The 10 Richest US Presidents

Source: Wikimedia Commons

4. Theodore Roosevelt
> Net worth: $138 million
> In office: 1901 to 1909
> 26th President

Born to a prominent and wealthy family, Roosevelt received a sizable trust fund. He lost most of his money on a ranching venture in the Dakotas and had to work as an author to pay the bills. Roosevelt spent most of his adult years in public service. His 235-acre estate, Sagamore Hill, now sits on some of the most valuable real estate in Long Island.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

3. Thomas Jefferson
> Net worth: $234 million
> In office: 1801 to 1809
> 3rd President

Jefferson was left 3,000 acres and several dozen slaves by his father. Monticello, Jefferson’s home on a 5,000-acre plantation in Virginia, was one of the architectural wonders of its time. He made considerable money in various political positions before becoming president, but he was mired in debt towards the end of his life.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

2. George Washington
> Net worth: $580 million
> In office: 1789 to 1797
> 1st President

Washington’s Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon, consisted of five separate farms on 8,000 acres of prime farmland run by more than 300 slaves. His wife, Martha, inherited significant property from her father. As president, Washington earned well more than subsequent presidents: his salary was 2% of the total U.S. budget in 1789.

Source: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons

1. Donald John Trump
> Net worth: $2.9 billion – $10 billion
> In office: 2017-
> 45th President

Even at the lowest estimate, and when adjusting for inflation, Donald Trump is far and away the wealthiest person ever to be president. His precise net worth, however, is difficult to gauge. Media estimates, his FEC financial disclosure, and statements from his own campaign vary widely. Bloomberg and Forbes estimated Trump’s net worth at $2.9 billion and $4 billion, respectively. Trump, meanwhile, claimed a net worth of $10 billion while on the campaign trail. While he was expected by many to divest himself of his assets, perhaps by selling them to the public and putting the proceeds in a blind trust, Trump has kept ownership of his empire, merely granting temporary control of his businesses to his two eldest sons.