Dianne Emiel Goldman was born in San Francisco, California, to Leon Goldman, a prominent surgeon, and Betty (née Rosenburg) Goldman. Her upbringing in a middle-class Jewish family in the city significantly shaped her understanding of the local community and instilled in her a deep connection to San Francisco.

Feinstein graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Her education provided her with a strong foundation in critical thinking and an understanding of historical contexts, which would prove invaluable throughout her political career.