Bill Clinton, Al Gore Get Rich After White House
Will $100 million make Gore more or less likely to run for president?
June 15, 2007 — -- When Bill Clinton and Al Gore left the White House, they both had serious financial problems. Now they both have serious cash.
President Clinton left power in 2001 dogged by legal bills. Last year he made more than $10 million in paid speeches, according to federal filings released by his wife's presidential campaign.
"I like to kid my husband we never had any money, and then he gets out of the White House, and he starts making it, and that's fine with me," New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has joked.
But it's Gore, Clinton's former No. 2, who is really raking it in.
'Inventing Internet' Really Pays Off
After his failed presidential run, a bearded and embattled Gore signed on as an adviser with a then-obscure Internet company called Google.
He went on to join the board of Apple, then he started his own profitable cable company and an asset management firm.
Now, according to a new article in Fast Company magazine, the former U.S. vice president is worth at least $100 million.
"I think he feels that he's doing things that are innovative and transformational and in sectors, which he thinks are in badly need of change, and I think he's enjoying being right," said Ellen McGirt, a Fast Company writer.
McGirt believes Gore's fortune will make him less likely to run for president, because he won't want to answer questions about his business dealings. Another political analyst, however, said that that amount of money would make it easier for Gore to run a campaign.
Clinton and Gore may be profiting, but not as much as the people at the top of Forbes magazine's annual Celebrity 100 list.
Oprah Winfrey, who made $270 million last year, tops the list. Johnny Depp made $92 million in pirate booty.
The Rolling Stones made $88 million, mostly on tour. And rapper Jay Z made $83 million, through both music sales and also business deals like his clothing line.
"It's no longer about being a celebrity and starring in things, it's, 'How can I best monetize my portfolio,'" said Lea Goldman, editor of the Forbes Celebrity 100 issue.