Gabor Maté is a Hungarian-born Canadian physician, addiction expert, and bestselling author celebrated for his compassionate, trauma-informed approach to mental health and human development.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Gábor Maté
- Stage Name: Gabor Maté
- Born: January 6, 1944
- Age: 82 years old
- Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
- Nationality: Canadian
- Occupation: Physician, Author, Speaker
- Height: 175 cm
- Religion: Jewish
- Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Maté
- Siblings: One younger brother
- Spouse: Rae Maté
- Children: Aaron Maté, Daniel Maté, Hannah Maté
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $5 million to $8 million
Early Life and Education
Gabor Maté was born on January 6, 1944, in Nazi-occupied Budapest, Hungary, to Jewish parents.
His maternal grandparents were murdered at Auschwitz; as an infant, he was hidden by a stranger while his mother survived forced labor.
He graduated with a BA from the University of British Columbia in 1969 and earned his MD from the same institution in 1972, later completing family-practice residency.
Career
Maté practiced family medicine in Vancouver for two decades before shifting to palliative care and then addiction medicine.
From 1999–2017 he worked in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside as staff physician at the Portland Hotel Society and medical coordinator of the supervised-injection site Insite, treating thousands with severe substance-use disorders.
His trauma-focused model gained global recognition through books such as Scattered Minds (1999) on ADHD, When the Body Says No (2003) on stress and illness, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts (2008), and co-authored titles Hold On to Your Kids (2004) and The Myth of Normal (2022).
Social Media
- Instagram: @gabormatemd
- Facebook: Dr. Gabor Maté
Personal Life
Gabor Maté, now 82, has been married to artist and educator Rae Maté since 1969.
They raised three children—Aaron (journalist), Daniel (musician and co-author), and Hannah—in Vancouver.
The family emphasizes creativity, open dialogue, and healing generational wounds.
Maté openly discusses his own workaholism and parenting regrets as part of his teachings on authenticity.
He and Rae divide time between Vancouver and summer retreats on Bowen Island.
His height is 175 cm.
Net Worth
Gabor Maté’s estimated net worth ranges from $5 million to $8 million, earned primarily through decades of book sales exceeding 2 million copies worldwide, high-demand speaking fees, online training programs, and documentary royalties.