What Is Bernie Sanders Net Worth and How Did He Earn It?

Senator Bernie Sanders has been a popular name in American politics supporting socialism and communism. Ever wondered about his net worth and how he has amassed his fortune? Let’s see the person raising the voice for common people and equality is earning how much himself.

According to various popular sources, Bernie Sanders’ net worth is estimated at around $3 million. Major sources of this net worth include his Senate salary, book royalties, and investments. Sanders has been receiving a salary from the U.S. government as a Senator for Vermont since 2007. 

He has been known for his frugal lifestyle and vocal about the country’s wealth inequality, making his net worth more intriguing to the public. Continue reading this article to know more about Bernie Sander’s earning resources and their value. Let’s start with his early life!

Bernie Sanders’ History

Bernie Sanders is an American politician, author, and the longest-serving person in U.S. congressional history. He was born in Brooklyn and raised in a working-class family. Sanders even worked as a carpenter and freelance writer before becoming involved in politics. 

He started from a working-class family child to the Mayor of Burlington and a United States Senator. Sanders has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies, particularly on issues such as income inequality, healthcare reform, and climate change. Let’s have a look at the inspiring journey of this amazing man.

Early life

Mr. Bernie was born on 8 September 1941 in Brooklyn. He was the youngest of two sons born to Jewish immigrants from Poland, Elia Sanders, and Dorothy Sanders. His father was a salesman at a paint shop. 

His mother died in his childhood, so he was brought up by his father. Sanders grew up in a small, rented apartment in Brooklyn. Bernie’s family could fulfill basic needs but were not very rich.

Education

Bernie Sanders’ career in education started in an elementary school in Brooklyn. He attended James Madison High School. Bernie has been fascinated with politics since his childhood. He even participated in elections for the President of the school body. After graduating high school, he attended Brooklyn College for a year. 

Later he transferred to the University of Chicago. He did his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1964 from there. After that, he did not pursue further formal education; instead, he began his political career.

Career

After college, Sanders moved to Vermont, where he worked as a carpenter and documentary filmmaker. Later, he started his political career there and became mayor. Let’s have a look at his decades-long political career. 

Political Career

Sanders began his political career in the early 1970s as a member of the Liberty Union Party in Vermont. He ran for governor and senator multiple times under the party’s banner but won no elections.

In 1981, Sanders was elected as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, and served in that role for eight years. He implemented progressive policies such as affordable housing initiatives and a community land trust during his tenure.

In 1990, Sanders was the only man representing Vermont in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the House for 16 years and was known for his progressive stances on healthcare reform, income inequality, and campaign finance reform.

Presidential Campaigns

Sanders first ran for President in 2016 as a candidate for the Democratic nomination. He was considered a long-shot candidate, but his campaign gained traction and eventually lost the nomination to Hillary Clinton.

Sanders again competed in the 2020 Presidential elections and became a leading contender for the Democratic party nomination. However, he eventually lost the nomination to Joe Biden. He has advocated for progressive policies throughout his political career, including universal healthcare and free college education.

How Did He Build His Net Worth?

Bernie Sander’s estimated net worth is around $3 million. He is not a Billionaire like Donald Trump, but he has good money. Bernie has built his wealth through his political career and other sources like book writings and speeches.

He built most of his net worth after joining politics. It played a major role in changing his life. He had a very long political career starting in 1971 as a mayor. Let’s see how a 51-year career in politics has helped Bernie in making his net worth and the other resources of it.

Politics

Bernie Sanders has been involved in politics for many decades, starting with his tenure as the mayor of Burlington. He later served as Vermont’s lone representative in the House of Representatives. He receives a $428 monthly pension for his serving as mayor.

He has also been serving as a United States Senator since 2007. As a member of Congress in the senate, Sanders earned a salary of $174,000 per year, which has certainly contributed to his net worth. These salaries of 5 decades in government have been the prime source of Bernie’s income. 

Other Sources

Bernie Sanders’ net worth is not just limited to his political career. He has also accumulated wealth through his real estate portfolio and book sales. Sanders owns three homes in the United States, including a 1-bedroom townhouse in D.C., a four-bedroom home in Vermont, and a four-bedroom row house in Lake Champlain, Vermont.

His best-selling books have also contributed to his net worth, like Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In. Since the 2016 presidential election, Sanders has published four books, which have earned him significant royalties and book advances. For example, he made $880,000 in royalties from his books in 2018 and received a $795,000 book advance in 2016. 

Sanders has also made money from speaking engagements and other paid appearances. He has also advocated for progressive causes, which has added to his net worth. 

Take a Look at How Bernie Sanders Became A Millionaire:

How Has Bernie Sanders Spend His Money?

Unlike other rich politicians, Bernie has spent his money wisely and not on lavish yachts and villas. As he believes in using his wealth to support causes and issues, he cares about. Here are some of his prominent expenditures.

Campaigns And Election Expenses

One of the major expenses for Bernie Sanders has been his political campaigns. He has run for several political offices, including the Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senator campaign. 

He also ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 2016 and 2020. These campaigns required significant amounts of money for advertising, staff salaries, travel, and other expenses. Although these resources are not publicly disclosed, they cost millions of dollars.

Real Estate

Bernie Sanders also invested in real estate. He and his wife Jane have several properties in Vermont and one in Washington, D.C. The properties are a mix of residential and commercial properties. They bought these properties for personal use and rental income. Like he bought a $575,000 home with a lakefront for his vacations in Vermont.

Charity And Philanthropy

Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, have also been known to be philanthropic and have donated money to various charitable causes. Like he raised $1.8 million through the sale of merchandise featuring mittens for charity with grumpy chic memes. They have donated to organizations that support education, health care, and social justice. 

What Is Bernie Sanders’ Current Stance?

Bernie Sanders is a very strong socialist and communist who believes in equal rights for everyone. Let’s see his current stance on various economic, social, and foreign policy-related matters. 

Economic Policy

Bernie Sanders is a vocal advocate for progressive economic policies, including a higher minimum wage, universal healthcare, and free college education. He has also been a strong critic of income inequality and the influence of big corporations on politics. 

Sanders has also proposed a wealth tax on the richest Americans to help fund social programs and reduce income inequality. He has a strong stance regarding it as he is a communist or socialist. 

Social Issues

Bernie Sanders supports policies to address climate change. These policies include transitioning to renewable energy sources and investing in infrastructure to adapt to the effects of climate change. 

He also supports criminal justice reform, including ending mass incarceration and the war on drugs. Sanders has also advocated for LGBTQ and women’s rights and supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Foreign Policy

Bernie Sanders has criticized U.S. military intervention in foreign countries and called for a more diplomacy-focused approach to foreign policy. He has also been against the influence of the military-industrial complex on U.S. foreign policy. 

Sanders has also called for the U.S. to lead in addressing the global refugee crisis. While Sanders may be known for his progressive stances, he has also shown a willingness to work with more moderate Democrats, as well as Republicans, when it comes to passing legislation.

What Are Famous Bernie Sanders Quotes? 

Bernie Sanders has provided us with several amazing quotes over the years. These quotes are a source of inspiration for the American youth. Most of these quotes are related to rights and in support of common people. Here are some incidents where Sanders enlightened others with his dignified words:

• Slanders said it in November 1990 during an interview with the Associated Press while talking about socialism, “To me, socialism doesn’t mean state ownership of everything, by any means, it means creating a nation, and a world, in which all human beings have a decent standard of living.” 
• He said this in his book Outsider in the House, which he wrote with Huck Gutman and was published in 1997, “Bill Clinton is a moderate Democrat. I’m a democratic socialist.”
• “Change comes, even in the face of overwhelming odds. And the recognition of the changes we have already made, of what we have won, inspires us to fight even harder. When” From his Book Outsider In This White House, which was published in 2015. 
• “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.” From his famous book Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In, which was published in 2016.
• “You can’t become a billionaire stepping over children sleeping on the street.” He wrote it in one of his books, The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class.

There are some other great sayings of the author, such as:

• “Finally, let us understand that when we stand together, we will always win. When men and women stand together for justice, we win. When black, white, and Hispanic people stand together for justice, we win.”
• “I think what the American people are saying is enough is enough. This country, this great country, belongs to all of us. It cannot continue to be controlled by a handful of billionaires who apparently want it all.”
• “It costs a hell of a lot more money to put somebody in jail than send them to the University of Virginia.”
• “I believe when we stand together when we share the vision that the government should work for all of us, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.”
• “There is far too little discussion in Washington about the collapse of the middle class, almost no discussion at all about the incredible income inequality and wealth inequality in this country, and the fact that we’re moving toward an oligarch form of society.”

Sander’s words always have a message of togetherness, courage, and broad vision. With these essences, he managed to be popular among the public.

FAQs

Conclusion

Bernie Sanders has built around $3M net worth through his political career, real estate investments, and bookselling. Sanders has used his wealth to support causes and issues that align with his values, such as universal healthcare and social justice. He has always stood out for the common people. 

Sanders has had a significant impact on American politics and has inspired many with his progressive policies and commitment to fighting for the working class. He is an inspiration for people from ordinary backgrounds. You should always look up to him and work for the betterment of society in whatever field you are working.