Washington (CNN)— Promising economic mobility and
championing the middle class are key themes for
candidates from both sides of the political aisle as the
2016 presidential campaign gets underway.
Most of the candidates don't have to worry about so
much about their own finances.
During her first campaign trip to Iowa Democratic
presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said "There's
something wrong when CEO's make 300 times more than
the typical worker," highlighting income inequality as
one of her top priorities.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Clinton
is worth an estimated $15,300,000. She could continue
to make more money as the campaign progresses.
Former President Bill Clinton told NBC he will continue
to charge six-figure speaking fees while his wife runs
because he has "to pay our bills.
The Clintons are wealthy, but they don't have the
financial security of former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly
Fiorina, a Republican and the only other woman in the
race. She is estimated to have more than four times as
much as Clinton, with a net worth of $80 million.
Fiorina is by far the richest candidate currently in the
race.
Retired neurosurgeon and author Dr. Ben Carson and
former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tried to play
down their wealth by focusing on their humble roots.
Huckabee, who enjoyed a lucrative career as a Fox News
host after his failed 2008 bid for president, owns a
multimillion dollar beachfront home in Santa Rosa Beach
but chose to announce his candidacy from his
hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Huckabee indirectly referenced his fellow hometown
politician, former President Bill Clinton, and took a swipe
at the Clintons' wealth: "I don't have a global foundation
or a taxpayer-funded check to live off of. I grew up blue
collared, not blue blooded," said Huckabee.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz is estimated to be worth a little
over $3 million, while Senator Rand Paul is worth an
estimated net worth of $1,300,000, according to the
Center for Responsive Politics data.
Not all of the candidates are millionaires.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican, has an
estimated net worth of $443,500, and independent
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running against
Clinton for the Democratic nomination, are at the bottom
of the pack of official candidates.
Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist and a staunch critic
of Wall Street, has an estimated net worth of $330,507,
making him the poorest candidate currently in the race.
"We now have a political situation where billionaires are
literally able to buy elections and candidates," said
Sanders.
Rubio spoke about his humble upbringing while
announcing his presidential bid in Miami
"When they were young my parents had big dreams for
themselves ... but because they were not born into
wealth or power, their future was destined to be defined
by their past ... Here in America, my father became a
bartender, my mother a cashier, a maid, a K-Mart stock
clerk." Towards the end of his speech Rubio referenced
his parents again and said: "I live in an exceptional
country where even the son of a bartender and a maid
can have the same dreams."
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