Justice Samuel Alito Might Have Quintupled His Net Worth in 2012
Yes, that's quintupled with a "q." According to the Center for Public Integrity, an investigative journalism nonprofit, Justice Samuel Alito's net worth jumped from between $380,000 and $1.1 million in 2011 to between $2.3 million and $6.2 million in 2012. The gulf in the estimates is due to the fact that federal officeholders such as justices and members of Congress must report only the range of their assets and liabilities, not the exact figures. Regardless of the exact amount, we know one thing: Justice Alito made a lot of money last year.
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According to Public Integrity, the bump comes from "previously unreported PNC Bank accounts valued between $250,001 and $515,000, along with two Edward Jones investment accounts." Alito's investment portfolio includes holdings in Oracle Corp., a software firm; OEG Energy Corp.; Boeing; and Caterpillar. He also has some money in Chevron, which might be why he recused himself from a case last year that involved the company. Alito made $27,000 from teaching at Duke University and Penn State. (There are, however, limits to how much money a Supreme Court Justice can make on the side.)
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It's a lot of new money for the justice, but in a lot of ways, he's just catching up with his super-rich colleagues. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is reportedly the wealthiest on the bench; she might be worth as much as $18.1 million (and as "little" as $4.4 million). Justice Sonia Sotomayor received about $2 million alone from her book, My Beloved World. She's worth somewhere between $1.7 and $10.3 million. Chief Justice John Roberts has at least $2.3 million. (For a more complete look at their investments, check out Public Integrity.)
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So it's a rich bunch. Eight of the nine justices reported finances this year that could put them in the millionaire range. The only one who isn't? Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is worth somewhere between $330,000 and $700,000. Kennedy is always the odd man out.
