So, you're curious about George W. Bush's net worth, huh? Before he was the 43rd President, what was he worth? Let's grab a coffee and chat about it.
From Yale to Oil Fields
George W. Bush, or W as we'll call him, graduated from Yale in '68. Now, you might think, "Yale grad, must've been rolling in it!" But hold your horses, friend. W wasn't exactly swimming in cash just yet.
He joined the Texas Air National Guard, then dabbled in oil business. Yes, you heard it right. Oil. Texas, oil, Bush - it's like a country song, ain't it?
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Dad's Money, Son's Hustle
Now, W's dad, George H.W. Bush, was pretty well-off. But W didn't just sit back and wait for the inheritance. He worked his way up, starting his own oil company, Arbusto Energy, in the early '80s.
Arbusto didn't exactly set the world on fire, but W didn't let it get him down. He merged it with another company, changed the name to Bush Exploration, and kept on truckin'.
Baseball, Booze, and Billionaires
In '89, W bought the Texas Rangers baseball team. Now, we're cookin' with gas! He invested around $600,000, which was a big chunk of change back then. But get this, when he sold his stake in '98, he made $15 million!
Meanwhile, he was also making friends with some seriously rich folks. Like the Koch brothers, for instance. You know, the ones who like to keep their hands clean but their pockets full?
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Presidential Run, Presidential Money
By the time W ran for President in '00, his net worth was estimated at around $20 million. Not too shabby, right?
But here's where it gets interesting. When he left office in '09, his net worth had tripled to around $60 million. Now, that's what we call a presidential pay raise!
Life After the Oval Office
So, what's W been up to since leaving the White House? Well, he's been painting, for one. Yes, you heard it right. The man's a bit of an artist now. He's even painted portraits of world leaders. Talk about a power move!
He's also been keeping busy with his foundation, The George W. Bush Presidential Center, and writing books. His memoir, Decision Points, made a cool $2 million in its first week alone. Not bad for a guy who once joked about not liking to read.
And there you have it, folks. A little chat about George W. Bush's net worth before he became President. It's a fascinating journey, ain't it? From Yale grad to oil man to baseball team owner to President. Now, who's ready for a refill?