Our wealthiest representatives, and where their money came from.
Information via www.opensecrets.org and www.wikipedia.org
http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-wealthiest-members-of-congress/williamjabeles,
Rep. Scott Peters (D-California)
Net Worth: $86.2 million
Career Prior to Politics:
-Economist, Environmental Protection Agency
-Attorney, private practice (Specialty: Environmental Law)
Education:
BA, Duke University
JD, New York University School of Law
Source of Wealth:
-Peters' Wife, Lynn E. Gorguze is President and CEO of Cameron Holdings (a venture capital firm)
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
Net Worth: $500.6 million
Career prior to politics:
-Chief of Counterterrorism and Nat'l Security at Texas' branch of the US Attorney's office
-Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section
Education:
BA, History, Trinity University (1984)
JD, St. Mary's University (1987)
Source of wealth:
-His Wife is the daughter of Clear Channel Communication's Chairman, and sister of the CEO
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine)
Net Worth: $88.5 million
Career prior to politics:
-Co owner of the Nebo Lodge Inn & Restaurant (2006-Present)
-Founder and Owner, North Island Designs (1981-1993)
-Author and Producer of five knitting books (1986-1992)
-Farmer, North Island Farm (1977-1980)
Education:
BA, Human Ecology, College of the Atlantic (1976)
Source of wealth:
-Married financier Donald Sussman, 2007
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colorado)
Net Worth: $214.9 million
Career prior to politics:
-Founded bluemountainarts.com (an online greeting card company) with his parents, sold for $780 million
-Launched ProFlowers (an online florist company), sold in 2006 to Liberty Media Corporation
Education:
BA, Political Science, Princeton University
Source of wealth:
-Entrepreneurial ventures
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Florida)
Net Worth: $95.3 million
Career prior to politics:
-Cofounded American Speedy Printing (1976-1992)
-Owns a large group of Florida car dealerships
-Owns two off-shore reinsurance companies
Education:
Bachelors, Business Administration, Cleary University (1975)
MBA, University of Detroit (1986)
Source of wealth: Business ventures
Note: Has been the subject of two investigations by the House Ethics Committee
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California)
Net Worth: $70.7 million
Career prior to politics:
-Appointed by Governor Brown to the California Women's Parole Board
Education:
BA, History, Stanford University (1955)
Source of wealth:
-Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum is President and CEO of the private equity firm Blum Capital Partners LP
Note:
-As chairperson of the Senate's Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, she supervised and approved of $1.5 billion to military contractors that her husband owned a controlling stake in
-In 1992 Feinstein was fined $190,000 for failing to report $4.3 million in her 1990 gubernatorial race
(Source: http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-22/news/mn-2484_1_campaign-finance-disclosure)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut)
Net Worth: $100.2 million
Career prior to politics:
-Law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun
-United States Attorney for District of Connecticut (1977-1981)
-Partner in law firm Cummings & Lockwood
-Partner in law firm Silver, Golub & Sandak
Education:
AB, Harvard College
JD, Yale Law School
Source of wealth:
-His wife, Cynthia Blumenthal, is the daughter of Real Estate magnate Peter Malkin
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia)
Net Worth: $102.7 million
Career prior to politics:
-Assistant to Peace Corps Director (Sargent Shriver) during the Kennedy Administration
-Worked for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) under the Johnson Administration
Education:
AB, Far Eastern Languages and History, Harvard College (1961)
Source of wealth:
-Great grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California)
Net Worth: $480.3 million
Career prior to politics:
-CEO, Directed Electronics Inc. (DEI)
Education:
Kent State University
Source of wealth:
-Business career
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia)
Net Worth: $228.1 million
Career prior to politics:
-Founder and Managing Director, Columbia Capital (Venture Capital firm that specialized in technology companies)
Education:
BA, George Washington University (1977)
JD, Harvard Law School (1980)
Source of wealth:
-Business career