Every President Ranked from Poorest to Richest

Truman’s financial life was a story of ups and downs. Before the presidency, he ran a men’s clothing store in Missouri that went bankrupt, leaving him in debt for years. He later earned steady pay as a county judge and U.S. senator, slowly rebuilding his financial footing.

After leaving the White House, Truman refused lucrative corporate offers, insisting it would tarnish the office’s dignity. He lived modestly on his military pension until Congress created a presidential pension program partly because of him. Truman died with dignity—and far less money than most modern presidents.