Hillary Clinton’s 68th birthday is Oct. 26, and the presidential hopeful has a blowout bash fundraiser planned to mark the occasion, according to the New York Times. The event, scheduled for Oct. 25 in New York City, will collect campaign contributions of $250 to $2,700 from hundreds of attendees.
As Hillary Clinton’s campaign for presidency continues, Clinton’s financial past, from her investment portfolio to her stance on the national budget, will become increasingly important to voters. Find out the latest news on Hillary Clinton’s personal finances, as well as her positions on campaign finance, income inequality and more issues.
Related: How Hillary Clinton as President Could Affect Your Paycheck
1. Hillary Clinton Net Worth: $31.2 Million
Based on a review of 2015 U.S. Public Financial Disclosure Reports, Money Nation estimated Hillary Clinton’s net worth to be $31.2 million, but notes that Clinton could be worth anywhere from $10.8 million to $51.7 million.
Though this is a significant sum by any measure, Money Nation goes on to reveal that Hillary Clinton did not report owning any real estate or having any outstanding debts. If Hillary and former President Bill Clinton do own property or owe money, both could be listed in Bill Clinton’s name.
2. She Earned More Than $25 Million in Speeches
Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton have raked in roughly $25 million in speeches since 2014, according to Politico. The couple delivered 104 speeches between January 2014 and April 2015, according to their recent financial disclosure. However, the disclosure does not include any speeches the couple delivered wherein payment was directed to the Clinton Foundation. As a result, their true earnings could be significantly higher.
Out of the 104 combined speeches, Hillary Clinton gave 51 and netted approximately $12 million while Bill Clinton gave 53, earning around $13.5 million. Additionally, Hillary Clinton made more than $5 million in proceeds from her book, “Hard Choices,” during the same time frame.
3. She Has $5 Million to $25 Million in One Mutual Fund
Clinton might be taking investment advice from Warren Buffett, following the same strategy the business magnate proposed for his own wife. According to MarketWatch, Buffett recommended that his wife keep 90 percent of her inheritance in a Vanguard Index 500 fund, with the remaining 10 percent in short-term government bonds should she survive him. Clinton’s investment portfolio mimics this strategy by containing only one mutual fund valued between $5 million and $25 million. It favors a Vanguard 500 Index Fund.
Clinton’s investments are typical of a politician because, with only one mutual fund, there isn’t much to criticize. The specific type of mutual fund in which she invests in offers even less to criticize, as she has no influence over stock selection.
4. The Clintons Were ‘Dead Broke’ After Bill’s Presidency
In a 2014 interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, Hillary Clinton said she and former President Bill Clinton were “dead broke” after leaving the White House:
“We came out of the White House not only dead broke, but in debt,” she said. “We had no money when we got there and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses, for Chelsea’s education. You know, it was not easy.” she said.
Not long after the interview aired, the former secretary of state recanted her statement. In an interview on “AMERICA with Jorge Ramos,” Clinton admitted that she and her husband are now worth millions, and said she regrets saying they were “dead broke.”
5. She’s Revamping Campaign Finance Laws
Clinton has vowed to end “secret, unaccountable” campaign cash, according to a recent article in the Washington Times:
“We have to end the flood of secret, unaccountable money that is distorting our elections, corrupting our political system and drowning out the voices of too many everyday Americans,” Clinton said in a statement published on her website.
Most of the measures outlined in Clinton’s plan would require action from several branches of the government, from the White House to the Supreme Court and Congress. The plan strives to change campaign finance laws in three major ways:
- Push for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and appoint Supreme Court Justices who value the role of everyday voters instead of billionaires.
- Push Congress to pass laws requiring public disclosure of significant political spending.
- Establish a system of public financing for presidential and congressional candidates that provides matching funds for small donor contributions.
6. She Raised $45 Million in Q2 2015 and $28 Million in Q3 2015
The Clinton campaign raised $45 million in its first active quarter, averaging out to about $500,000 per day, according to Politico. Further, the Los Angeles Times reported that Clinton raised $28 million in the three months that followed.
The $45 million raised in her first quarter as a candidate beats Clinton’s fundraising numbers from the first three months of her 2008 bid, which totaled only $19 million. This time around, Clinton also beat the primary campaign record of $41.9 million set by President Barack Obama in 2011. In light of these results, Clinton is well on the way to meeting the campaign’s fundraising goal of $100 million in 2015.
7. Clinton Spent $7.7 Million for First Major Ad Buys
Politico reported that Hillary Clinton shelled out $7.7 million for TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, which could air as early as the first week of November and continue through Election Day in both states — Feb. 1 in Iowa and Feb. 9 in New Hampshire.
Thus far, most of Clinton’s campaign presence has come from online videos and the media, but as the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries approach, the Clinton campaign is likely to spend more money on targeted TV spots.
8. She Earned $2,700 a Head at Celebrity Fundraiser
Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West, along with mom Kris Jenner, are just a few of the celebrities reported to attend a $2,700-a-plate fundraiser for Clinton in Los Angeles this year. According to the Los Angeles Times, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jessica Alba and husband Cash Warren, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, Usher, Jason Collins and Mary Steenburgen were also present at the event.
Kardashian even managed to snap a selfie with the presidential candidate, captioning it, “I got my selfie!!! I really loved hearing her speak & hearing her goals for our country! #HillaryForPresident.”
9. Hillary Clinton Is Taking on Income Inequality
Clinton focused on income inequality at the first public rally of her 2016 presidential campaign. According to the New York Times, Clinton didn’t mention her own ties to Wall Street and the corporate world, and instead took aim at hedge fund CEOs and managers, stating that the top 25 hedge fund managers earn more than all of the nation’s kindergarten teachers combined.
During a later policy speech, Clinton presented the details of her vision of a “growth and fairness economy” to tackle the widening gap between America’s rich and poor. The New York Times reported that her economic agenda aims to boost middle class wages, broaden social services and increase tax burdens on the wealthy. Clinton also presented other economy-related proposals, one of which involves helping women advance in the workforce by promoting equal pay, fair scheduling and paid leave.
10. She Supports a $12 Federal Minimum Wage
Clinton has voiced support for raising the federal minimum wage to $12, but said raising the minimum wage from the current rate of $7.25 an hour to $15 might not make sense for areas of the country with lower costs of living.
The Fight for $15 campaign, originally organized by fast food workers fighting for $15 an hour and the right to form a union, has gained popularity recently, garnering support from former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Sen. Bernie Sanders, both contenders for the 2016 Democratic nomination.