[8] However, as he revealed during a guest lecture in University of Brawijaya, he graduated very late at age of 26 years old, as his education was interrupted due to his involvement in the May 1998 riots.

This garnered national controversy and prompted an ethics enquiry from the university's council of professors and deans.

He later became a bus conductor when he was just a teenager, and eventually became a public transportation driver when he was in senior high school.

[14] During 2019 Indonesian presidential election, Lahadalia supported Joko Widodo for his run for second term of his presidency.

[14] For his work for Joko Widodo campaign in defending his presidency, in October 2019, he was appointed head of BKPM (Indonesian: Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal, English: Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board).