Politicians often say their reason for getting into politics is to help and serve the citizens of our country. What they don’t say, however, is that part of the appeal of being a politician is that the job also pays pretty well.
Take a look at the 25 politicians that have amassed staggering fortunes throughout their careers through their positions in public office as well as private businesses, inheritances, investments, and even speaking engagements.
Betsy DeVos
Trump’s controversial secretary of Education is worth a staggering $8.1 billion thanks to her husband, Dick DeVos, and her own family fortune. Dick is the former CEO of Amway Inc, a multi-level marketing company that his father helped found and DeVos’ father and brother founded the Prince Corporation and Blackwater USA.
Wilbur Ross
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce is worth $2.5 billion, however, much of that wealth was amassed before his political career. Prior to his government job, Ross was an investor who spent years buying bankrupt companies, making them profitable again, and finally selling them.
Rick Scott
Rick Scott has a net worth of $255 million, which he earned as an attorney. In addition to being a partner at a law firm, Scott was the founder of Columbia Hospital Corporation. So when Scott ran to become the governor of Florida, he spent $75 million of his own money on his campaign.
John Kerry
Kerry amassed a $194 million fortune throughout his political career. Over the years, he has worked at Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, U.S. Senator, and ran for president in 2004. In addition to his government salary, Kerry also made his fortune through several successful book deals.
Dianne Feinstein
Feinstein is the oldest member of the Senate who has been representing California since the early 90s. On top of her salary as Senator, Feinstein has a net worth of $94 million thanks to her marriage to her second husband, who was an investment banker.
Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani has a net worth of $45 million, however, much of it was earned after working as the Associate Attorney General, U.S. District Attorney, and Mayor of New York City. After his time as New York City’s mayor, Giuliani started charging more than $300,000 for each speaking engagement.
Nancy Pelosi
Pelosi has been in politics for more than three decades and is now worth $29 million. On top of her government salary, Pelosi made a large chunk of her wealth thanks to lucrative real estate investments.
Mitch McConnell
The Senate Majority Leader is worth $225 million, which he amassed by climbing the political ladder. He started his political career from the very bottom as an intern for a senator while in college and now earns around $200,000 a year as leader of the Senate.
Beto O-Rourke
O-Rourke has amassed $9 million, which is impressive considering the young member of Congress from Houston, Texas has only worked in politics for six years. Much of his wealth comes from his short career in business prior to serving his state in Washington.
Paul Ryan
Ryan has a net worth of $6 million, which he earned during his years of working in the House of Representatives. He has since retired from his political career after working for several years as the 54th speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Elizabeth Warren
The U.S. Senator from Massachusetts has a net worth of $5 million. While that number is much lower than many other politicians on the list, it’s impressive considering she was born into a middle-class family and first worked as a university professor before entering politics.
Ted Cruz
The Texan politician is worth $3.5 million. The former 2016 presidential candidate earned his wealth throughout his lengthy political career serving in a number of government positions both in Texas and in Washington D.C. within the White House.
Mitt Romney
The former governor of Massachusetts, 2012 presidential candidate, and current Senator for the state of Utah is worth about $250 million. Much of that multi-million dollar fortune was earned when Romney worked in business up until the 1990s.
Cory Booker
The New Jersey Senator has a net worth of $1 million. Like other politicians, he earned most of his wealth in other industries and investments on top of his government salary. After more than five years in office, Booker has announced he will run in the 2020 presidential election.
Kamala Harris
While the junior California Senator is still young, she already has a net worth of $1 million. Harris began her career in California as a District Attorney and then as California’s Attorney General. She switched over to national politics in 2017 when she joined the Senate.
Chuck Schumer
The New York Senator has amassed a net worth of $550,000 after almost 40 years working in politics. It might not seem like much compared to other wealthy politicians on the list, but Schumer still makes $200,000 a year on his government salary.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Ocasio-Cortez was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives in January of 2019 making her the youngest female member to ever be elected. During her campaign, Ocasio-Cortez claimed she only had $7000 in her checking account to appeal to struggling millennials. However, she also had between $20,000-$50,000 in a savings account and $20,000 in a retirement fund, which is more than most millennials. It’s estimated that her net worth is about $100,000 now that she makes almost $200,000a year.
Bill Clinton
The 42nd President is worth $80 million, which was mostly earned after leaving the White House. The profession speaker earns between $150,000 to $700,000 per speech and has also earned his wealth by writing a book and becoming a political consultant.
George W. Bush
The former president has a net worth of $35 million. Most of that wealth came from an inheritance that came from his father’s career in the oil industry. In the wake of his presidency, Bush became a professional speaker to earn more money like other former presidents.
Barack Obama
The former president has an estimated net worth of more than $40 million and his wealth has grown considerably since his eight-year presidency, which earned him $400,000 a year. Now, much of his income comes from book deals and royalties as well as speaking engagements, which can earn him as much as his yearly salary as president for one speech. It’s estimated that Obama will make nearly $250 million post-presidency.
