Despite a performance rating that’s nearly the lowest it’s ever been, members of Congress are richer than ever. In fact, a Center for Responsive Politics study finds that, on average, one member of Congress has the cumulative worth of 18 American households. Which is an astounding amount of wealth for a body that ended last year as one of the least productive Congresses in American history. Here’s a snapshot of what else the study found:
1) The rest of us got poorer while Congress grew richer
While the Great Recession took its toll on most Americans, members of Congress saw their wallets grow fatter. Since 2007, the median net worth of Americans has dropped by almost one third (28%). Meanwhile, members of Congress’ median worths rose a staggering 43%.
2) Congress is mostly made of millionaires
The rich (and very rich) are right in their element in Congress. Millionaires made up more than 50% of Congress in 2013, with nearly 271 of the 533 members claiming personal fortunes of at least seven digits. The median net worth of members was $1,029,505 in 2013, up 2.5 percent over the year prior. Contrast that with the median net worth of your average American household, which sits at a comparatively paltry $56,355.
3) The richest members of Congress are hundred-millionares
The top five members of Congress are worth more than the GDP of entire countries. At $200.5 million, Republican Dave Trott’s personal wealth is greater than the GDP of both Peru and Iraq ($200,269 and $195,517, respectively). Democrat Jared Polis is worth $213.2 million, more than the GDP of Algeria ($208,764). Democrat John K. Delaney is worth $222.4, greater than the GDP of the Czech Republic ($208,796). Another Democrat, Mark Warner, is worth $254.2 million, which beats out the GDP of Greece ($241,721). While Republican Darryl Issa, the richest man in Congress, is worth an incredible $448.4 million, which makes him worth more than the GDPs of Bolivia, Croatia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong put together ($30,601; $57,869; $67,203; and $274,027, respectively). And that’s still $15.6 million lessthan he was valued at last year.
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