Trump administration employs far more ultra-rich officials than any recent presidency
A Public Citizen report finds 57 members of Donald Trump’s second White House have net worths of at least $100 million, far exceeding the totals under the three prior presidents.
Public Citizen’s latest analysis shows that Donald Trump’s second term features 57 senior officials with fortunes of $100 million or higher, a figure more than four times the combined total of his three immediate predecessors. The list comprises 17 ambassadors and 40 senior executives across the executive branch, with eight of the 23 Cabinet posts held by billionaires such as Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon. Other notable ultra-rich appointees include Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Former presidents George W. Bush, Joe Biden and Barack Obama each had only five, five and three officials, respectively, meeting the threshold. Public Citizen’s co-president Lisa Gilbert warned that such concentration of wealth in government may lead to skewed incentives and potential corruption. The report excludes Trump himself, whose net worth exceeds $6 billion, and Elon Musk, who advised the president last year. Meanwhile, public approval of Trump’s economic management has slipped to 32 percent.
Why it matters
The concentration of ultra-wealthy officials raises concerns about policy bias and government accountability.
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