The inaugural debate among the aspirants for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination is set to unfold in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, yet the anticipated front-runner, Donald Trump, will be notably absent. Trump's refusal to commit to the GOP's loyalty pledge, underscoring support for the eventual victor, renders him ineligible. Trump's absence, rooted in his consistent lead in polls and grievances about participating, may offer Fox moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum a less tumultuous session. With contenders such as Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence, the debate is poised for a more conventional adherence to established rules.
The contenders face an opportunity to carve out their own identities before a primetime television audience, unencumbered by the overshadowing influence of Mr. Trump, which has dominated the party for nearly a decade. The question of how many candidates will be willing to critique the twice-impeached and four-times-indicted former president, risking potential alienation from his fervent base, remains uncertain. Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, has been one of the few to venture into criticism, only to face relentless teasing and taunting on Truth Social for his efforts.
In anticipation of Wednesday's debate, here is a breakdown of the personal wealth of participating candidates, along with a brief overview of their wealth accumulation. Excluded from this overview are candidates Will Hurd, Perry Johnson, Francis Suarez, and Larry Elder, as they had not met the threshold for earning spots on the debate stage at the time of writing.
What is Doug Burgum Net Worth?
North Dakota's governor, seen as a potential dark-horse candidate for the GOP nomination, boasts a reported net worth of $1.1 billion, ranking him as the second wealthiest state leader, trailing only JB Pritzker of Illinois. According to Yahoo! Finance, Doug Burgum's wealth stems from the sale of his tech company, Great Plains Software, to Microsoft in 2001 after an initial public offering. Founded in the 1980s, the company experienced growth, fueled by engineering graduates from North Dakota State University. Following this success, Burgum chaired the boards of Atlassian and SuccessFactors and established the Kilbourne Group, a local real estate developer. Additionally, he co-founded the software venture capital firm Arthur Ventures.
What is Nikki Haley Net Worth?
The former South Dakota governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, has a reported net worth of $8 million, according to Forbes. Following her departure from the Trump administration in 2018, reports suggest that Haley faced financial challenges due to her parents' troubled investment in a local strip mall. She reportedly had to provide personal loans to bail them out and prevent the risk of losing the family home near Lake Murray, located near Lexington.
Since then, Nikki Haley has significantly increased her wealth through lucrative after-dinner speaking engagements for businesses and political organizations. In 2022 alone, she reportedly earned $2.3 million from just 11 such events, according to Forbes. Additionally, Haley authored two books on leadership during this period and held positions on the boards of several companies, including Boeing and the United Homes Group. These endeavors enabled her to successfully address her family's financial challenges, resolving debt problems and securing a more stable future for them.
What is Chris Christie Net Worth?
Reports on the net worth of the former New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, vary, with estimates ranging from as high as $19 million to a more commonly agreed figure of $5 million. Christie obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Delaware in 1984 and earned his juris doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law three years later. He began his legal career at the firm of Dughi, Hewit, and Palatucci in Cranford, New Jersey, eventually becoming a partner in 1993. Appointed by George W. Bush in 2002, Christie served as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey until 2008 before successfully campaigning for the governor's mansion. Despite once being allies, Christie and Trump are now adversaries.
What is Ron DeSantis Net Worth?
Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, has the least reported wealth among the candidates, with a net worth of $1.17 million as disclosed in a 2022 filing. His salary as governor, totaling $1,174,331.07, was supplemented by a $1.25 million advance from HarperCollins for his second book, "The Courage To Be Free." Despite his modest financial standing compared to other candidates, DeSantis has gained national prominence, particularly for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts with the Walt Disney Company, and the implementation of strict anti-LGBT+ policies in Florida's schools. In contrast, his predecessor, Rick Scott, had a reported net worth of $255 million.
What is Asa Hutchinson Net Worth?
The former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, hails from a farming background in Gravette, near Bentonville, and currently boasts an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. Forbes reports that a significant portion of his wealth is linked to his residence, purchased 13 years ago for $514,000 and now valued at approximately $1.2 million. Additionally, Huckabee holds an estimated $300,000 worth of pensions from both the federal government and the state of Arkansas.
What is Mike Pence Net Worth?
Former Vice President Mike Pence, once a congressman and governor of Indiana, saw a significant increase in his wealth, currently estimated at $4 million, quadrupling since leaving office. Pence surpassed the $1 million mark in federal and state pensions in 2019. Since departing office in January 2021, he has earned $3.4 million through a public speaking tour, delivering 32 addresses between January 2022 and June 2023. Pence also published a memoir, "So Help Me God," during this period, receiving a substantial advance. Alongside his wife Karen, he invested in a five-acre estate in Columbus, Indiana, and in blue-chip companies like Apple, Pfizer, and Lockheed Martin on the stock market.
What is Vivek Ramaswamy Net Worth?
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Vivek Ramaswamy, the second-richest candidate on the debate stage, boasts a net worth of $630 million. With an Ivy League education, he initially worked as an investment partner at Wall Street hedge fund QVT Financial. Ramaswamy later founded the successful biotech company Roivant Sciences in 2014 and, in 2022, established the "anti-woke" index fund provider Strive Asset Management. Forbes draws parallels between him and other wealthy investors-turned-politicians like Tom Steyer, Michael Bloomberg, and Donald Trump. Ramaswamy has authored several books, including "Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam" and "Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit and the Path Back to Excellence.
What is Tim Scott Net Worth?
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South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, aspiring to be the second Black president of the United States, has a reported net worth of $3.88 million. Raised in poverty by a single mother in North Charleston, Scott began his career as an insurance agent and financial adviser. He later established his insurance company, Tim Scott Allstate, before entering politics, first on the Charleston City Council in 1995 and then in the Senate in 2011. With a congressional salary of $174,000 per year, Scott also received a $184,167 advance from HarperCollins for his memoir.
What is Donald Trump Worth?
Donald Trump, the four-time indicted former president, has opted out of the initial GOP debate, and his personal wealth, a topic of extensive discussion, is estimated by Forbes at around $2.5 billion, a decline from $3.2 billion in 2022. During his candidacy and presidency, Trump withheld his personal finances from public view, falsely asserting that he couldn't disclose them due to an IRS audit—a claim debunked by experts.
The Trump Organization, led by Donald Trump, holds real estate and golf clubs globally. His Truth Social platform, initially valued at $730 million, has reportedly depreciated by about $550 million, according to Fox News. Born into affluence, Trump inherited an estimated $40 million from his late father, Fred Trump, a prominent real estate developer.