Wealth of U.S. Presidents List and Details

If you want to be president, you dont have to have a college degree or even be born on American soil. Youve only got to be 35-years-old and a ​natural-born citizen of the United States. Oh, yeah: You also need to have money. Lots of money. Related Story: Who Was the Poorest U.S. President? No, thats not spelled out in the U.S. Constitutions requirements to be president.  But its become a fact of American political life.  Almost every modern president has been a millionaire at the time he was elected to the White House. Why Money Matters Why do you have to be rich to be president? You need money to raise money, first. You need money to be able to take time off work to campaign, second. And you need money to taken seriously, third.   Related Story: What is a Country Club Republican? Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, told National Public Radios the protojournalist in 2013: Wealth has always been a major qualifying factor for the presidency. It gives you access to the other rich people who fund campaigns, the status to seek high office, the extra time necessary for an all-consuming quest, and freedom from the everyday concerns that keep most people occupied. Thus has it always been, thus ever will it be. Wealth of 5 Modern Presidents Heres a look at five modern presidents and their net worth at the time of their election. Barack Obama  Ã¢â‚¬â€ The Democratic former U.S. senator was worth an estimated  $3,665,505 at the time of his election in 2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C., watchdog group. Obama listed assets worth between $1,416,010 and $5,915,000 in his personal financial disclosure for that year.  George W. Bush  Ã¢â‚¬â€ The Republican former Texas governor, who started his own oil company and owned a major league baseball team, was worth an estimated  $11 million to $29 million at the time of his election in 2000, according to The New York Times. The newspaper noted that Bushs assets made him one of the wealthiest presidents in decades.Bill Clinton  Ã¢â‚¬â€ The Democratic former Arkansas governor estimated his and eventual First Lady Hillary Clintons net worth at  $700,000 when he was elected in 1992. Clinton later told  NBC’s Meet the Press that:  I think I had the lowest net worth of any American president in the 20th century when I took office.  George H.W. Bush  Ã¢â‚¬â€ The Republican vice president and former oilman was worth $2.1 million when he was elected in 1988. As The New York Times noted: Because of Vice President Bushs bearing, his privileged upbringing and his years in the oil business in Texas, he is often perceived as a man of great wealth.  Ronald Reagan  Ã¢â‚¬â€ The Republican former Hollywood actor was worth $4 million when he was elected to the White House in 1980.      Wealth of 2016 Presidential Candidates It appears the trend of electing millionaire presidents will continue in the 2016 election. Each of the candidates and likely candidates  for 2016  is worth at least $1 million and likely much more, according to personal financial disclosures. Related Story:  A Guide to Money in Politics For example: Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. senator and secretary of State under President Barack Obama, is worth at least $5.2 million.  Ted Cruz, a Republican U.S. senator from Texas who announced his candidacy in March 2015, is worth an estimated $3.2 million.Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor and next in line in the Bush political dynasty, is believed to be worth at least $1.3 million and likely much more.