Presidential Fortunes: Ranking the Richest to Poorest U.S. Presidents
Introduction
Let’s take a look at the net worth and notable accomplishments of all U.S. Presidents. The net worth data was pulled from Wikipedia. There are 10 Presidents who did not get over $1 million in net worth. There is also one who is much richer than any other President. Here we go.
Donald Trump ($6 Billion)
Donald Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. His most significant legislative achievement was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which aimed to stimulate economic growth through substantial tax reductions. As of 2022, Trump’s net worth is estimated at $6.1 billion, making him the wealthiest individual to have held the office.
George Washington ($707 million)
George Washington, the first President of the United States, served from 1789 to 1797. Known as the “Father of His Country,” Washington led the American Revolutionary War to victory and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Constitution. His net worth at its peak was approximately $707 million (adjusted to 2022 USD), largely derived from his vast plantation holdings.
Thomas Jefferson ($284 million)
Thomas Jefferson, the third President, served from 1801 to 1809. He is best known for authoring the Declaration of Independence and for the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. Jefferson’s net worth was about $284 million (2022 USD), primarily from his ownership of land and enslaved people at his Monticello plantation.
Theodore Roosevelt ($168 million)
Theodore Roosevelt, who served as the 26th President from 1901 to 1909, is celebrated for his progressive reforms and the initiation of the Panama Canal project. His “Square Deal” policies aimed to protect consumers, regulate corporations, and conserve natural resources. Roosevelt’s net worth was estimated to be $168 million (2022 USD), accumulated through his family’s wealth and his own investments.
Andrew Jackson ($159 million)
Andrew Jackson served as the seventh President from 1829 to 1837. He is known for founding the Democratic Party and for his controversial role in the Indian Removal Act, which led to the Trail of Tears. Jackson’s peak net worth was around $159 million (2022 USD), mainly due to his extensive landholdings and ownership of enslaved people. He is the face of the $20 bill.
James Madison ($136 million)
James Madison, the fourth President, served from 1809 to 1817 and is often referred to as the “Father of the Constitution” for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His net worth was approximately $136 million, reflecting his land and investment holdings.
Lyndon B. Johnson ($131 million)
Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President from 1963 to 1969, is remembered for his Great Society programs and civil rights legislation. His net worth was around $131 million, earned from his political career and investments.
Herbert Hoover ($100 million)
Herbert Hoover, the 31st President from 1929 to 1933, is known for his humanitarian efforts and response to the Great Depression. His net worth was approximately $100 million, reflecting his success in business and public service.
John F. Kennedy ($99 million)
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President from 1961 to 1963, is remembered for his inspirational leadership and the Cuban Missile Crisis. His net worth was around $99 million, largely from his family wealth.
Bill Clinton ($90 million)
Bill Clinton, the 42nd President from 1993 to 2001, is known for economic prosperity and welfare reform. His net worth is approximately $90 million, earned from his political career, book deals, and speaking engagements.
Franklin D. Roosevelt ($79 million)
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President from 1933 to 1945, led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. His net worth was around $79 million, reflecting his family wealth and political career.
John Tyler ($68 million)
John Tyler, the 10th President from 1841 to 1845, is known for annexing Texas. His net worth was around $68 million, largely from his investments in land and political career.
Barack Obama ($48 million)
Barack Obama, the 44th President from 2009 to 2017, is known for his healthcare reform and economic recovery efforts. His net worth is around $48 million, earned from his political career, book deals, and speaking engagements.
George W. Bush ($47 million)
George W. Bush, the 43rd President from 2001 to 2009, led the country through the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War. His net worth is approximately $47 million, earned from his business ventures and post-presidential activities.
James Monroe ($36 million)
James Monroe, the 5th President from 1817 to 1825, is best known for the Monroe Doctrine. His net worth was around $36 million, reflecting his investments in land and public service earnings.
Martin Van Buren ($34 million)
Martin Van Buren, the 8th President from 1837 to 1841, played a key role in forming the Democratic Party. His net worth was approximately $34 million, largely from his investments in land and legal career.
Grover Cleveland ($33 million)
Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President, served non-consecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897. Known for his honesty and fight against corruption, Cleveland’s net worth was around $33 million.
George H. W. Bush ($31 million)
George H. W. Bush, the 41st President from 1989 to 1993, is remembered for his foreign policy leadership during the Gulf War. His net worth was around $31 million, reflecting his success in business and public service.
John Quincy Adams ($27 million)
John Quincy Adams, the 6th President from 1825 to 1829, is known for his diplomatic and legislative contributions. His net worth was approximately $27 million, earned from his political and legal careers.
John Adams ($25 million)
John Adams, the 2nd President from 1797 to 1801, played a key role in the American Revolution and early U.S. government. His net worth was around $25 million, reflecting his investments and legal career.
Richard Nixon ($20 million)
Richard Nixon, the 37th President from 1969 to 1974, is known for his foreign policy achievements and the Watergate scandal. Nixon’s net worth was approximately $20 million, earned from his political career and post-presidential writings.
Ronald Reagan ($16 million)
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President from 1981 to 1989, is remembered for his conservative policies and ending the Cold War. His net worth was around $16 million, earned from his acting career and presidential salary.
James K. Polk ($13 million)
James K. Polk served as the 11th President from 1845 to 1849. Known for his role in expanding U.S. territory, Polk’s net worth was approximately $13 million, largely from his investments in land and agricultural businesses.
Dwight D. Eisenhower ($10 million)
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President from 1953 to 1961, is known for his leadership during World War II and his presidency during the post-war era. His net worth was around $10 million, earned from his military and presidential salaries.
Joe Biden ($10 million)
Joe Biden, the current President since 2021, has a net worth of approximately $10 million. His career spans decades in the Senate and as Vice President, with significant earnings from book deals and speaking engagements.
Jimmy Carter ($9 million)
Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President from 1977 to 1981. Known for his work in human rights and post-presidential humanitarian efforts, Carter’s net worth is around $9 million, earned from his agricultural business and post-presidential activities.
Gerald Ford ($9 million)
Gerald Ford, the 38th President from 1974 to 1977, is remembered for his efforts to heal the nation post-Watergate. Ford’s net worth was approximately $9 million, reflecting his earnings from politics, law, and post-presidential endeavors.
Zachary Taylor ($8 million)
Zachary Taylor, the 12th President from 1849 to 1850, was a military leader before his presidency. His net worth was approximately $8 million, derived from his extensive land holdings and military salary.
William Henry Harrison ($7 million)
William Henry Harrison, the 9th President, served the shortest tenure in 1841 before his death. Known for his military career, his net worth was around $7 million, largely from his land holdings and military service.
Benjamin Harrison ($7 million)
Benjamin Harrison served as the 23rd President from 1889 to 1893. His administration is remembered for the McKinley Tariff and federal spending. Harrison’s net worth was about $7 million, reflecting his earnings from law and public service.
Millard Fillmore ($5 million)
Millard Fillmore, the 13th President from 1850 to 1853, is known for his efforts in passing the Compromise of 1850. Fillmore’s net worth was approximately $5 million, primarily from his career in law and business.
Rutherford B. Hayes ($3 million)
Rutherford B. Hayes served as the 19th President from 1877 to 1881. Known for ending Reconstruction, Hayes’ net worth was around $3 million. His wealth came from his legal practice and investments before and after his presidency.
William Howard Taft ($3 million)
William Howard Taft, the 27th President from 1909 to 1913, later served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Taft’s net worth was approximately $3 million, reflecting his earnings from both his presidential and judicial careers.
Franklin Pierce ($2 million)
Franklin Pierce served as the 14th President from 1853 to 1857. His presidency was marked by divisive issues leading up to the Civil War. Pierce’s net worth was around $2 million, derived from his legal career and investments.
William McKinley ($1 million)
William McKinley, the 25th President from 1897 to 1901, led the nation during the Spanish-American War. McKinley’s net worth was approximately $1 million, earned through his political career and legal practice. His presidency is noted for its economic and foreign policy impacts.
Warren G. Harding ($1 million)
Warren G. Harding served as the 29th President from 1921 to 1923. His presidency is often associated with the Teapot Dome scandal. Despite his short tenure and the controversies, Harding’s net worth was around $1 million, reflecting his success in business before entering politics.
Abraham Lincoln ( Less than $1 million)
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President from 1861 to 1865, led the nation through the Civil War and abolished slavery. Despite his significant impact on American history, Lincoln’s net worth was less than $1 million. He lived modestly and focused on his political and moral convictions over personal wealth.
Calvin Coolidge (Less than $1 million)
Calvin Coolidge served as the 30th President from 1923 to 1929. Known for his laissez-faire approach to government and his efforts to promote economic growth during the Roaring Twenties, Coolidge’s peak net worth was less than $1 million. His post-presidential years were modest, and he did not accumulate significant wealth during or after his time in office.
Ulysses S. Grant ( Less than $1 million)
Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant served as the 18th President from 1869 to 1877, but scandals dogged his administration. Grant faced financial difficulties later in life, resulting in a net worth of less than $1 million. His memoirs, written during his final years, were his primary source of income. Nevertheless, he is the face os the $50 bill.
Woodrow Wilson (Less Than $1 million)
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President from 1913 to 1921, is remembered for his leadership during World War I and for advocating the League of Nations. Despite his prominent role on the world stage, Wilson’s net worth was less than $1 million. His finances remained relatively modest throughout his life.
Chester A. Arthur (Less Than $1 million)
Chester A. Arthur served as the 21st President from 1881 to 1885. Known for his efforts in civil service reform, Arthur’s net worth was less than $1 million. He lived comfortably but did not amass significant wealth, focusing more on public service than personal financial gain.
James A. Garfield (Less Than $1 million)
James A. Garfield, the 20th President, served a brief tenure in 1881 before his assassination. Despite his short time in office, Garfield advocated for civil rights and educational reform. His net worth was less than $1 million, reflecting his relatively humble financial status compared to other presidents.
Andrew Johnson (Less Than $1 million)
Andrew Johnson, who served as the 17th President from 1865 to 1869, is known for his tumultuous presidency during Reconstruction and his impeachment trial. Johnson’s net worth was less than $1 million, reflecting his challenging post-presidential life and limited financial resources.
James Buchanan (Less Than $1 million)
James Buchanan, the 15th President from 1857 to 1861, faced a nation on the brink of Civil War. His net worth was less than $1 million, and his presidency is often criticized for its failures to address the issues that led to the war. Buchanan’s finances remained relatively modest throughout his life.
Harry S. Truman ( Less than $1 million)
Harry S. Truman, who served as the 33rd President from 1945 to 1953, faced significant financial difficulties both during and after his presidency. His financial struggles led to the doubling of the presidential salary in 1949 and the creation of the presidential pension in 1958. Truman’s net worth was considerably less than $1 million, underscoring his modest means compared to other modern presidents.
