Net Worth of the U. S. Presidents
Ever curious how much the U.S. Presidents were worth? Here is a look at each Presidents wealth during their presidency. A small handful actually ended up in debt by the time they passed away. As wealth varies for each President, so does the public debt during their time in office. History shows a drastic increase in debt since WWII, with it reaching more than $14 trillion in recent times.
George Washington ($525 Million)
At the time Washington took office, his salary was only two percent of the total U.S. Budget.
Public Debt: $939.8 Million – $1.0 Billion
John Adams ($19 Million)
Public Debt: $1.0 Billion – $1.1 Billion
Thomas Jefferson ($212 Million)
Received a large inheritance during his lifetime, but ended up deep in debt by the time he died.
Public Debt: $1.1 Billion – $771.1 Million
James Madison ($101 Million)
Public Debt: $771.1 Million – $1.6 Billion
James Monroe ($27 Million)
Public Debt: $1.6 Billion – $1.6 Billion
John Quincy Adams ($21 Million)
Public Debt: $1.6 Billion – $1.2 Billion
Andrew Jackson ($119 Million)
Married into wealth and at one point in time owned 300 slaves. By the time of his death, he was in debt.
Public Debt: $1.2 Billion – $6.3 Million
Martin Van Buren ($26 Million)
Public Debt: 6.3 Million – $107.9 Million
William H. Harrison ($5 Million)
Public Debt: $107.9 Million – $107.9 Million
John Tyler ($51 Million)
Inherited a 1,000 acre tobacco plantation but died in debt due to the Civil War.
Public Debt: $107.9 Million – $362.4 Million
James K. Polk ($10 Million)
He was known for being a savvy real estate speculator, owning land in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
Public Debt: $362.4 Million – $1.6 Billion
Zachary Taylor ($6 Million)
Public Debt: $1.6 Billion – $1.6 Billion
Millard Fillmore ($4 Million)
Public Debt: $1.6 Billion – $1.5 Billion
Franklin Pierce ($2 Million)
Public Debt: $1.5 Billion – $653 Million
James Buchanan (Less than $1 Million)
Public Debt: $653 Million – $2.1 Billion
Abraham Lincoln (Less than $1 Million)
Lincoln was an attorney for 17 years before becoming President with a single residence in Illinois.
Public Debt: $2.1 Billion – $37.1 Billion
Andrew Johnson (Less than $1 Million)
Public Debt: $37.1 Billion – $41.2 Billion
Ulysses S. Grant (Less than $1 Million)
Public Debt: $41.2 Billion – $43.9 Billion
Rutherford B. Hayes ($3 Million)
Public Debt: $43.9 Billion – $45.4 Billion
James A. Garfield (Less than $1 Million)
Public Debt: $45.4 Billion – $45.4 Billion
Chester A. Arthur (Less than $1 Million)
Public Debt: $45.4 Billion – $43.9 Billion
Grover Cleveland ($25 Million)
Public Debt: $43.9 Billion – $38.2 Billion
Benjamin Harrison ($5 Million)
Public Debt: $38.2 Billion – $36.4 Billion
Grover Cleveland ($25 Million)
The only President to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Public Debt: $36.4 Billion – $46.3 Billion
William McKinley ($1 Million)
He acquired his wealth from being an attorney and selling his home in Washington D.C. He was a son of a preacher and husband to a daughter of a wealthy lawyer.
Public Debt: $46.3 Billion – $54.5 Billion
Theodore Roosevelt ($125 Million)
Born into a wealthy family and received substantial wealth from his trust fund.
Public Debt: $54.5 Billion – $62.2 Billion
William H. Taft ($3 Million)
Public Debt: $62.2 Billion – $62.5 Billion
Woodrow Wilson (Less than $1 Million)
Served during the era of WWI causing such an increase in public debt during his Presidency.
Public Debt: $62.5 Billion – $285.1 Billion
Warren G. Harding ($1 Million)
Public Debt: $285.1 Billion – $278.6 Billion
Calvin Coolidge (Less than $1 Million)
The Great Depression started during his term.
Public Debt: $278.6 Billion – $210.1 Billion
Herbert Hoover ($75 Million)
Born as an orphan, he made his fortune as a mining company executive and donated his Presidential salary to charity.
Public Debt: $210.1 Billion – $369.5 Billion
Franklin D. Roosevelt ($60 Million)
His acquired wealth came from his family inheritance and wife. Served during WWII causing such a large scale increase in public debt during his three term Presidency.
Public Debt: $369.5 Billion – $3.1 Trillion
Harry S. Truman (Less than $1 Million)
Public Debt: $3.1 Trillion – $2.1 Trillion
Dwight D. Eisenhower ($8 Million)
Public Debt: $2.1 Trillion – $2.1 Trillion
John F. Kennedy ($1 Billion from Kennedy Estate)
His fortune was never received in whole but his income came from the massive Kennedy estate.
Public Debt: $2.1 Trillion – $2.1 Trillion
Lyndon B. Johnson ($98 Million)
Public Debt: $2.1 Trillion – $2.1 Trillion
Richard Nixon ($15 Million)
Most of Nixon’s wealth came from his interviews with David Frost and publishing advances from his book.
Public Debt: $2.1 Trillion – $2.0 Trillion
Gerald Ford ($7 Million)
Public Debt: $2.0 Trillion – $2.5 Trillion
Jimmy Carter ($7 Million)
Born into a wealthy family, but made most of his wealth from writing 14 books.
Public Debt: $2.5 Trillion – $2.3 Trillion
Ronald Reagan ($13 Million)
Public Debt: $2.3 Trillion – $4.9 Trillion
George H. W. Bush ($23 Million)
Public Debt: $4.9 Trillion – $6.5 Trillion
Bill Clinton ($38 Million)
Born poor and made little money through his 20 years in service. He became substantially wealthier from being an author and public speaker.
Public Debt: $6.5 Trillion – $7.1 Trillion
George W. Bush ($20 Million)
Public Debt: $7.1 Trillion – $11.9 Trillion
Barack Obama ($5 Million)
Most of his wealth is earned from book royalties.
Public Debt: $11.9 Trillion – $14.1 Trillion
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