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12/22/2024 07:47:13 am

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George Washington Is Richest US President In History

George Washington, a portrait by Stewart.

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)

George Washington was named the richest president in the history of the United States, data from 24/7 Wall St. revealed.

The website has published the "The Net worth of Every American President, from Washington to Obama" in 2010 and has since then updated its list every year to reflect the financial status of those who are still living.

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It was found that while it is good to be president, those who were out of office actually earn more than those in the position.

Interestingly the only living president on the list is Bill Clinton, whose net worth was pegged at $60 million. He is also the only one on the list with no inherited wealth.

The all-time winner was George Washington, who was president from 1789 to 1797.

The first president had a net worth of $525 million, thanks to his extensive, 8,000-acre Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon, plus his wife Martha's own significant wealth.

Washington was arguably the highest paid president in history, as his salary was then 2 percent of United States' U.S. budget in 1789.

Coming up in No. 2 is Thomas Jefferson, whose net worth was $212 million.

He was president from 1801 until 1809 and derived much of his wealth from his plantation.

His father left him 3,000-acres and dozens of slaves, expanding it until it reached 5,000 acres by the time of his death.

His imposing mansion, Monticello, was an architectural wonder of its time. He was, however, heavily in debt by the time of his life.

On the third spot is Theodore Roosevelt, who was president from 1901 until 1909.

An heir to a wealthy New York family of Dutch immigrants, Roosevelt inherited a sizable trust fund, although he lost much of his wealth after a failed ranching venture in the Dakotas.

He eventually had to earn a living as an author--but he got paid handsomely! His 235-acre Sagamore Hill estate is now one of the most prized real estate properties in Long Island.

On the fourth spot is Andrew Jackson, with a networth of $119 million.

Serving as the seventh president from 1829 until 1837, Jackson was a born middle class and slowly built his wealth, both my marrying into money and making his own fortune from the military.

He owned the 1,056-acre homestead, the Hermitage, with as much as 300 slaves by the time of his death. He was however heavily indebted later in his life.

In No. 5 is James Madison, with a net worth of $101 million.

He was the fourth president from 1809 until 1817 and owed much of his wealth from his 5,000-acre property and the Montpelier estate in Orange County, Va, although the declining income of his plantation later in his life significantly affected his wealth.

Here are the other presidents who made it on 24/7 Wall St.'s list of richest presidents in history.

Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969) - $98 million

Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) - $75 million

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) - $60 million

Bill Clinton (1993-2001) - $60 million

John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) - $1 billion (never inherited)

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