Profile Text
Birth Name: José Antonio Kast Rist
Place of Birth: Santiago, Chile
Date of Birth: 18 January, 1966
Etnhicity: German
José Antonio Kast is a Chilean lawyer and politician. He has been President of Chile , since 11 March, 2026. He has also been a Member of the Buin City Council, from 6 December, 1996 to 6 December, 2000, and a Member of the Chamber of Deputies, for District 30/District 24, from 11 March, 2002 to 11 March, 2018. He was a candidate for President of Chile in 2017, 2021, and 2025.
José Antonio is the son of German parents, Olga María Kreszencia Rist Hagspiel and Michael Martin Kast Schindele, who was a military officer and businessperson. His father was born in Thalkirchdorf, Bavaria, in 1924; he joined the Nazi Party in 1942, and fought in WWII, from 1942 to 1945. His mother was born in Ratholz, Oberstaufen, Bavaria. José Antonio’s parents moved to Chile c. 1950, settling in Buin. All of his immediate ancestry traces back to the Allgäu region in Swabia, Bavaria. His parents founded sausage business Cecinas Bavaria in Chile.
José Antonio’s brother was economist Miguel Kast, of the Chicago Boys group; Miguel was Head Minister of the National Office of Planification, from 26 December, 1978 to 29 December, 1980, Minister of Labor, from 29 December, 1980 to 22 April, 1982, and President of the Central Bank of Chile, from 23 April, 1982 to 2 September, 1982. His nephews, Miguel’s sons, are architect and politician Pablo Kast; economist, researcher, consultant, and politician Felipe Kast, who was Minister of Planning, from 11 March, 2010 to 13 October, 2011, and President of Evópoli, from 26 January, 2015 to 6 November, 2016; and politician and civil engineer Tomás Kast.
José Antonio is married to lawyer and activist Pía Adriasola (María Pía Adriasola Barroilhet). The couple has nine children, including politician José Antonio Kast Adriasola. He is a practising Catholic, of the Schoenstatt Movement.
José Antonio’s paternal grandfather was Sebastian Kast (the son of Johannes Kast and Maria Barbara Tannheimer). Sebastian was born in Oberstaufen, Swabia, Bavaria. He created a powdered milk factory in Wiedemannsdorf, Oberstaufen, in 1893; it was one of only a few factories in Germany to produce the then newly-invented product.
José Antonio’s paternal grandmother was Anna Schindele (the daughter of Joseph Anton Schindele and Anna Maria Josepha Berkmann). Anna was born in Oberstaufen, Swabia, Bavaria.
José Antonio’s maternal grandfather was named Konrad Rist (the son of parents surnamed Rist and Rasch). Konrad was born in Swabia, Bavaria. Konrad’s paternal grandparents were surnamed Rist and Mangold.
José Antonio’s maternal grandmother was named Johanna Maria Hagspiel (the daughter of Hagspiel and Mohr). Johanna was born in Swabia, Bavaria.
Source: Genealogy of José Antonio Kast Rist – https://www.geni.com