With presidents coming and going and serving their respective tenures, many of us wonder which president is the richest in American history. Whether it’s assets like land, savings, or inheritance, we considered everything to find the cumulative net worth of each elected president. Their net worth is calculated by today’s standards.
1. Donald Trump — $2.6 Billion
Donald Trump was the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. After defeating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential elections, he rose to power and soon became a public figure of controversy.
According to Forbes, his net worth is a whopping $2.6 billion, making him the wealthiest president in American history. He owns golf resorts worth $870 million and has $640 million in cash and assets.
2. John F. Kennedy — $1 Billion
According to the New York Post, John F. Kennedy inherited a massive sum of money from his father, giving him the second position on this list. Due to his foresight, he sold his stocks before the infamous crash in 1929, saving him an insurmountable loss. Kennedy also married into wealth when he married Jacqueline Bouvier.
3. George Washington — $525 Million
With a fortune of $525 million, George Washington ranks third richest among wealthy U.S. presidents. According to Business Insider, he earned a high salary of 2% of the total U.S. budget in 1789 and owned over 50,000 acres of land.
4. Thomas Jefferson — $212 Million
One of America’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, authored the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and ranks fourth among the wealthiest presidents. The third president of the United States made most of his net worth by inheriting the Monticello Estate, which had 3,000 acres of land. According to USA Today, he had a cumulative monetary value of $212 million.
5. Theodore Roosevelt — $125 Million
Theodore Roosevelt is known for his progressive reforms and robust foreign policy. He was elected the 26th president of the United States at age 43 — the youngest the nation has ever seen. According to the 24/7 Wall Street report, Roosevelt received a hefty sum from his trust fund.
6. Andrew Jackson — $119 million
Andrew Jackson was America’s seventh president, from 1829 to 1837. Most of his money can be traced to his marriage into wealth, real estate ownership, and the military.
7. James Madison — $101 Million
Born on March 16, 1751, James Madison was the fourth U.S. President. The White House Historical Association mentions that the War of 1812 started during his first tenure. Madison amassed a hefty $101 million as the secretary of state and president, though he lost much of it during his final years.
8. Lyndon Baines Johnson — $98 Million
Lyndon B. Johnson was a Democrat and the 36th president of the United States. When President Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson took the oath of office while on the presidential plane. Despite having a modest childhood, he built his empire with 15,000 acres of land and a radio and television station.
9. Bill Clinton — $80 Million
Experts at Yahoo Finance report that Bill Clinton is worth an estimated $80 million, which puts him in ninth place on our list. He was the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. His tenure started towards the end of the Cold War, and he is known for expanding NATO.
10. Herbert Hoover — $75 Million
Herbert Hoover was the 31st U.S. President, from 1929 to 1933. He started his presidency during the Great Depression. However, before his tenure, he was a mining company executive with many holdings in different companies. He donated his presidential salary to charity yet still managed to amass $75 million.
11. Franklin Delano Roosevelt — $60 Million
Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated as the Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 1932 elections. He served through World War II until his death in 1945. He ranks eleventh on the list with a hefty sum of $60 million. Roosevelt was born into wealth. Both his parents were wealthy and members of the New York aristocracy.
12. John Tyler — $57 Million
John Tyler was the 10th president of the U.S. While he was successful in foreign affairs, he was ultimately expelled from the Whig Party. Most of his wealth was accumulated through inheritance and marriage. He received a 1,000-acre tobacco plantation from his father.
13. George W. Bush — $40 Million
Experts at Fox Business report that George Bush was a successful businessman before joining politics, which is why he has a high net worth. The majority of his money came from his business strategies in the Texas oil industry and part ownership of a Major League Baseball team. With an estimated wealth of $40 million, he ranks 13th on the list.
14. Martin Van Buren — $29 Million
The eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, served five years from 1837 to 1841. According to the National Archives, he was defeated by the Whigs in 1840 for re-election, which ended his reign. Martin’s politician and lawyer career helped him amass $29 million.
15. Grover Cleveland — $28 Million
Grover Cleveland was a successful lawyer who married a lawyer’s daughter, contributing to his net worth of $28 million. According to the White House, he was the first Democrat to be elected after the Civil War ended in 1865 and was the only president who returned to office for a second tenure after four years.
