Bill Clinton net worth: Inside the former U.S. president’s wealth and earnings

Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, has an estimated net worth of $120 million, a figure that reflects the combined wealth he shares with his wife, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Despite leaving the White House in 2001 burdened with debt, Bill Clinton has since transformed his financial standing through speaking engagements, book deals, investments, and consulting work—amassing hundreds of millions over the past two decades.

Bill Clinton Net Worth: $120 Million
Date of Birth: August 19, 1946
Place of Birth: Hope, Arkansas
Nationality: American

Table of Contents

Early Life

Born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas, Bill Clinton faced early hardship. His father died before he was born, and he was largely raised by his maternal grandparents. His mother later married Roger Clinton Sr., whose surname Bill legally adopted at age 15.

A visit to the White House in 1963 to meet President John F. Kennedy deeply inspired young Clinton. He later studied at Georgetown University, earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford, and graduated from Yale Law School, where he met Hillary Rodham. They married in 1975 and have one daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

From White House Debt to Millionaire Status

When Bill and Hillary Clinton left the White House in 2001, they were technically insolvent, owing millions of dollars primarily due to legal fees from Clinton’s impeachment proceedings and related settlements. However, the post-presidency years proved to be extremely lucrative. Bill Clinton alone has earned more than $100 million from speaking engagements, often commanding between $150,000 and $700,000 per speech.

In 2001, Clinton signed a record-breaking $15 million advance for his memoir My Life, marking the highest book deal ever paid at that time. The success of his and Hillary’s books, paired with frequent speaking opportunities, catapulted their joint earnings to over $250 million, possibly even approaching $300 million, between 2001 and 2020.

Annual Income Snapshot

As part of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, the couple released eight years of tax returns. In 2014 alone, they earned $28 million, with the bulk of the income coming from paid speeches. In 2015, their earnings stood at $10.6 million, including $6 million from speaking fees.

Since leaving office, the Clintons have consistently earned between $10 million and $30 million per year, placing them among the wealthiest political couples in the United States. Bill Clinton also receives an annual $200,000 pension as a former U.S. president.

Bill Clintons Income Over the Years

Prior to his presidency, Bill Clinton’s earnings were modest—never exceeding $35,000 annually as Arkansas Attorney General and later Governor. Hillary, meanwhile, was the main breadwinner in the early years, earning around $110,000 annually at a Little Rock law firm, plus $60,000 from corporate board service.

Here’s a look at their combined gross income over select years:

Year	Gross Income
1991	$200,000
1996	$1,065,000
2001	$16,000,000
2004	$20,000,000
2007	$21,000,000
2013	$27,000,000
2014	$28,000,000
2015	$11,000,000
Total (1991–2015)	$241,485,000

Political Career

Clinton’s political journey began in Arkansas, where he became the youngest governor in the U.S. at age 32. After serving multiple terms, he successfully ran for President in 1992, defeating incumbent George H. W. Bush. He served two terms from 1993 to 2001, during which he implemented major domestic policies, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Brady Bill, and expanded the earned income tax credit.

Despite his accomplishments, Clinton’s presidency was marred by scandal. In 1998, he was impeached by the House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice related to his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. He was later acquitted by the Senate and completed his second term with a 66% approval rating, the highest for any departing president since World War II.

Life After the White House

Clinton wasted no time rebuilding his wealth. In addition to lucrative book deals and speeches, he launched several philanthropic efforts. His Clinton Global Initiative focuses on global health, economic development, and climate change. He was appointed UN Special Envoy to Haiti and worked alongside former President George W. Bush to raise funds for the nation after the 2010 earthquake.

Even in retirement, Clinton remains politically active, supporting Hillary’s campaigns in 2008 and 2016. The couple now resides in Chappaqua, New York, in a home they purchased in 2016 for $1.6 million.