Hillary Clinton's Net Worth: How She Became One of America's Wealthiest Politicians

Hillary Clinton’s net worth is a matter of public interest because she is one of the most successful women in America as a politician and diplomat.

She served as a First Lady of the U.S., a Senator of New York, and a U.S. Secretary of State. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee for president in the 2016 presidential election.

Hillary has made a lot of wealth from her public service, career, politics, book authoring, and, recently, her podcast.

This post will tell you all you want to know about the politician.

Plus, find out how you can learn to grow your own million dollar brand FREE.

What is Hillary Clinton's net worth?

According to various sources, Hillary Clinton's net worth is estimated at $120 million. 

Who is Hillary Clinton?

Hillary Clinton is a famous American politician, diplomat, author, and media personality with an estimated net worth of $120 million. Her net worth is combined with her husband’s, President Bill Clinton. Hillary and Bill have one daughter, Chelsea. She has held several significant roles in government and politics.  

Early life and Education

Hillary Clinton was born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947, at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, to Hugh Rodham and Dorothy Howell. 

She grew up in a middle-class family in Park Ridge, Illinois, alongside her two younger brothers, Hugh and Tony.

She attended Maine East High School, participated in the student council, was selected for the National Honor Society, and was elected class vice president for her junior year.

Hillary transferred to the then-new Maine South High School for her senior year and graduated in 1965.

The same year, she enrolled at Wellesley College, majoring in political science. In her first year, she was elected president of the Wellesley Young Republicans. 

She became active in student politics and government, and in 1968 she was elected president of the Wellesley College Government Association.

She graduated from Wellesley in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts and honors in political science. 

In 1969, Hillary enrolled in Yale Law School, where she met Bill Clinton (1971). At Yale, she was a part of the editorial board of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action. She graduated and received her Yale law degree in 1973. 

Early Career 

Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton in 1975. 

The couple moved to Arkansas, where Bill became the state's attorney general while Hillary worked as an attorney in Little Rock and a faculty member at the University of Arkansas School of Law. 

Hillary became Arkansas's first lady in 1979 after Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas.

U.S. First Lady (1993-2001)

When Bill Clinton became U.S. President in January 1993, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the U.S. first lady. She was the first in this role to have a postgraduate degree and a professional career up to the time. 

As a first lady, Hillary played a significant role in policymaking and advocacy, including:

• International diplomacy
• Shaping healthcare policy
• Advocating for women's and children's rights

U.S. Senator of New York (2001 - 2009)

After leaving the White House, Hillary was elected as a U.S. senator for New York and served two terms as a Senator. She was active on several committees, including the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations.

2008 Presidential Campaign

Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2008 but lost the Democratic nomination to Obama. She later became his Secretary of State under the Obama administration.

U.S. Secretary of State (2009 - 2013)

Hillary Clinton served as the 67th Secretary of State under President Obama from 2009 to 2013. During this role, she played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, including efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Her tenure attracted a few controversies, including the Benghazi attack and using a private email server.

2016 U.S. Presidential Candidate

Hillary Clinton ran for president again in 2016, making it to the ballot. Unfortunately, she lost the election to Donald Trump on electoral votes but won on popular votes.

Post-2016 Election Activities

After the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton confirmed she would not seek public office again. She has, however, continued to be active in politics and public life, being involved in various advocacy groups and authoring several books.

• March 2017 — she delivered a St. Patrick's Day speech in Scranton, Pennsylvania
• May 2017 — she announced the formation of Onward Together, a new political action committee dedicated to advancing the progressive vision of Americans 
• April 2020 — she endorsed Vice President Joe Biden for U.S. president
• August 2020 — she addressed the Democratic National Convention

How did Hillary Clinton build her wealth?

Hillary Clinton's wealth comes from various sources, including being a politician, senator, first lady, and author.

1. Law Practice

Hillary Clinton is a lawyer by profession, which has helped her earn income to the tune of millions. In the late 80s and early 90s, before entering the White House, Hillary earned around $60,000 per year from corporate board fees for a total income of around $180,000. She has also practiced law in different capacities. Some of them include:

• Law intern at Treuhaft, Walker, and Burnste Oakland, Ca, law firm (Summer 1971)
• Staff attorney for Edelman's Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1973)
• Consultant to the Carnegie Council on Children (1973)
• Member of the impeachment inquiry in Washington, D.C. (1974) of President Richard Nixon
• A faculty member at the University of Arkansas School of Law (August 1974)
• Director of a legal aid clinic at the University of Arkansas School of Law  (1974)
• Attorney at Rose Law Firm, Little Rock, Arkansas (1976)
• Member of the Legal Services Corporation (1977-1981)
• A full partner in Rose Law Firm (1979). She earned around $110,000 in base salary
• She took the position of Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast (January 2020)
• She joined  Columbia University as a professor at the School of International and Public Affairs and a presidential fellow at Columbia World Projects (January 2023)

2. First Lady

While serving as the First Lady, Hillary Clinton didn’t earn a salary but earned money from speaking engagements and writing a book.

3. U.S. Senator (2001 - 2009)

After leaving the White House, Hillary Clinton was elected as a U.S. senator from New York, taking over from New York's long-serving U.S. senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She served two terms (2001 - 2009) in various committees helping shape policies.

4. Secretary of State (2009-2013)

As Secretary of State, Hillary earned $186,000 per year. That made her the fourth highest-paid government official in the U.S. behind the President ($400,000), the Vice President ($225,551) and the Secretary of Treasury ($191,300).

5. Author

Hillary Clinton has written several books, including her 3 memoirs: Living History (2003), Hard Choices (2014), and What Happened (2017). According to reports from various sources, Hillary Clinton has earned millions from book royalties and advances of at least $30 million. 

Living History reportedly earned her an $8 million advance from publisher Simon & Schuster. The book sold over 1 million copies in the first month of publication and was translated into 12 foreign languages. Hard Choices also earned her a substantial amount, including an advance of $14 million. 

She has authored several other successful books and publications, including:

• It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us (1996)
• Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets (1998)
• An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History (2000)
• Stronger Together (2016) - With Tim Kaine
• What Happened (2017) - a memoir after the 2016 presidential elections
• The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience (2019) Co-authored with Chelsea Clinton
• State of Terror With Louise Penny (2021)

6. Paid Speeches

Hillary Clinton's majority of earnings since 2001 has been from speaking engagements to corporate organizations and other groups. Clinton earns between $200,000–$225,000 per speaking engagement when addressing business conventions or Wall Street firms. She earned over $20 million from paid speeches leading up to her 2016 presidential campaign. Over a 15-month span that ended in March 2015, Clinton earned over $11 million from speeches. Between 2007 and 2014, the Clintons earned around $141 million and paid about $56 million in taxes.

7. Investments

Hillary Clinton has also made significant money from investments, including stocks and real estate. She is reported to own several properties, including a home in Chappaqua, New York, and a vacation home in the Hamptons.

Between 1978 and 1979, while looking to supplement their income, Hillary engaged in trading cattle futures contracts. An initial $1,000 investment generated nearly $100,000 after ten months. 

At the time, the Clintons also started their ill-fated investment in the Whitewater Development Corporation real estate venture with Jim and Susan McDougal.

8. HiddenLight and Film Productions 

Hillary Clinton has also become involved in film production in recent years through her company, HiddenLight Productions. The company has produced several documentaries, including Hillary, a four-part series aired on Hulu in 2020.

In addition to HiddenLight Productions, in 2020, Hillary started film production through her role as executive producer on the upcoming film The Women's Wave, which is set to be released in 2023.

9. Podcast - You and Me Both

Hillary Clinton's podcast, You and Me Both, launched in 2020, has also likely contributed to her net worth. The podcast features guest interviews on topics ranging from politics to pop culture.

FAQs

How much is Hillary Clinton's net worth?

Hillary Clinton's net worth is estimated at $120 million.

How did Hillary Clinton acquire her wealth?

Hillary Clinton has acquired her wealth through various sources, including her salary as a U.S. senator and Secretary of State, speaking engagements, book sales, investments, and film production.

What are some of Hillary Clinton's presidential actions that have impacted her net worth?

The presidential elections that have affected Hillary Clinton’s net worth are:

• 1992 Presidential Elections — Bill Clinton was elected president
• 2008 Presidential nominations — Hillary Clinton failed nomination 
• 2016 presidential election — Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton through electoral votes

What speaking engagements has Hillary Clinton given since her tenure as President?

Hillary Clinton has given various speeches since her tenure as president, including keynote addresses at conferences, speeches at universities, and talks at corporate events.

What type of donations and fundraising efforts has Hillary Clinton made?

Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton has been involved in various fundraising efforts and has received donations from various individuals and organizations. Between 2007 and 2014, the Clintons donated approximately $15 million to charity.

In 2013, Hillary together with Bill and Chelsea, founded the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation in 2013.  

Clinton has also partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to gather and study data on the progress of women and girls around the world since the Beijing conference in 1995.

How has her memoir, You and Me Both, contributed to Hillary Clinton's net worth?

Hillary Clinton's memoir, You and Me Both, has been a bestseller and has likely contributed significantly to her net worth.

How did Hillary Clinton's email server controversy affect her net worth?

The email server controversy affected Hillary Clinton's net worth by having a negative impact on her reputation and making it difficult for her to secure speaking engagements and other opportunities.

What is Hillary Clinton's income from her books and audio recordings?

Hillary Clinton's income from her books and audio recordings has likely generated millions of dollars in revenue. She is estimated to have earned over $30 million from her books and audio recordings.

How did Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State impact her net worth?

Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State likely helped to raise her profile and increase her earning potential. Hillary earned $186,000 per year as Secretary of State, being the fourth highest-paid government official in the U.S. behind the President, Vice President, and Secretary of Treasury. 

How has Hillary Clinton's candidacy for president affected her net worth?

Hillary Clinton's candidacy for president likely significantly impacted her net worth, as she received donations from a wide range of individuals and organizations. This helped her profile through media coverage and campaign events.

Takeaway

Hillary Clinton's net worth is estimated to be $120 million, making her one of the wealthiest politicians in America. Her income has been from various sources, including her salary as a U.S. Senator and Secretary of State, speaking engagements, book sales, investments, film production, and investments.

If Hilary inspires you to join the world of politics, we wish you all the best and hope you’ll use your office to truly make the world a better place. We can’t help you get there, since that’s not our specialty.

But if her entrepreneurial spirit inspires you to build vast wealth that lasts for generations by building a business that serves others, now, that’s where we can help!

In fact, we’re on a mission to make one million millionaires by 2028. We’d love YOU to be one of them.

That’s why we just released this FREE course that walks you through the journey to $1 million, starting right where you are. Let’s work together to build your million dollar business.