Even though technically you don’t need to be rich to be the
President of the United States of America, most of the presidents of this great
nation have been rich. For instance, the first president George Washington was
worth around $525 million (today’s dollar value).
Here are the top 10 richest candidates who are running for
the 2016 US presidential election, according to Forbes and Politico.
In your
opinion is money important to win an election?
1) Donald Trump (R) – Net Worth: $4.5 Billion
Donald Trump
is the very definition of the American success story. Although some reports put
his net worth at $10 billion, Forbes magazine estimated his fortune at $4.5
billion as of October 2015. The real estate developer, business author and
television personality has been the front runner in public opinion polls for
the Republican Party nomination since August 2015. Can he replicate his
business success in politics? Only time can answer this question.
2) Carly Fiorina (R) – Net Worth: $59 Million
The
second-richest candidate is Carly Fiorina, who served as the CEO of
Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005. She was the first woman to run a Fortune 100
company and one of the top 20 American companies. After leaving HP, she served
on the boards of many multinational organizations. She announced her candidacy
for the Republican nomination in May 2015. Politico.com estimated her net worth
at $59 million.
3) Hillary Clinton (R) – Net Worth: $32
Million
The Clinton
couple, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton, are worth an estimated $101.5
million. According Politico her net worth is $32.02 as of October 2015. Hillary
Clinton served as the sixty-seventh United States Secretary of State under
President Barack Obama between 2009 and 2013. She became the first female chair
of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978. The National Law Journal listed her
twice as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the US. The Democratic
candidate made most of her fortune through public speaking. According to the Washington Post she has
earned over $25 million as a public speaker. In 2014, she gave 51 speeches,
earning an average of $235,000 per speech. This is over eight times the median
annual salary in America.
4) Lincoln Chafee (D) – Net Worth: $25.3
Million
Lincoln
Chafee was born into a wealthy family. He served as the Governor of Rhode Island
between January 2011 and January 2015. His father, great grandfather and great
grand uncle were all governors of Rhode Island. In April 2015 he announced that
he would be running for the US President as a Democrat.
5) Jeb Bush (R) – Net Worth: $25 Million
Bush made
his wealth in real estate after moving to Florida from Houston. Politico
estimated his wealth at $24.89 million as of October 2015. He served as the
forty-third Governor of Florida from January 5 1999 to January 2 2007. Will he
be able to follow in the footsteps of his father and elder brother? We will
have the answer next year.
6) Ben Carson (R) – Net Worth: $13.5 Million
Retired
pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson has an estimated net worth of $13.52
according to Politco. He served as the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at
Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1984 and 2013. He is also an author and a
political commentator. He was the first surgeon to successfully separate
conjoined twins. He announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in
the 2016 presidential election at a rally in Detroit on May 4 2015. Since the
party’s first debate on August 6, Dr. Carson has surged past Jeb Bush to the
second place in public opinion polls.
7) John Kasich (R) – Net Worth: $12.6 Million
Ohio Gov.
John Kasich and his wife have an estimated net worth ranging between $9.1
million and $22.3 million as of August 2015, according to personal financial
disclosure. He has been the Governor of Ohio since 2010. Before getting into
politics, Kasich made his wealth in the private sector as an investment banker
and served as a managing director at the Lehman Brothers. As a Governor he
earns $148,886 a year.
8) Mike Huckabee (R) – Net Worth: $11.88
Million
Huckabee
served as the Governor of Arkansas between 1996 and 2007. He announced his
candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election in
Hope, Arkansas in May 2015. He is also a Christian minister, author and
commentator. He made money in Christian broadcasting.
9) George Pataki (R) – Net Worth: $11.29
Million
Lawyer and Republican Party politician George Pataki
announced his run for the Republican nomination for the 2016 US presidential
election on May 28, 2015. He served three terms as the Governor of New York
from
10) Jim Gilmore (R) – Net Worth: $8.17
Million
Former Governor of Virginia Jim Gilmore served in
the US Military Intelligence Group before becoming Attorney General in
1993. He announced his run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination
on July 7, 2015. Gilmore was Virginia’s governor from 1988 to 2002. He is
President and CEO of the political and economic think tanks, Free Congress
Foundation
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