Every President Ranked from Poorest to Richest

Before politics, Reagan enjoyed a long and successful career as a Hollywood actor, appearing in more than 50 films. His movie salaries, union leadership roles, and speaking fees gave him financial security. By the time he became governor of California, he was already quite comfortable.

After his presidency, Reagan’s wealth grew through memoir sales and a few high-paying speeches abroad. He lived comfortably at his Los Angeles ranch until his death in 2004. Reagan’s story reflected the modern shift toward presidents earning fortunes from fame after leaving office.