What’s a President Worth? Time Magazine Has the Answer

A recent article in the February 20 edition of Time examines what role a presidential candidate’s economic status plays with voters.

Included in the magazine is an infographic showing the wealth of America’s 44 presidents in 2010 dollars.

Using that yardstick, the father of the country – whose birthday was February 22 — was worth $525 million. Flinty New Englander John Adams, by comparison, was only worth $19 million. Despite his later financial woes, Thomas Jeffersopn stood at $212 million. Andrew Jackson at a surprising $119 million.

At $125 million Teddy Roosevelt was almost twice as well off as his cousin, Franklin at $60 million. Herbert Hoover’s success in mining led to a $75 million in personal wealth, a large chunk of which he gave to charity.

Not surprisingly, Abraham Lincoln’s wealth was under $1 million.

Same for Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, William McKinley, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Harry Truman – the last president not to crest the $1 million mark.

John Kennedy eclipses all with $1 billion. He lived off a $10 million trust fund.

President Obama’s books have earned him most of his $5 million, Time says.

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