Today, the Washington Post published a story revealing that the net worth of members of Congress has doubled in the last 25 years, while the net worth of the average American has actually declined.
“The growing disparity between the representatives and the represented means that there is a greater distance between the economic experience of Americans and those of lawmakers,” the Post reported.
Ward Room looked at the net worth of Illinois’s 19 representatives and two senators, using figures provided by the Center for Responsive Politics. Most are worth more than the average American, but none approach the wealth of the richest congressman, Darrell Issa of California, a car alarm manufacturer worth over $500 million. Only two are even in the top 100. This could be because Illinois is a state where politics is a business and a career, making it difficult for millionaire dilettantes to break in.
Here’s our list, from Judy Biggert, multi-millionaire, to Bobby Rush, zero-aire:
HOUSE (Name, Affiliation, Home City, Net Worth Range)
55. Judy Biggert, R-Hinsdale: $2,147,063 to $9,129,999
87. Bob Dold, R-Kenilworth: $696,022 to $6,394,996
125. Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs: $1,043,059 to $3,047,000
141. Luis Gutierrez, D-Chicago: $1,053,014 to $2,496,000
149. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana: $942,030 to $2,330,000
186. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton: $491,046 to $1,590,000
188. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona:$487,008 to $1,489,998
208. Don Manzullo, R-Leaf River: $466,008 to $1,190,999
237. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville: $49,010 to $1,129,997
275. Danny Davis, D-Chicago: $282,014 to $639,000
298. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville: $195,005 to $500,000
313. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago: $111,015 to $442,000
333. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston: $12,025 to $433,999
357. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno: $50,008 to $225,000
368. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria:$-916,584 to $1,118,411
387. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago: $-34,998 to $119,998
393. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield: $15,001 to $50,000
398. Joe Walsh, R-McHenry: $3,004 to $46,000
409. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago: $0
SENATE
68. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield: $999,551 to $1,199,549
96. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park: $33,005 to $145,000