The wealth of U.S. presidents has been a topic of interest for many years, with some of the earliest presidents also being some of the wealthiest. In the modern era, presidents have historically accumulated wealth through media deals and appearance fees after leaving office.
Former President Donald Trump stands out as one of the wealthiest Americans to ever serve as president, with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion at the time of his inauguration in 2016, according to Forbes. However, presidential historian Barbara A. Perry notes that most presidents after the Civil War did not come from wealthy backgrounds and did not have significant personal wealth when they entered office.
For example, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, both of whom served as presidents without coming from money or having substantial personal wealth. Perry points out that they made their own way in the world through their scholarly prowess and arrived at the White House with little money in their pockets. However, both Clinton and Obama have amassed tens of millions of dollars since leaving office through various opportunities.
The richest former U.S. presidents are ranked based on their peak personal wealth, according to a report from 24/7 Wall St. The report takes into account their incomes, real estate holdings, spouses’ wealth, and inheritances, with all figures adjusted for inflation.
1. **Donald J. Trump ($3.7 billion)**: Trump’s current net worth is estimated to be even higher today, at $5.5 billion, with earnings from real estate investments and holdings, as well as his stake in Trump Media & Technology Group.
2. **John F. Kennedy ($1.3 billion)**: Kennedy inherited most of his wealth from his father, Joseph Kennedy, who made a fortune as an investor and served as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
3. **George Washington ($708.5 million)**: Washington, like many early presidents, was a wealthy landowner, with a significant portion of his wealth coming from real estate holdings.
4. **Thomas Jefferson ($285.8 million)**: Jefferson inherited his wealth through land from his father, adding to his personal fortune.
5. **Theodore Roosevelt ($168.6 million)**: Roosevelt came from a prominent and wealthy family in New York, inheriting a significant fortune.
6. **Andrew Jackson ($160.1 million)**: Jackson was a wealthy plantation owner, with slavery being a primary source of his personal wealth.
7. **James Madison ($136.7 million)**: Born to wealthy plantation-owning parents, Madison had a significant personal fortune.
8. **Lyndon B. Johnson ($131.9 million)**: Johnson’s wealth mainly came from his wife, Lady Bird Johnson’s family, who owned a television and radio station business.
9. **Herbert Hoover ($100.1 million)**: Hoover became a multimillionaire through his ownership of Burmese silver mines and royalties from a textbook on mining engineering.
10. **Bill Clinton ($91.6 million)**: Clinton became wealthy after leaving office, with his net worth increasing significantly in the years following his presidency.
It is interesting to note that many presidents who did not come from wealthy backgrounds were able to accumulate significant wealth after leaving office. This highlights the various opportunities available to former presidents to increase their net worth through media deals, appearances, and other ventures.
