Politics

What is the net worth of Trump’s administration picks?

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(NewsNation) — Donald Trump’s proposed advisers for his second presidential administration comprises politicians, a TV news host, tech entrepreneurs – and billionaires.

A billionaire himself, Trump is the richest American president in history, accounting for inflation, with a $5.2 billion estimated net worth as of Nov. 15, which is down from $6.7 billion on Oct. 31.

His proposed Department of Government Efficiency would be led by billionaire friend Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Trump’s Cabinet during his first term was considered to be the wealthiest Cabinet in previous administrations. While the DOGE position is not technically a Cabinet post, Trump’s picks so far include plenty of wealthy individuals.

But first, the president-elect needs the Senate to confirm his appointments, or he needs to arrange to install them via a temporary process known as recess appointments.

Here is the net worth of the wealthiest members of Trump’s proposed second-term administration.


Donald Trump’s new administration: Who has he chosen so far?

The Billionaires

Elon Musk’s net worth

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk listens as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter) and Tesla, is the world’s richest man, far surpassing his new boss in personal wealth.

According to Forbes’ real-time billionaires list, as of Nov. 15, Musk has a net worth of $298.4 billion, owing to his tech companies.

The X owner first appeared on Forbes’ billionaire list in 2012 with a net worth of $2 billion.

Forbes reported that his net worth in October 2011 was $680 million.

Vivek Ramaswamy’s net worth

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – JANUARY 08: Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy greets attendees to a campaign stop at the Hampton Inn & Suites Sioux City South on January 08, 2024 in Sioux City, Iowa. A snowstorm has altered the schedules of several Republican candidates in Iowa, a state where Republicans will be the first to select their party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential race when they go to caucus on January 15, 2024. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Formerly a Trump rival, Ramaswamy entered his name into the hat for Republican presidential nominee in 2023 but dropped out at the beginning of 2024. He endorsed Trump and became a political surrogate for him throughout the election cycle.

Ramaswamy, a Harvard graduate, earned his fortune through his pharmaceutical company Riovant Sciences, from which he stepped down as CEO in 2021.

The entrepreneur’s net worth is $1 billion, according to Forbes as of Nov. 15. He was named to Forbes’ America’s Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40 list in 2016.


The net worth of richest Congress members

The Millionaires

JD Vance’s net worth

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks at a campaign event, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Vice President-elect JD Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, has an estimated net worth of about $5 million to $10 million. As vice president, Vance will earn $235,000 per year.

The Yale Law graduate completed law school without debt because of his time in the Marine Corps. He earned money through high-paying jobs at elite law firms and then released a book “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2016. Netflix later distributed a movie version.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s net worth

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a Cesar Chavez Day event at Union Station on March 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

He shares the prosperous Kennedy name, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s net worth is around $15 million,  Forbes estimates.

RFK Jr. ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign on the independent ticket but withdrew from the 2024 race in August. He endorsed Trump and was later named to Trump’s Cabinet on Thursday.

Trump’s picked him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.


Presidential appointments: How do they work?

Kristi Noem’s net worth

Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, during the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, on Monday, July 15, 2024. Former President Donald Trump tapped JD Vance as his running mate, elevating to the Republican presidential ticket a venture capitalist-turned-senator whose embrace of populist politics garnered national attention and made him a rising star in the party. Photographer: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was tapped to serve as the Department of Homeland Security secretary under the Trump administration.

Before becoming governor, Noem was the South Dakota’s congressperson from 2011 to 2019.

OpenSecrets.org, a research group that tracks money in U.S. politics, reports Noem’s net worth was $2.3 million in 2017, the last year of published reports on her finances.

That number has likely changed since then.

Marco Rubio’s net worth

FILE – Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks with members of the media, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will serve as the president’s top diplomat as secretary of state if his nomination holds.

His net worth was $1.2 million in 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org’s most recent report. That figure has likely changed since then.

Rubio has served as the senior U.S. senator for Florida since 2011. Before that, he was speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008.

Despite a rivalry with Trump during the 2016 GOP primaries, Rubio has been a steadfast Trump supporter since the president-elect’s first term.