US Presidents by Net Worth: Complete Rankings 1789-2026
Richest President
Donald Trump
$3.7 billion (inflation-adjusted)
Poorest President
Harry Truman
~$1 million
Total Presidents
45 Individuals
46 Presidencies (Cleveland x2)
Median Wealth
~$10-15M
Adjusted for inflation
Complete Rankings: Richest to Poorest (All 45 Presidents)
Top 15 Richest Presidents (Inflation-Adjusted Net Worth)
| Rank | President | Term(s) | Peak Net Worth (Inflation-Adjusted) |
Primary Source | Era |
|---|
Wealth Distribution Analysis
Wealth by Historical Era
Primary Sources of Presidential Wealth
Notable Wealth Stories
đź’° The Billionaires Club
- Donald Trump ($3.7B): First billionaire president. Real estate empire inherited from father Fred Trump, expanded through luxury properties, hotels, golf courses, and The Apprentice branding. Net worth decreased during first term due to COVID-19 impact on hospitality businesses.
- John F. Kennedy ($1.3B): Access to massive Kennedy family trust created by father Joseph Kennedy through banking and investments. Shared with siblings. Wife Jacqueline also heiress to oil fortune.
🏛️ Founding Era Wealth (Land & Slavery)
- George Washington ($708.5M): Inherited Mount Vernon (8,000 acres across 5 farms), expanded through land speculation. Estate valued at $750,000 (0.19% of 1799 GDP). Owned hundreds of enslaved people.
- Thomas Jefferson ($285.8M): Inherited 3,000 acres, expanded to 5,000+ with Monticello plantation. Died deeply in debt despite vast landholdings due to lavish spending and tobacco price collapse.
- James Madison ($136.7M): Inherited Montpelier estate, 5,000+ acres. Largest landowner in Orange County, VA. Lost fortune late in life due to unsuccessful plantation and stepson's gambling.
đź“š Self-Made & Post-Presidency Wealth
- Herbert Hoover ($100.1M): Orphaned as child, became wealthy through mining engineering career. Owned Burmese silver mines, authored technical textbooks. Rare pre-20th century self-made president.
- Bill Clinton ($91.6M): Left office with modest wealth, earned millions from "My Life" ($15M advance) and speaking engagements ($750,000 per speech). Combined with Hillary's wealth from "Hard Choices" ($14M advance).
- Barack Obama ($70M): Net worth increased 5,300% post-presidency. Book deals ($15.6M from 2005-2016), speaking fees, Netflix production deal. Entered office worth $1.3M.
đź’¸ The Near-Broke Presidents
- Harry Truman (~$1M): Claimed financial struggles after leaving office, leading to creation of presidential pension in 1958. Later investigation showed he was more comfortable than claimed, with ~$6.6M including expense account funds.
- Abraham Lincoln ($1.36M): Born poor, earned $25,000/year as president. Estate valued at $85,000 in 1865. One of the least wealthy presidents despite being among the greatest.
- Ulysses S. Grant: Died nearly broke despite earning $50,000/year. Lost fortune in bad investments, wrote memoirs while dying of cancer to support family.
Wealth Trends & Patterns
Average Presidential Wealth by Century
đź“Š Key Findings
- 19th Century Presidents: Wealth primarily from land ownership (often worked by enslaved people), inheritance, and agricultural production. Many died poor due to agricultural price collapses.
- Early 20th Century: Mix of inherited wealth (Roosevelts) and self-made fortunes (Hoover). Rise of business/industrial wealth.
- Modern Era (1950-2000): Generally modest wealth during office, significant post-presidency earnings through books, speeches, and consulting.
- 21st Century: Trump represents unprecedented modern wealth. Obama and Clinton pioneered the modern "post-presidency media empire" model.
- Inherited vs. Earned: ~60% of wealthy presidents inherited fortunes; ~30% were self-made; ~10% married into wealth.
Presidential Salary History
| Year | Annual Salary | Adjusted to 2023 | % of Federal Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1789-1873 | $25,000 | ~$750,000 | 2% (1789) |
| 1873-1909 | $50,000 | ~$1.5 million | 0.02% |
| 1909-1949 | $75,000 | ~$1.7 million | 0.008% |
| 1949-1969 | $100,000 + $50,000 expense |
~$1.2 million | 0.0001% |
| 1969-2001 | $200,000 + $50,000 expense |
~$800,000 | 0.00004% |
| 2001-Present | $400,000 + $50,000 expense |
$400,000 | 0.00001% |
đź’µ Post-Presidency Benefits (Since 1958)
- Pension: $199,000-$207,800 annually (adjusted periodically)
- Staff/Office: $100,000 per year
- Secret Service: Lifetime protection
- Healthcare: Medical insurance coverage
- Travel: Official travel expenses
⚠️ Important Methodology Note
Please read before reviewing the rankings:
- Pre-1978 Presidents: Financial disclosure requirements did not exist before the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. For presidents before Jimmy Carter, net worth figures are scholarly estimates based on historical property records, estate inventories, contemporary accounts, and economic historians' research—not official government documents.
- Source Material: Estimates derived from presidential estate records, property deeds, historical auction records, probate documents, personal correspondence, contemporary newspaper accounts, and academic historical research.
- Slavery Consideration: Many early presidents' wealth included enslaved people counted as assets—a morally abhorrent but historically accurate component of their estate valuations.
- Inflation Adjustment: All figures adjusted to 2022-2023 dollars using economic historians' models. Methodology varies by time period and asset type.
- Peak Net Worth: Rankings reflect maximum wealth at any point in life, which may have been before, during, or after presidency.
- Trust vs. Personal Wealth: Some presidents (like JFK) had access to family trusts without direct personal ownership—estimates attempt to account for accessible wealth.
Methodology & Sources:
Historical Estimates Based On: • Presidential estate inventories and probate records (National Archives)
• Property deeds and land records from state historical societies
• Contemporary newspaper valuations and auction records
• Personal correspondence and account books (Presidential Libraries)
• Academic research from economic historians and presidential biographers
• Tax records (when available/voluntarily released)
Modern Presidents (1978-present): • Ethics in Government Act financial disclosure forms (official)
• Voluntary tax return releases
• Public business filings and property records
Scholarly Sources Consulted:
• 24/7 Wall Street historical financial analysis (compiled from primary sources)
• Presidential Libraries and Museums (Smithsonian, National Archives)
• Economic historians' inflation adjustment models
• Mount Vernon (George Washington) and Monticello (Thomas Jefferson) estate records
• Contemporary historical accounts and biographies
Important Disclaimers:
Pre-1978 figures are scholarly estimates, not official disclosures. Actual wealth may have varied significantly. Inflation adjustments use multiple economic models and represent approximations. Early presidential wealth often included enslaved people as assets—a morally reprehensible but historically documented reality. Trust wealth (JFK, FDR) represents accessible funds, not necessarily direct ownership. Peak net worth may have occurred at different life stages.
Last Updated: January 2026 | Inflation adjustments to 2022-2023 dollars
Historical Estimates Based On: • Presidential estate inventories and probate records (National Archives)
• Property deeds and land records from state historical societies
• Contemporary newspaper valuations and auction records
• Personal correspondence and account books (Presidential Libraries)
• Academic research from economic historians and presidential biographers
• Tax records (when available/voluntarily released)
Modern Presidents (1978-present): • Ethics in Government Act financial disclosure forms (official)
• Voluntary tax return releases
• Public business filings and property records
Scholarly Sources Consulted:
• 24/7 Wall Street historical financial analysis (compiled from primary sources)
• Presidential Libraries and Museums (Smithsonian, National Archives)
• Economic historians' inflation adjustment models
• Mount Vernon (George Washington) and Monticello (Thomas Jefferson) estate records
• Contemporary historical accounts and biographies
Important Disclaimers:
Pre-1978 figures are scholarly estimates, not official disclosures. Actual wealth may have varied significantly. Inflation adjustments use multiple economic models and represent approximations. Early presidential wealth often included enslaved people as assets—a morally reprehensible but historically documented reality. Trust wealth (JFK, FDR) represents accessible funds, not necessarily direct ownership. Peak net worth may have occurred at different life stages.
Last Updated: January 2026 | Inflation adjustments to 2022-2023 dollars