CQ Roll Call provides essential intelligence and grassroots advocacy resources to take action. Every year, this company has reviewed the financial disclosures of all 541 senators, representatives and delegates to determine the top 50 richest members of Congress.
Here is a brief overview of the top 20 richest members of Congress as of 2014, ranked according to their net worth.
20) Diane Black – Net Worth: $21.24 Million (R-Tenn)
This second-term lawmaker showed a slightly lower minimum net worth partly due to a change in value of certain stock investments owned by her husband. She has invested in Tennessee real estate.
19) Rodney Frelinghuysen – Net Worth: $22.21 Million (R-N.J)
This House Republican moderate’s minimum net worth slipped significantly due to the value floor for his expansive stock and real estate portfolio declined 17 percent.
18) Chris Collins – Net Worth: $22.50 Million (R-N.Y)
This New York Republican was a successful businessman before coming to Congress. He has invested in emerging companies and real estate.
17) Alan Grayson – Net Worth: $26.18 Million (D-Fla)
This Florida lawmaker’s net worth surged by almost $10 million as he actively bought and sold exchange traded funds.
16) Roger Williams – Net Worth: $28.01 million (R-Texas)
The biggest chunk of this Texas Republican’s nest egg is the eponymous JRW Corporation and Affiliates.
15) James B. Renacci – Net Worth: $28.08 Million (R-Ohio)
This Pennsylvania native served as mayor of the town before running for Congress in 2010. He has invested in professional sports teams.
14) Nancy Pelosi – Net Worth: $29.01 Million (D-Calif)
Nancy Pelosi’s minimum net worth increased slightly during the past year. This is partly due to the significant growth of her husband’s stock investments.
13) Gary G. Miller – Net Worth: $32.97 Million (D-Calif)
Miller is one of the biggest real estate tycoons in the Congress. The minimum value of his expansive and expanding portfolio nearly doubled during the past year.
12) Chellie Pingree – Net Worth: $34.47 Million (D-Maine)
Pingree is the wife of investment guru Donald Sussman. She consolidated the power base she established a decade ago with the opening of Nebo Lodge.
11) Vern Buchanan – Net Worth: $37.15 Million (R-Fla)
Buchanan’s minimum net worth increased by roughly $6 million in 2013. This is due to fewer liabilities for the Florida Republican in the past year.
How is it that members of the US congress are so wealthy? Do they become wealthy once they enter congress or are they required to be so in order to be selected? What is the average salary paid to these members by the Government?
Excellent Question.
The problem with such lists is that they don’t describe how wealth is acquired.
Darryl Issa earn his in the free market.
Harry Reid Grafted his way to wealth.
Jeffries Just after each name you find HOW they got rich. I.E.
13) Gary G. Miller – Net Worth: $32.97 Million (D-Calif)
Miller is one of the biggest real estate tycoons in the Congress. The minimum value of his expansive and expanding portfolio nearly doubled during the past year. AS you can see, Gary Miller is a real estate tycoon. He buys property, gets local government to buy it from him at a GREAT profit or he puts up a series of houses and sells them to anyone that he can get to buy one. When they go to congress, they are not made to sell their business. People like Mitt Romney put their business in a “blind trust” when they go into politics. Nancy Pelosi signed her stuff over to her husband. Questionable? Yes, Illegal? No.