Here’s how Bernie Sanders really made his millions

Bernie Sanders wasn’t a millionaire until relatively recently. Per Politico, his total assets were worth less than $750,000 in 2015.

The biggest change since then has been Sanders’ level of fame. His 2016 presidential campaign transformed him from a relatively obscure Vermont senator into a high-profile politician on the left. He became a best-selling author, earning more than $2 million from book sales in 2016 and 2017, according to financial disclosure documents. “I wrote a best-selling book,” he told The New York Times in 2019. “If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too.”

Sanders makes $174,000 per year as a U.S. senator; the rest of his income is from books and other earnings. According to CNN, he and his wife, Jane Sanders, reported an income of $566,421 in 2018, and $382,290 of that came from writing and royalties. The bulk of the Sanders’ net worth is tied up in three houses, per Forbes.

In a 2019 statement (via CNN), Sen. Sanders said his tax returns “show that our family has been very fortunate.” He added, “I consider paying more in taxes as my income rose to be both an obligation and an investment in our country. I will continue to fight to make our tax system more progressive so that our country has the resources to guarantee the American Dream to all people.”

Written by: Nicki