The Average Net Worth Of United States Presidents (Before And After Taking Office)

Some have argued that being President of the United States, also sometimes referred to as the leader of the free world, is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Between high pressure stakes, never-ending negotiation, and the burden of making potentially life-altering decisions it's no wonder that many believe that president's age faster. However, despite the significantly heavier burden placed on the role, it has never been known for a particularly high rate of pay. In fact, at the start of the country, George Washington was paid $25,000, the equivalent of around $908,000 today. However, as of 2025, U.S. Presidents earn $400,000 annually, a rate that was established in 2001.

Despite the seemingly lower pay, most U.S. Presidents have managed to increase their net worth throughout and even after their presidency. In fact, according to Newsweek, former, and current, President Donald Trump, is the only president to have actually lost money while in office — specifically during his first term, as time will tell how Trump's net worth might change by the end of his second term in 2029. It's also worth noting that, despite the fact Trump lost money while President, he still has the distinction of having the highest net worth among presidents going back to JFK.

While you might know that certain members of Congress are rich, you might know less about exactly which presidents were wealthy throughout U.S. history. Even more so, you might be surprised to learn just how much a President's net worth can change during their time in the Oval Office.

In more recent years, both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have experienced the largest changes in their net worth when comparing before and after they took office. Both easily hit the top 10% of net worth in 2025. Bill Clinton actually boasts the biggest difference, coming into office with a net worth of just $1.3 million, according to Cheapism. Despite leaving office in debt thanks to lengthy, and infamous, legal troubles Forbes estimates his net worth to be over 45 million today. This number increase quite a bit when you factor in Clinton's spouse, former Secretary of State and two-time presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In fact, as of 2016, the Clintons had earned over $240 million. The reason for the significant financial change in circumstances can largely be tied to post-presidency speaking engagements, the successful release of Clinton's 2004 autobiography, "My Life," as well as a string of thriller best-sellers.

Barack Obama similarly experienced a considerable change in financial fortune post-presidency. Cheapism estimates that Obama entered the Oval Office with a net worth of just $1.3 million, but has since raised his net worth to over $70 million, according to Forbes estimates. Much of this increase was due to both his, and his spouse Michelle Obama's, 2017 decision to sell the rights to their memoirs to Penguin Random House for $65 million. Both also enjoy lucrative speaking engagements, and even founded their own production company, Higher Ground Productions, which has enjoyed an ongoing arrangement with Netflix.

Other modern presidents that have experienced changes in their net worth have done so to a much lesser degree. In fact, former President Joe Biden experienced a mostly stalled net worth during his term as President, with Forbes estimating his current net worth at $10 million, compared to estimates that he entered office with a net worth of $8 million. Perhaps most interesting is just how much more Biden made after exiting office as Vice President compared to President. Biden earned a whopping $11.1 million in 2017 through private sector deals, speaking engagement, and book deals. The stagnant nature of Biden's net worth post-Presidency is be tied to plateaued values on his properties combined with a long history of borrowing against those properties.

According to Cheapism and Wealth Gang data, per Newsweek, other presidents with more humble net worth changes include George W. Bush, who had a net worth of $20 million before entering office, and a subsequent estimated net worth of over $40 million, according to Forbes. His father, George H. W. Bush came into office with a net worth of just $4 million, raising his net worth to $23 million after exiting office. Meanwhile Ronald Reagan entered office with a net worth of $10.6 million, and increased it to $15.4 million after leaving office. Jimmy Carter entered office with a net worth of $2.7 million, and ended up with $10 million, and Gerald Ford entered with a net worth of just $1.4 before raising it to $7 million.