# WSJ: Net worth of the Presidents, from Washington to Obama
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 25, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705 "2010-05-25T15:13:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/1 "2010-05-25T15:13:03Z")
Interesting article: [The Net Worth Of The American Presidents: Washington To Obama – 24/7 Wall St.](http://247wallst.com/2010/05/17/the-net-worth-of-the-american-presidents-washington-to-obama/)
---
### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/2 "2010-05-25T16:17:57Z")
Nitpick: That’s not the WSJ.
There seems to be some inconsistency in the point in their lives that is being measured. They list Jefferson as vastly wealthy, but I think his net worth was near or below zero when he died, so they’re using some earlier point in his life. Other presidents seem to be measured late in their lives. Maybe this is the maximum they ever achieved?
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/3 "2010-05-25T16:18:59Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#):
>
> Maybe this is the maximum they ever achieved?
They say they used each one’s maximum net worth.
---
### Author:  [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/4 "2010-05-25T16:25:41Z")
A small nitpick on the title: [247WallSt.com](http://247WallSt.com) does not seem to be affiliated with the WSJ.
---
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/5 "2010-05-25T16:31:46Z")
My mistake. I was told it was.
I was unaware that FDR’s mom bailed him out financially in 1919. I don’t think I’d ever heard that before. Anyone know the details? Wiki says nothing.
---
### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/6 "2010-05-25T17:37:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> They say they used each one’s maximum net worth.
Thanks. I missed that.
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-net-worth-of-the-presidents-from-washington-to-obama/540705/7 "2010-05-25T18:28:48Z")
One thing I’ve found interesting was the 1932 election. Roosevelt was seen as the exemplar of wealth and privilege but Hoover was actually a much wealthier man.