A Watch Collection at Odds with Populist Image
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who positions himself as a champion of the working class, has faced scrutiny after being spotted wearing luxury watches valued in the thousands during his campaign. The Washington Free Beacon review identified multiple high-end timepieces, including a Sinn U-1 SE German diver's watch (approximately $4,000) and an Omega Speedmaster Moon Phase Chronograph (around $10,000), in campaign materials and social media posts.
El-Sayed, who has called for taxing "billionaire wealth" and criticized "oligarchs," previously condemned luxury watch advertising in his 2020 book *Healing Politics*. He wrote that Rolex billboards exacerbate "material insecurity" by reminding lower-income drivers of their financial struggles. Yet the candidate, who once asked "How many people who drive this road can actually afford one of those?", has been photographed wearing watches costing up to 10 times the average monthly U.S. grocery bill.
Financial Disclosures Reveal Growing Wealth
El-Sayed's financial disclosures show his net worth has increased since his 2018 gubernatorial bid. He and his wife, psychiatrist Sarah Jukaku, reported $237,000 in income in 2016. By 2025, his financial filing listed earnings of $278,939 as Wayne County health director, $50,000 from paid speeches, and ownership of Incision Media LLC (valued at $100,000, $250,000). The couple also owns rental properties in Michigan and India, estimated at $750,000 combined.
El-Sayed's campaign defended his watch collection, stating he wears the Mühle Glashütte S.A.R. Rescue-Timer ("because he is trying to rescue our politics from corporate corruption") and a vintage "Doctors Watch" ("because he is a doctor"). Though El-Sayed attended medical school at Columbia University, he never completed residency training or obtained a medical license. His wife's private psychiatry practice, Mind Work Psychiatry, does not accept insurance, requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket.
Watch collector Josh Rogin praised El-Sayed's "impressive" collection, noting some pieces "cannot be bought in a retail store." The candidate's fashion choices drew attention last year when stylist Sophie Strauss attempted to align his wardrobe with his radical politics. During the session, El-Sayed wore a watch resembling a Rolex Submariner (retail price: ~$15,000), though his campaign denies he owns one.
El-Sayed's populist rhetoric has focused on corporate influence and healthcare access. He supports "Medicare for All" and has stated, "Why do we have a trillionaire when the rest of us can barely afford groceries or healthcare?" Critics argue his personal spending habits conflict with this message. "It's hypocritical for someone advocating taxing the wealthy to flaunt luxury items," said one Michigan voter, who requested anonymity.