As one of the most talked-about figures, Lyndon B. Johnson has built a significant fortune. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.
What was Lyndon B. Johnson's net worth?
Johnson formally entered politics in 1931 when he was appointed the legislative secretary of newly elected US representative Richard M. Kleberg from Texas. Because Kleberg was uninterested in performing the day-to-day duties of his job, Johnson did them in his stead. He was soon elected speaker of the "Little Congress," a group of congressional aides. In 1935, Johnson was appointed head of the Texas National Youth Administration, a position he held for two years. He was known to be a tough, demanding boss, and was described by many as being motivated by a lust for power.
During his early years in the US Senate, Johnson conducted investigations of defense costs and efficiency. In 1951, he was chosen as Senate Majority Whip, and in 1953 became the Democratic Minority Leader. After being reelected to the Senate in 1954, Johnson became the Majority Leader. In that role, he became renowned for his proficiency in gathering intelligence and exerting control over other senators. Notably, Johnson helped in the passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960, the first civil rights bills to pass Congress since Reconstruction in the late 1800s. He won a third Senate term in 1960, but had to resign after being chosen as John F. Kennedy's vice president.
Lyndon B. Johnson was born on August 27, 1908 in a farmhouse in Stonewall, Texas to a local political family. He was the eldest of five children of Rebekah and Samuel, with his siblings being Sam, Rebekah, Josefa, and Lucia. Johnson grew up impoverished, as his father had fallen on hard times. He was educated at Johnson City High School, where he was involved in public speaking and debate and played baseball. Pressured by his parents to go to college after graduating, Johnson attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College in the summer of 1924. However, just weeks after his arrival, he dropped out and moved to Southern California. After performing a variety of odd jobs there, Johnson returned to Texas and reenrolled at SWTSTC. There, he participated in debate and edited the school newspaper. Johnson graduated in 1930 with a degree in history. He went on to teach at Pearsall High School and Sam Houston High School. Johnson attended Georgetown University Law Center but left after his first semester in 1934.
Lyndon B. Johnson was an American politician who had a net worth of $15 million at the time of his death in 1973. That's the same as around $100 million today after adjusting for inflation. Lyndon B. Johnson served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969, afterJohn F. Kennedywas assassinated. He had previously served as Kennedy's vice president, and before that served terms in both the US House and Senate. During his presidency, Johnson helped pass many landmark laws improving civil rights, education, and health care, but was also criticized for his handling of race relations and his role in escalating the Vietnam War.
US House of Representatives
In 1941, a special election was held after incumbent Texas senator Morris Shepard passed away. Johnson just narrowly lost the race to Governor W. Lee O'Daniel. However, O'Daniel was highly unpopular during his time in the Senate, and chose not to run for reelection in 1948. Johnson swooped in to take advantage of the situation, and won the Democratic primary by just 87 votes over former governor Coke Stevenson. The result was very controversial, as it was based on 200 fraudulent ballots that were reported six days after the election in Jim Wells County. However, Johnson prevailed after he was taken to court. He subsequently won the general election against Jack Porter.
Following the death of longtime congressman James P. Buchanan, Johnson successfully campaigned in a special election for Texas's 10th congressional district in 1937. He went on to serve in the US House of Representatives until 1949. During his tenure, Johnson served on the Naval Affairs Committee and worked to improve rural areas in the 10th district through electrification.
In summary, the total wealth of Lyndon B. Johnson reflects strategic moves.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.