Hillary Clinton Net Worth Is 50 Times Greater Than Bernie Sanders?

October 12, 2015 by Douglas A. McIntyre

No one knows the exact net worth of each of the major presidential candidates, but 24/7 Wall St. did an extensive study of the subject in its The Net Worth of Each Presidential Candidate. Based on the data, Hillary Clinton has a net worth that is worth about 50 times of that of Bernie Sanders, her primary rival.

In particular:

Bernie Sanders has a net worth of between $194,026 and $741,030. In 2013, Bernie Sanders had an average estimated net worth of $330,507, well below other prospective presidential nominees and among the lowest compared with other members of Congress. The Vermont senator, who is the longest-serving independent in U.S. history, is a self-identified socialist. He is seeking the Democratic nomination, however, and is the most popular Democratic candidate after Hillary Clinton. In keeping with Sanders’ stated intention of starting a grassroots movement, more than 90% of his campaign contributions have come from individual donors. Sanders’ campaign speeches have drawn record numbers of attendants. Most recently, 19,000 people watched Sanders speak at an NBA arena in Portland, Oregon, the largest political event compared with all other candidates so far this election season.

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Also:

Hillary Clinton has a net worth of $11 million to $53 million. In 2001, Hillary Clinton became the first female senator to represent New York State. After serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013, Clinton announced her candidacy for president yet again this past April. Clinton is currently outspending and outpacing her closest competitor, Senator Bernie Sanders, in fundraising. The Clinton campaign has raised more than $47.5 million, not including super PAC funding, and spent nearly $18.9 million — significantly more than the $16.4 million and $4.8 million the Sanders campaign has raised and spent, respectively. However, while 69% of Sanders’ campaign contributions have come from small individual donations, while only 17% of Clinton’s contributions have come from small individual donations.

Hillary Clinton is worth at least $11 million, and as much as $53 million, which includes her husband Bill’s substantial net worth. Much of the net worth Hillary is directly responsible for includes the income she earned through investments, her book, and speaking fees since her time working for the government. Over the past several years, Clinton and her husband have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on summer rentals in the Hamptons. Some of Clinton’s influential campaign donors have urged her not to rent another home in the Hamptons while campaigning for fear she could be dubbed an elitist.

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Net worth numbers do not necessarily affect fund-raising success or standing in the polls. Federal Election Commission (FEC) figures show Sanders raised $26 million in the third quarter, compared to $28 million for Clinton. Clinton has spent years on the national political stage. Sanders was barely known until he began his presidential campaign.

Net worth does not translate into popularity either. Sanders, depending on the polling organization and state, has taken a lead against Clinton and has a chance to win some of the early primaries.

The net worth of all presidential candidates, based on a 24/7 Wall St. analysis, can be found here.

Methodology: To identify the net worth of each presidential candidate, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the most recent tax filings of the highest-polling Republican presidential candidates, as well as the two highest-polling Democratic presidential candidates. Each candidate’s poll is an average of four widely recognized surveys of American opinion, including CNN and Fox. In order to determine ranges for each of these candidates, we relied on the best available data from at least one of the following sources: analyses from third-party sources of personal financial disclosures provided to the FEC, statements made by the candidates’ campaigns, and in the case of current members of congress, specific net worth values obtained by The Center for Responsive Politics through 2013 tax filings. The Center also provided campaign finance figures. We also considered campaign contribution totals, which each candidate for president is required to submit to the FEC.

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