List of richest American politicians explained

This list of richest American politicians includes current and former office-holders and political appointees, and is not necessarily adjusted for inflation. Estimated wealth is at least $100 million in 2012 dollars, for all the people listed here. The amounts listed here do not necessarily pertain to the politicians' time in office (i.e. some of them may have gotten much richer later on, or lost their money before they ran for office).

Presidents

See main article: List of presidents of the United States by net worth.

NamePartyDate(s)Estimated wealth
Source of wealth
Donald TrumpRepublican2017–2021data-sort-value="3100"$7.5 billion [1] Inheritance, business, real estate
George WashingtonIndependent1789–1797data-sort-value="525"$525 million [2] Inheritance, business, marriage
Thomas JeffersonDemocratic-Republican1801–1809data-sort-value="212"$212 million Inheritance, business
Theodore RooseveltRepublican1901–1909data-sort-value="125"$125 million Inheritance
John F. KennedyDemocratic1961–1963data-sort-value="124"$124 million [3] Inheritance
Andrew JacksonDemocratic1829–1837data-sort-value="119"$119 million Marriage, business, real estate
James MadisonDemocratic-Republican1809–1817data-sort-value="101"$101 million Inheritance, business

Unsuccessful presidential candidates

width=150 Namewidth=200 Partywidth=450 Positionwidth=150 Estimated wealth
width=200 Notes
Doug BurgumRepublicanGovernor of North Dakota (2017–incumbent)
Candidate for U.S. President (2024)
$1.1 billion[4] Founded and Sold Great Plains Software to Microsoft
Vivek RamaswamyRepublicanCandidate for U.S. President (2024)$1 billion[5] Founder and CEO of Roivant Sciences and Strive Asset Management[6]
Michael BloombergDemocratic (before 2001, 2018–present)
Independent (2007–2018)
Republican (2001–2007)
Mayor of New York City (2002–2013)
Candidate for U.S. President (2020)
$106 billion[7] Founder and CEO of Bloomberg L.P.
Ross PerotIndependent (before 1995)
Reform (1995–2000)
Republican (2000–2019)
Member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (1981–85)
Member of the Select Committee on Public Education (1983)
Candidate for U.S. President (1992, 1996)
$4.1 billion[8] Founded Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems
Tom SteyerDemocraticCandidate for U.S. President (2020)$1.6 billion[9] Founder of Farallon Capital
Henry FordRepublican (before 1918)
Democratic (after 1918)
Candidate for U.S. President (1916)
Candidate for U.S. Senator from Michigan (1918)
$1.2 billion[10] Founder of Ford Motor Company
Nelson RockefellerRepublicanGovernor of New York (1959–1973)
Candidate for U.S. President (1960, 1964, 1968)
Vice President of the United States (1974–77)
$1 billion[11] Inheritance, grandson of John D. Rockefeller
Steve ForbesRepublicanMember of the Board for International Broadcasting (1985–1993)
Candidate for U.S. President (1996, 2000)
$430 million[12] Editor, publisher
Kanye WestIndependent
Birthday Party[13]
Candidate for U.S. President (2020)$1.7 billion[14] Founder of GOOD Music, CEO of DONDA, rapper, fashion designer
John DelaneyDemocratU.S. Representative from Maryland (2013–2019)
Candidate for U.S. President (2020)
$230 million[15] Entrepreneur, co-founder of Health Care Financial Partners and CapitolSource
John KerryDemocraticU.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1985–2013)
Democratic nominee for U.S. President (2004)
Secretary of State (2013–2017)
$200 millionMarriage to Teresa Heinz, the widow of John Heinz, heir to the H. J. Heinz Company
Mitt RomneyIndependent (before 1993)
Republican (1993–present)
Candidate for U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1994)
Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007)
Republican nominee for U.S. President (2012)
U.S. Senator from Utah (2019–present)
$190–250 million[16] Former CEO of Bain Capital and Bain & Company, son of Michigan Governor George W. Romney
Ted KennedyDemocraticU.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1962–2009)
Candidate for U.S. President (1980)
$163 million[17] Inherited stake in the Chicago Merchandise Mart
John HancockFederalistPresident of the Continental Congress (1775–1777, 1785–86)
Governor of Massachusetts (1780–85, 1787–93)
Candidate for U.S. President (1788)
$100 million[18] Inherited a profitable mercantile business from his uncle
Al GoreDemocraticU.S. Representative from Tennessee (1977–1985)
U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1985–1993)
Vice President (1993–2001)
Candidate for U.S. President (1988, 2000)
$100 million[19] Son of attorney and Tennessee U.S. Senator Albert Gore Sr., who owned a stake in Occidental Petroleum, book and film deals
Hillary ClintonDemocratic (1968–present)First Lady of the United States (1993–2001)
U.S. Senator from New York (2001–2009)
Candidate for U.S. President (2008, 2016)
Secretary of State (2009–2013)
$52–111 million[20] Book deals and public speaking fees from foreign/domestic sources
James M. CoxDemocraticU.S. Representative from Ohio (1909–1913)
Governor of Ohio (1913–15, 1917–21)
Democratic nominee for U.S. President (1920)
$40 million (D. 1950)[21] Founded a chain of newspapers that continues today as Cox Enterprises
Samuel J. TildenDemocraticChair of the New York Democratic Party (1866–1874)
Governor of New York (1875–1876)
Democratic nominee for U.S. President (1876)
$8.5 million (D. 1886)[22] Law practice, investments, and inheritance of Tilden's Extract

Other U.S. politicians

NamePartyPositionNet worthSource (Notes)
Walter J. Kohler Jr.RepublicanGovernor of Wisconsin (1951–1957)
Candidate for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1957)
$8.8 billion[23] Owner of Vollrath
Rick CarusoDemocraticCandidate for Mayor of Los Angeles (2022)$5.3 billion[24] Owner-founder of Caruso
Ronald LauderRepublicanDeputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy (1984–1986)Ambassador to Austria (1986–1987)

Candidate for Mayor of New York (1989)

$4.6 billionCo-owner of Estée Lauder, owner of Central European Media Enterprises
J. B. PritzkerDemocraticGovernor of Illinois (2019–incumbent)$3.5 billion[25] Inheritance, family owns the Hyatt hotel chain
Penny PritzkerDemocraticSecretary of Commerce (2013–2017)
Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery (2023–incumbent)
$2.5 billion[26] Inheritance, family owns the Hyatt hotel chain
Bill HaslamRepublicanMayor of Knoxville (2003–2011)
Governor of Tennessee (2011–2019)
$2 billion[27] Son of Jim Haslam, founder of Pilot Corporation, and former CEO of the e-commerce and catalog division of Saks Fifth Avenue
Mark DaytonDemocraticAuditor of Minnesota (1991–1995)
U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2001–2007)
Governor of Minnesota (2011–2019)
$1.6 billionGreat-grandson of George Dayton, the founder of Target[28]
Betsy DeVosRepublicanChair of the Michigan Republican Party (1996–2000; 2003–2005)
Secretary of Education (2017–2021)
$1.25 billion[29] Daughter of Edgar Prince, founder of Prince Corporation; daughter-in-law of Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway; sister of Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater
Jim JusticeRepublican (before 2015, 2017–present)
Democratic (2015–2017)
Governor of West Virginia (2017–incumbent)$1.2 billion[30] Inherited ownership of Bluestone Industries and Bluestone Coal Corporation, founder of Bluestone Farms. Owner of 70 active mines in 5 states as of 2014
Winthrop Paul RockefellerRepublicanLieutenant Governor of Arkansas (1996–2006)1.2 billion[31] [32] [33] Member of the Rockefeller Family
Richard C. BlumDemocraticFirst gentleman of San Francisco (1980–1988)
Regent of the University of California (2002–2022)
$1 billion[34] President of Blum Capital
Linda McMahonRepublicanCandidate for U.S. Senate from Connecticut (2010; 2012)
Administrator of the Small Business Administration (2017–2019)
$938 million–1.1 billion[35] Married to Vince McMahon, who inherited the professional wrestling business founded by his grandfather, Jess McMahon, now known as WWE
Herb KohlDemocratU.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1989–2012)$630 million–1.5 billion[36] Inheritance, son of Max Kohl, founder of Kohl's; former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA
C. S. MottRepublicanMayor of Flint, Michigan (1912–1914; 1918–1919)$800 millionCo-founder of General Motors
Wilbur RossRepublicanSecretary of Commerce (2017–2021)$600 million[37] Founder of private equity firm WL Ross & Co
Kelly LoefflerRepublicanU.S. Senator from Georgia (2020–2021)$500 million+[38] Married to Jeffrey Sprecher, founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange
Jane HarmanDemocraticUnited States Representative (1993–1999; 2001–2011)$500 millionInheritance, home and car audio manufacturing corporation
Bruce RaunerRepublicanGovernor of Illinois (2015–2019)$500 million+Chairman of GTCR
Amo HoughtonRepublicanU.S. Representative from New York (1987–2005)$475 million[39] Former CEO and descendant of the founder of Corning Glass Works
Glenn YoungkinRepublicanGovernor of Virginia (2022–incumbent)$470 million[40] Former CEO of The Carlyle Group
Jared PolisDemocraticU.S. Representative from Colorado (2009–2019)
Governor of Colorado (2019–incumbent)
$388 million[41] Founder of ProFlowers
Phil BredesenDemocraticMayor of Nashville (1993–1999)
Governor of Tennessee (2003—2011)
Up to $358 millionFounder of HealthAmerica Corporation
Rex TillersonRepublicanSecretary of State (2017–2018)$325 millionFormer CEO of ExxonMobil
Greg GianforteRepublicanU.S. Representative from Montana (2017–2021)
Governor of Montana (2021–incumbent)
$315 million[42] Founder of RightNow Technologies
Gina RaimondoDemocraticGeneral Treasurer of Rhode Island (2011–2015)
Governor of Rhode Island (2015–2021)
Secretary of Commerce (2021–incumbent)
$300 millionFounder of Judith Point Capital, venture capitalist, and fund development executive
Jon CorzineDemocraticU.S. Senator from New Jersey (2001–2006)
Governor of New Jersey (2006–2010)
$300 millionFormer CEO of Goldman Sachs
Terry KohlerRepublicanCandidate for Governor of Wisconsin (1982)$300 million[43] Member of the Kohler Family
Steven MnuchinRepublicanSecretary of the Treasury (2017–2021)$300 millionFormer executive of Goldman Sachs
Michael McCaulRepublicanU.S. Representative from Texas (2005–incumbent)$294 million[44] Son-in-law of Lowry Mays, founder of Clear Channel Communications
Rick ScottRepublicanGovernor of Florida (2011–2019)
U.S. Senator from Florida (2019–incumbent)
$255 million[45] Founder of Columbia Hospital Corporation
Mark WarnerDemocraticChair of the Virginia Democratic Party (1993–1995)
Candidate for U.S. Senator from Virginia (1996)
Governor of Virginia (2002–2006)
U.S. Senator from Virginia (2009–incumbent)
$243 million[46] Early investor in Nextel Communications
Dan GoldmanDemocraticCandidate for Attorney General of New York (2022)
U.S. Representative from New York (2023–incumbent)
$253 million[47] Heir to the Levi's fortune
Darrell IssaRepublicanCandidate for U.S. Senate from California (1998)
U.S. Representative from California (2001–2019; 2021–incumbent)
Nominee for Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (2019)
$220 millionFounder of Directed Electronics
Rick SnyderRepublicanGovernor of Michigan (2011–2019)$220 millionBusiness, venture capital/investment
Elizabeth Frawley BagleyDemocraticAmbassador to Portugal (1994–1997)Special Advisor to the Secretary of State (2010–2013; 2014–2017)Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly (2012)Ambassador to Brazil (2023–incumbent)$220 millionWidow of Smith Bagley, co-owner of Cellular One
Trudy Busch ValentineCandidate for U.S. Senator from Missouri (2022)$215 million[48] Daughter of Gussie Busch
Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.DemocraticChair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1934–1935)
Chair of the Maritime Commission (1937–1938)
U.S. Ambassador to the UK (1938–1940)
$200–400 million[49]
Oveta Culp HobbyDemocratic (before 1953)Republican (after 1953)Administrator of the Federal Security Agency (1953)Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1953–1955)$200 million[50] Owner of the Houston Post
Gordon SondlandRepublicanOregon State Liaison to the White House (2003–2007)Member of the Commission on White House Fellows (2007–2010)Ambassador to the European Union (2018–2020)Up to $185 million[51] Chairman of Provenance Hotels
Carl PaladinoDemocratic (before 2005)
Republican (2005–present)
Candidate for Governor of New York (2010)
Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York (2022)
$150 million[52] Retail real estate developer
Gino CampanaRepublicanFort Collins City Councillor (2013–2017)Candidate for Senator from Colorado (2022)$140.5 million[53] Real estate developer
Ralph K. DaviesDemocraticDeputy Administrator of the Petroleum Administration for War (1942–1946)$127 millionChairman of American President Lines Standard Oil executive
Bernie MorenoRepublicanCandidate for Senator from Ohio (2022)Republican nominee for Senator from Ohio (2024)$105.7 million[54] Car dealerships, blockchain investments
Mehmet OzRepublicanCandidate for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (2022)$100–$500 millionReality television personality
Arnold SchwarzeneggerRepublicanGovernor of California (2003–2011)$100–$200 million[55] Real estate, acting
Heidi GanahlRepublicanRegent of the University of Colorado (2017–2023)Republican Nominee for Governor of Colorado (2022)$100 million[56] Founder and CEO of Camp Bow Wow

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dan . Alexander . May 2, 2024 . Here's How Much Donald Trump Is Worth . Forbes.
  2. News: The Net Worth of the American Presidents: Washington to Trump. November 10, 2016. 24/7 Wall St.. April 10, 2019. 247wallst.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410142809/https://247wallst.com/special-report/2019/02/26/the-net-worth-of-the-american-presidents-washington-to-trump-2/. April 10, 2019. live.
  3. Glen Vecchione, The Little Giant Book of American Presidents, page 135 (Sterling Publishing Company 2007).
  4. Web site: America's Best Entrepreneurial Governor . en . 2023-06-05 . Forbes.
  5. Web site: Hyatt . John . How Vivek Ramaswamy Became A Billionaire . Forbes . August 21, 2023.
  6. https://www.businessinsider.com/vivek-ramaswamy-antiwoke-entrepreneur-challenging-trump-for-president-gop-2023-2
  7. Web site: Michael Bloomberg. Forbes. en. 2018-07-21.
  8. Web site: Henry Ross Perot profile . Forbes . August 16, 2016.
  9. Web site: Thomas Steyer . en . 2019-07-09 . Forbes.
  10. Web site: Wooster . Martin Morse . Henry Ford . 2022-08-03 . Philanthropy Roundtable . en-US.
  11. Geri Spieler, Taking Aim at the President: The Remarkable Story of the Woman Who Shot at Gerald Ford, page 135 (Macmillan 2008)
  12. Web site: Mitt Romney to Report Financial Assets of at Least $190 Million . . May 11, 2007 . Associated Press . August 18, 2012.
  13. Web site: Rapper Kanye West files to appear as 'Birthday Party' candidate on presidential ballot in Louisiana. Bryn . Stole. nola.com. 21 August 2020 .
  14. Web site: Billionaire No More: Kanye West's Antisemitism Obliterates His Net Worth As Adidas Cuts Ties. Forbes. en. 2022-10-27.
  15. Web site: John Delaney. 2020-10-09. Ballotpedia. en.
  16. Web site: Romney would rank among richest presidents ever . May 23, 2012 . January 28, 2012 . USA Today.
  17. Web site: Ted Kennedy, RIP. Slate. August 26, 2009. May 17, 2012.
  18. Robert Leckie. George Washington's War: The Saga of the American Revolution, page 53 (HarperCollins 1993).
  19. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3281925#.UC_rcVHBmcw "Bill Clinton, Al Gore Get Rich After White House"
  20. http://moneynation.com/hillary-clinton-net-worth Hillary Clinton net worth
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20140414030330/http://mo.daytondailynews.com/c/content/service/info/history/cox.html Dayton Daily News history: James M. Cox, Publisher"
  22. Rossiter Johnson and John Howard Brown. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans (Biographical Society 1904).
  23. Web site: Herbert Kohler, Jr. & family . 2023-02-06 . Forbes . en.
  24. Web site: Rick Caruso . 2023-02-06 . Forbes . en.
  25. Web site: Jay Robert (J.B.) Pritzker . en . 2018-07-21 . Forbes.
  26. Web site: Penny Pritzker . . 2017-06-21.
  27. News: The richest politician in America is the governor of Tennessee . . October 31, 2015.
  28. Web site: America's Richest Families . Forbes . August 19, 2015 .
    1. 157 Dayton Family 1.6 B
    .
  29. Web site: Here's What Each Member Of Trump's $4.5 Billion Cabinet Is Worth . Peterson-Withorn . Chase . . 2016-12-22 . 2017-02-05.
  30. Web site: Jim Justice . en . 2018-07-21 . Forbes.
  31. Web site: Winthrop Rockefeller, The World's Richest People - Forbes.com . 2022-07-24 . images.forbes.com.
  32. Web site: 2006-07-17 . Win Rockefeller, 57; Billionaire Rancher, Lt. Gov. of Arkansas . 2022-07-24 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  33. Web site: Widow Gets Rockefeller Estate . 2022-07-24 . www.kait8.com. September 2006 .
  34. Web site: 2022-02-28 . Richard Blum, Billionaire Husband of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Dies at Age 86 . 2023-07-14 . Market Realist . en-US.
  35. News: Linda and Vince McMahon disclose billion in assets. Connecticut Post . 4 April 2017 . Vigdor . By Neil .
  36. Web site: Barton. Merrilee. Herb Kohl. 2020-10-05. Forbes. en.
  37. Web site: Why Forbes Is Dropping Wilbur Ross' Net Worth—Again. Alexander. Dan. Forbes. en. 2019-11-27.
  38. News: Fandos. Nicholas. 2020-04-01. Loeffler's Wealth Becomes a Risk as Rivals Charge She Profited on the Coronavirus. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-05-06. 0362-4331.
  39. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=86881&page=2 A Look at America's Richest Politicians
  40. Web site: Virginia's New Governor Glenn Youngkin Is One Of The Nation's Richest Politicians . Forbes . 2022-07-30.
  41. Web site: Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) . members-of-congress.insidegov.com . 2016-05-26.
  42. Web site: What you need to know about House candidate Greg Gianforte and Montana's special election . . 25 May 2017 . 2017-06-21.
  43. Web site: Glauber . Daniel Bice, and Bill . Terry Kohler: Businessman, philanthropist and political activist . 2023-02-06 . Journal Sentinel . en-US.
  44. Web site: The 50 Richest Members of Congress (2011) . Roll Call . May 23, 2012 . March 7, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307215521/http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html . dead .
  45. https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/27/rick-scott-reveals-highest-ever-family-assets-of-at-least-255-million/ Rick Scott reveals highest-ever family assets of at least $255 million
  46. Web site: Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) . members-of-congress.insidegov.com . 2016-05-26.
  47. News: 2022-07-30 . Levi Strauss Heir Would Join Congress's Richest With NYC Win . en . Bloomberg.com . 2022-08-31.
  48. Web site: Keller . Rudi . July 5, 2022 . Trudy Busch Valentine reports up to $215M in wealth, $30M in income on federal filing. 2022-07-23 . Missouri Independent . en-US.
  49. Smith . Richard Austin . The Fifty-Million-Dollar Man, (sidebar: "America's Biggest Fortunes") . Fortune . November 1, 1957.
  50. Web site: III . Harry Hurt . 1978-10-01 . The Last of the Great Ladies . 2024-01-13 . Texas Monthly . en.
  51. Web site: Sondland's Financial Picture: Private Jet, Art Collections And Much More . 2024-05-23 . opb . en.
  52. Web site: Conservative Developer Joins Race for Governor . The New York Times . Jeremy W. . Peters . April 5, 2010.
  53. Web site: 2022-02-04 . Gino Campana: Worth $140 Million With A Belt That Proves It . 2024-05-27 . Colorado Pols . en-US.
  54. Web site: Oyster . Reeves . 2023-08-16 . Bernie Moreno, Matt Dolan Report "Multi-Million Dollar Fortunes" . 2024-03-21 . Ohio Democrats . en.
  55. Web site: Williams . Lance . Schwarzenegger worth $100 million, experts say . August 17, 2003 . San Francisco Chronicle . April 18, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080328121715/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2003%2F08%2F17%2FTAXES.TMP . March 28, 2008 . live.
  56. Web site: Castrillon . Caroline . This CEO Of $100 Million Brand Launched An App To Set Women Up For Success After College . 2024-05-23 . Forbes . en.