This coming fall, you may want to consider donating to preschools instead of politicians. With $174,000 salaries and a median net worth just north of $1 million, your Representative or Senator already is doing much better than most Americans. It might take Congress months to pass a simple national budget, but rest assured: their personal finances are just fine. We took a closer look at data from the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets) to rank the most (and least) wealthy individuals in the House and Senate—and see how they got there. Note: Because members of Congress are required to report only a range of assets in a variety of categories, the figures below are based on an “average” net worth estimate, instead of an exact amount. 1. Rep. Darrell E. Issa (R-CA) The entrepreneur-turned-congressman, Issa is famously the wealthiest member of Congress. He made his fortune investing in car alarm technology and starting Directed Electronics, Inc., where he recorded his own voice to scare off would-be car thieves in a security product called Viper. Today, he is worth roughly $450 million. 2. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) The wealthiest senator in America, Warner has invested in hundreds of technology companies, as well as co-founding Capital Cellular Corporation, which eventually became Nextel. Although extravagantly rich, he’s perhaps better known for his guest appearance on Top Chef, where he served as a celebrity judge. Unfortunately, his palate didn’t quite measure up to his politics. “Worst judge ever,” said fellow Top Chef guest star Joe Scarborough. Today, Warner’s net worth hovers in the neighborhood of $257 million. 3. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) Proving that sentimentality can make you rich, Polis has amassed around $200 million, first through a greeting cards website, and subsequently through starting and selling his flower delivery service, ProFlowers. Polis’ fortune has come in handy not just for winning elections, but also for his education philanthropy through the Jared Polis Foundation. 1. Rep. David G. Valadao (R-CA) With an estimated net worth of negative $12.2 million, give or take, it’s tempting![]()
