Which President Has Made The Most Money While In Office

Let’s talk about a question that’s been bouncing around the White House for centuries: which president made the most money while actually holding the office? And no, we’re not counting the fancy cars or the free ride in Marine One. We’re talking cold, hard cash—or at least, cold, hard investment returns. The answer might shock you, because it’s not a guy from the Gilded Age or a modern billionaire. It’s a Founding Father who literally printed money (well, his friend did).

First, a reality check: the presidential salary is a joke. Since 2001, it’s been locked at $400,000 a year (plus a $50,000 expense account that’s mostly for entertaining). That’s less than what some backup quarterbacks make. But here’s the wild part: most presidents actually lost money while in office. They took pay cuts, sold stocks to avoid conflicts, and spent their own dough on tuxedos and state dinners. It’s like running a lemonade stand that costs you more in sugar than you make in sales.

So who broke the bank? Drumroll, please. The biggest earner while in office is George Washington. Yes, the cherry-tree-chopping, wooden-tooth-wearing, wig-donning OG himself. How? He didn’t have a salary at first—he refused it. But Congress eventually paid him $25,000 a year, which in today’s money is about half a million dollars. And that doesn’t even count his plantations, which were like tiny, slave-powered hedge funds. He also dabbled in whiskey distilling, which was basically the 18th-century version of starting a craft brewery.

But wait—there’s a catch. Washington’s “wealth while in office” is a tricky stat because he didn’t file taxes or sign disclosure forms. We’re mostly guessing based on his land holdings and liquor sales. Still, by that math, he’s the richest commander-in-chief in history, with a net worth of over $500 million in today’s dollars. That’s more than Donald Trump’s claimed billion, and certainly more than my bank account after buying avocado toast.

The Gilded Age Grifters (And the Honest Ones)

Fast-forward to the 19th century, and you get guys like Grover Cleveland. He was so broke when he left office that he had to take a job at a law firm. Meanwhile, Andrew Jackson was a land baron who owned hundreds of slaves and a plantation complex. But did he make money in office? Nope. He left the presidency $20,000 in debt (about $600,000 today). The irony: Jackson hated banks and paper money, yet his own portrait is on the $20 bill. Good one, history.

US Presidents' Salaries During and After Office - amg-news.com

Then there’s Ulysses S. Grant. Poor guy was so gullible with money that his own son-in-law bilked him in a Ponzi scheme. He wrote his memoirs just to pay off debts, dying days after finishing them. The book made millions—for his widow. So, no, Grant didn’t profit in the White House. He was basically a cautionary tale about why you should never lend money to your family.

The Modern Money Movers

Let’s jump to the 20th century, where things get less about plantations and more about book deals. Harry Truman was famously poor after his term—he refused lucrative corporate gigs because he thought they were unethical. He lived on his Army pension and Social Security. Meanwhile, Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) turned his connections into a media empire. His family’s TV station, KTBC, was worth millions, and he used his political clout to get it favorable FCC rulings. It’s not illegal, but it’s a little like if you got a parking spot by being best friends with the parking meter guy.

How Much Does A President Make After Leaving Office | TAFT Independent

Here’s where it gets spicy: Donald Trump. He proudly claims to be a billionaire, but his financial disclosures show he lost money on his hotels and clubs while president. In 2020, his businesses reported a $70 million loss. So, the guy who bragged about making money actually bled cash. It’s like the world’s most expensive infomercial. In contrast, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton made millions after leaving office from book deals and speaking fees, but not during their terms. They were on a strict diet of government salary and anxiety.

But the real champion of in-office wealth might surprise you: John F. Kennedy. He was already a trust-fund god when he entered the White House. His father, Joseph Kennedy, was a bootlegger-turned-banker who gave JFK a ginormous trust fund. While president, JFK never touched his salary—he donated it to charity. But his wealth grew from investments in real estate and stocks, all managed by a blind trust. By the time he was assassinated, he was worth over $1 billion in today’s dollars. And he didn’t even spend his paycheck. That’s like being the richest guy at the poker table while folding every hand.

The takeaway? George Washington still holds the crown for earnings during his term, thanks to that sweet, sweet whiskey and land speculation. But if you’re a modern president hoping to get rich, forget it. The best strategy is to be born rich (like JFK), or write a memoir after you leave (like Obama). Because the White House isn’t a gold mine; it’s a glorified office with a bowling alley and a really expensive gardener. So next time you hear a politician say “I’m in it for the money,” just remember: George Washington would’ve laughed, poured himself a whiskey, and said, “Son, I’m in it for the distillery.”