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Number of 50 wealthiest members
Each year, The Hill releases a list of the 50 wealthiest members of Congress. We thought we'd put that data in more practical terms. Take Rep. Darrell Issa of California. Surprising no one, the car alarm magnate-turned-Congressman topped The Hill's list yet again this year, with an estimated worth of $355.4 million. With an average household income of about $68,000 in his Southern California district, that means that Issa alone has the wealth of 5,217 of the households he represents.
Issa is a staunch critic of the president. But maybe he shouldn't be. Looking at his worth in 2008, Issa has significantly increased his wealth, adding 121 percent to his total valuation. In other words, his wealth more than doubled under Obama. Of the nine members of Congress whose wealth increased since 2008 (and for whom we have data), five are Republicans — a pretty even split between the parties.
Only one member of Congress saw his wealth grow more than Issa — the second-most wealthy member of Congress is Rep. Michael McCaul. The Texas congressman made his money the old-fashioned way: he got a substantial gift from his wife's family. Her father founded Clear Channel.
First things first. Let's find out how long you'd have to work to be as rich as these 50 members of Congress.
And now the data. Here are The Hill's top 50 wealthiest members of Congress, in real-world terms.
Switch to: 2013 net worth | Worth in district households | Change in worth under Obama
Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49)
2013 worth: $355.4 millionAverage household income in district: $68129
Worth, in district households: 5217
2008 worth: $160.62 million
Change in worth under Obama: 121.3%
Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)
2013 worth: $101.9 millionAverage household income in district: $58080
Worth, in district households: 1754
2008 worth: $23.93 million
Change in worth under Obama: 325.8%
Sen. Mark Warner (VA)
2013 worth: $88.5 millionAverage household income in district: $74766
Worth, in district households: 1184
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (WV)
2013 worth: $83.8 millionAverage household income in district: $50295
Worth, in district households: 1666
2008 worth: $80.4 million
Change in worth under Obama: 4.2%
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT)
2013 worth: $76.6 millionAverage household income in district: $84558
Worth, in district households: 906
Rep. John Delaney (MD-6)
2013 worth: $68.4 millionAverage household income in district: $68361
Worth, in district households: 1001
Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2)
2013 worth: $60.2 millionAverage household income in district: $63571
Worth, in district households: 947
Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52)
2013 worth: $44.7 millionAverage household income in district: $77409
Worth, in district households: 577
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA)
2013 worth: $41.6 millionAverage household income in district: $67745
Worth, in district households: 614
2008 worth: $52.34 million
Change in worth under Obama: -20.5%
Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16)
2013 worth: $35.9 millionAverage household income in district: $56251
Worth, in district households: 638
Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16)
2013 worth: $32.7 millionAverage household income in district: $45622
Worth, in district households: 717
2008 worth: $65.49 million
Change in worth under Obama: -50.1%
Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-1)
2013 worth: $31.5 millionAverage household income in district: $52323
Worth, in district households: 602
Rep. Diane Black (TN-6)
2013 worth: $25 millionAverage household income in district: $41842
Worth, in district households: 597
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-12)
2013 worth: $24.4 millionAverage household income in district: $69046
Worth, in district households: 353
2008 worth: $18.71 million
Change in worth under Obama: 30.4%
Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-1)
2013 worth: $23.9 millionAverage household income in district: $77382
Worth, in district households: 309
Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27)
2013 worth: $22.3 millionAverage household income in district: $55340
Worth, in district households: 403
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11)
2013 worth: $20.9 millionAverage household income in district: $93655
Worth, in district households: 223
2008 worth: $22.41 million
Change in worth under Obama: -6.7%
Rep. Jim Risch (ID-1)
2013 worth: $19.2 millionAverage household income in district: $45103
Worth, in district households: 426
Rep. Gary Miller (CA-31)
2013 worth: $17.8 millionAverage household income in district: $50882
Worth, in district households: 350
2008 worth: $14.49 million
Change in worth under Obama: 22.8%
Rep. Robert Pittenger (NC-9)
2013 worth: $17.1 millionAverage household income in district: $65681
Worth, in district households: 260
Sen. Bob Corker (TN)
2013 worth: $16.7 millionAverage household income in district: $52889
Worth, in district households: 316
2008 worth: $19.19 million
Change in worth under Obama: -13%
Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-9)
2013 worth: $16.7 millionAverage household income in district: $41564
Worth, in district households: 402
Rep. Joe Kennedy (MA-4)
2013 worth: $15.2 millionAverage household income in district: $81131
Worth, in district households: 187
Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO)
2013 worth: $14.9 millionAverage household income in district: $57917
Worth, in district households: 257
2008 worth: $19.42 million
Change in worth under Obama: -23.3%
Rep. Richard Hanna (NY-22)
2013 worth: $14.4 millionAverage household income in district: $45578
Worth, in district households: 316
Rep. John Hoeven (ND-1)
2013 worth: $14.2 millionAverage household income in district: $51704
Worth, in district households: 275
Rep. Nita Lowey (NY-17)
2013 worth: $12.8 millionAverage household income in district: $84664
Worth, in district households: 151
2008 worth: $17.77 million
Change in worth under Obama: -28%
Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-2)
2013 worth: $12.6 millionAverage household income in district: $60101
Worth, in district households: 210
Sen. Ron Johnson (WI)
2013 worth: $12.5 millionAverage household income in district: $64492
Worth, in district households: 194
Sen. Tom Harkin (IA)
2013 worth: $12.1 millionAverage household income in district: $63433
Worth, in district households: 191
2008 worth: $10.5 million
Change in worth under Obama: 15.2%
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12)
2013 worth: $11.2 millionAverage household income in district: $82360
Worth, in district households: 136
2008 worth: $19.01 million
Change in worth under Obama: -41.1%
Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-8)
2013 worth: $11.1 millionAverage household income in district: $55454
Worth, in district households: 200
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (WI-5)
2013 worth: $10.9 millionAverage household income in district: $61272
Worth, in district households: 178
2008 worth: $11.34 million
Change in worth under Obama: -3.9%
Rep. John Fleming (LA-4)
2013 worth: $10.7 millionAverage household income in district: $40569
Worth, in district households: 264
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-35)
2013 worth: $10.5 millionAverage household income in district: $36792
Worth, in district households: 285
2008 worth: $8.38 million
Change in worth under Obama: 25.3%
Rep. Tom Petri (WI-6)
2013 worth: $9.9 millionAverage household income in district: $51995
Worth, in district households: 190
2008 worth: $14.63 million
Change in worth under Obama: -32.3%
Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10)
2013 worth: $9.9 millionAverage household income in district: $65864
Worth, in district households: 150
Rep. John Campbell (CA-45)
2013 worth: $9.4 millionAverage household income in district: $89383
Worth, in district households: 105
2008 worth: $11.39 million
Change in worth under Obama: -17.5%
Rep. Kenny Marchant (TX-24)
2013 worth: $9.2 millionAverage household income in district: $59229
Worth, in district households: 155
2008 worth: $10.49 million
Change in worth under Obama: -12.3%
Rep. Steve Daines (MT-1)
2013 worth: $9.2 millionAverage household income in district: $44222
Worth, in district households: 208
Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY)
2013 worth: $9.2 millionAverage household income in district: $52123
Worth, in district households: 177
Rep. Tom Price (GA-6)
2013 worth: $8.5 millionAverage household income in district: $72832
Worth, in district households: 117
2008 worth: $6.99 million
Change in worth under Obama: 21.6%
Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5)
2013 worth: $8.2 millionAverage household income in district: $43623
Worth, in district households: 188
Sen. Kay Hagan (NC)
2013 worth: $8.1 millionAverage household income in district: $55338
Worth, in district households: 146
Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6)
2013 worth: $8 millionAverage household income in district: $44376
Worth, in district households: 180
2008 worth: $7.21 million
Change in worth under Obama: 11%
Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-2)
2013 worth: $8 millionAverage household income in district: $37252
Worth, in district households: 215
2008 worth: $8.4 million
Change in worth under Obama: -4.8%
Sen. Rob Portman (OH)
2013 worth: $7.3 millionAverage household income in district: $59193
Worth, in district households: 123
Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11)
2013 worth: $6.7 millionAverage household income in district: $65938
Worth, in district households: 102
2008 worth: $7.37 million
Change in worth under Obama: -9.1%
Rep. Bill Flores (TX-17)
2013 worth: $6.7 millionAverage household income in district: $41989
Worth, in district households: 160
Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3)
2013 worth: $6.5 millionAverage household income in district: $44092
Worth, in district households: 147
Composite image includes photo by Givaga via Shutterstock.
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