Here’s How Much Each Presidential Candidate Is Worth

The president of the United States makes $400,000 a year. That’s $33,000 a month — or around $200 an hour for the hours of a normal full-time job. It’s a huge paycheck.

But running for president takes a lot of time, even with campaign contributions doing the heavy financial lifting. And there’s only one job opening. Who can afford to take much of a year or more off of work just to try?

Well, lots of people, it turns out.

Forbes conducted an analysis of the net worth of major 2024 presidential candidates. Following is a look at the “day jobs” and net worth of those still actively campaigning, from least to most wealthy.

Cornel West

Net worth: $50,000

Political party affiliation: Independent

Cornel West teaches courses in religion, philosophy and culture at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and online at MasterClass.com. He is the author of 20 books, which made him a great deal of money — enough to rack up an upaid tax bill of more than $500,000.

Ron DeSantis

Net worth: $1.5 million

Political party affiliation: Republican

Ron DeSantis holds the office of Florida governor, a job that nets him more than $141,000 a year. He also published a memoir in 2023 — “The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival” — coinciding with the launch of his presidential campaign. Already a bestseller, it has brought in more than $1 million for DeSantis, according to reporting by The New York Times.

Asa Hutchinson

Net worth: $1.5 million

Political party affiliation: Republican

Asa Hutchinson is a former governor of Arkansas who spent much of his career in the federal government, including stints in the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. But he has also worked in law, education and as a consultant.

Marianne Williamson

Net worth: $2.5 million

Political party affiliation: Democrat

Marianne Williamson founded a nonprofit to feed the sick, Project Angel Food, and is the author of more than a dozen books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers. She has also worked as a spiritual teacher, a cabaret singer and the leader of the nondenominational Christian Church of Today in Detroit.

Nikki Haley

Net worth: $8 million

Political party affiliation: Republican

Nikki Haley is a former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She started a nonprofit advocacy group prior to running for president and has authored multiple books, most recently “If You Want Something Done: Leadership Lessons From Bold Women.”

Joe Biden

Net worth: $10 million

Political party affiliation: Democrat

President Joe Biden has worked in federal government since his late 20s when he became one of the youngest people ever elected to the U.S. Senate. After nearly four decades in that role, he ran for president and lost, instead serving as vice president to President Barack Obama. Later, he founded a cancer research group and a public policy office before finally being elected president in 2020.

Chris Christie

Net worth: $15 million

Political party affiliation: Republican

Chris Christie is a former governor of New Jersey who has authored multiple books, including the new “What Would Reagan Do?: Life Lessons from the Last Great President.” He has worked as a lawyer and lobbyist as well as a contributor to ABC News.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Net worth: $15 million

Political party affiliation: Independent since October 2023, Democrat previously

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, has worked as an environmental lawyer and served for 21 years as president of WaterKeeper Alliance, a nonprofit he co-founded that is devoted to clean water. Kennedy also has authored a dozen books, including some for children.

Dean Phillips

Net worth: $77 million

Political party affiliation: Democrat

Dean Phillips represents Minnesota in the U.S. House, but has an MBA and was previously an entrepreneur who led a family-owned distillery business, built up a national ice cream brand — Talenti Gelato — and started a coffee shop. Phillips claims to be the only person in Congress “who refuses all PAC money, lobbyist money, doesn’t give money to or receive money from other members of Congress, and doesn’t have a leadership PAC.”

Vivek Ramaswamy

Net worth: $880 million

Political party affiliation: Republican

Vivek Ramaswamy is a pharmaceutical executive and founder of Roivant Sciences — with the “Roi” standing for “return on investment.” He previously worked at a hedge fund and started an asset management firm, from which he resigned as CEO to run for president.

Donald Trump

Net worth: $2.6 billion (as of September 2023)

Political party affiliation: Republican

A former president himself, Donald Trump is the wealthiest of 2024’s candidates. He made his fortune in real estate and has remained active as a public speaker and media personality. At various times in his career, he has owned casinos, golf courses, airlines and clothing lines, and in 2021 launched his own social media network.