polls had underestimated him.

● 22 October 2023 — General election, second place

In the general election Milei takes 29.99%, behind Economy Minister Sergio Massa (36.78%). He advances to a runoff. Third-place finisher Patricia Bullrich (23.8%) endorses him days later, against the wishes of much of her own coalition.

● 19 November 2023 — Wins the presidency

Milei defeats Massa 55.65% to 44.35% in the runoff — the widest margin since Argentina’s return to democracy. His victory speech closes with the rally cry “¡Viva la libertad, carajo!”

● 10 December 2023 — Inauguration

Sworn in as President of Argentina. Breaking tradition, he addresses the crowd outdoors in front of Congress, declaring “no hay plata” (there’s no money) and warning of painful adjustment. His sister Karina Milei becomes Secretary General of the Presidency.

● 20 December 2023 — The mega-decree

Milei issues DNU 70/2023, a “necessity and urgency” decree with hundreds of articles deregulating rents, labor rules, aviation, healthcare prepagas, and more. Opposition lawmakers challenge it in court; parts are suspended by judges, parts take effect. See Deregulation.

● 17 January 2024 — Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Milei delivers a blistering speech warning that “the West is in danger” from collectivism and state intervention, closing with his slogan in English. The speech makes him a global right-wing celebrity.

● June 2024 — Ley Bases passes

After months of negotiation and street protests, Congress approves the Ley de Bases y Puntos de Partida para la Libertad de los Argentinos — a sweeping reform law including the RIGI investment-incentive regime. His first major legislative victory.

● 24 September 2024 — United Nations speech

Milei addresses the UN General Assembly, denouncing the UN’s development agenda as a “socialist” program and announcing Argentina will dissent from “politically correct” consensus positions.

● 5 February 2025 — WHO withdrawal announced

Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni announces Argentina will withdraw from the World Health Organization, citing “profound differences” over its pandemic management. Milei posts “we will never forget” the lockdowns. The decision echoes the Trump administration’s parallel move.

● 14 February 2025 — The $LIBRA episode

Milei promotes the $LIBRA cryptocurrency on X; the token’s price spikes then collapses within hours. He deletes the post, saying he shared it without verifying details. Opposition lawmakers allege misconduct; in June 2025 the government’s Anti-Corruption Office clears him, ruling the post a personal communication. See Criticism & Support.

● 11–14 April 2025 — IMF deal and the end of the cepo

The IMF approves a $20 billion, 48-month Extended Fund Facility (with $12bn disbursed immediately). Days later Argentina dismantles most of its currency controls (el cepo, in place since 2019) and lets the peso float within a 1,000–1,400 per dollar band. The peso slides ~10% on the first trading day; investors cheer the normalization.

● 26 October 2025 — Midterm triumph

La Libertad Avanza wins the legislative midterms with about 40.8% of the national deputy vote (Peronists ~31.7%), jumping from 37 to 93 deputies and 6 to 19 senators — enough to sustain presidential vetoes. Turnout is a historically low 67.9%. Days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly tied a promised $20bn support package to the election outcome.

● August–September 2026 — Disinflation continues, poverty rebounds

INDEC reports August 2026 monthly inflation of 1.7% — the lowest in 14 months — with annual inflation at 33.5%. But poverty climbs back to 32.3% in H1 2026 (from 28.2% in H2 2025), after peaking at 52.9% in H1 2024. The government presents its 2027 budget forecasting 4% GDP growth and 18% inflation; an IMF review mission arrives in Buenos Aires.

Source notes