U.S. Presidents Ranked According To Net Worth (The Wealthiest Might Surprise You)

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22. James K. Polk

Source: https://www.history.com

Net Worth: $11.1 Million
Years in Office: 1845 to 1849
Political Party: Democratic
President No. 11
Born 1795 (Lived 53 Years)

James Knox Polk and his wife, Sarah Childress, were both born into wealth, with fathers who were prominent plantation owners, land speculators, and merchants. Aside from the fortune he inherited from his father’s farm in Maury county, Polk also built a successful law practice, owned a 920-acre cotton plantation in Mississippi, and bought over 30 slaves to work in his land. He also made a lot of money during his career in public service as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor of Tennessee, and eventually, Commander in Chief. Polk is often referred to as a dark horse candidate for the Democratic Party because he entered as a potential nominee for vice president but emerged the 11th president of the United States, and historians rank him favorably for his many accomplishments, including a territorial expansion that poised the country to become a world power.