Your representative makes $174,000 a year—almost triple the average American's income. More than half of Congress are millionaires. The richest 15 members control $1.3 billion between them. When politicians vote against your interests, their bank accounts and campaign finance reports may explain why.
The Wealth Gap
Let's start with a simple fact: over 50% of Congress are millionaires. The median net worth of a member of Congress is approximately $1 million. For context, the median net worth of an American household is $192,900. Your representatives are five times wealthier than you, on average.
At the top of the wealth pyramid sits Senator Rick Scott of Florida, with assets ranging from $271 million to possibly $808 million—edging close to billionaire status. He's followed by Representative Vern Buchanan ($249 million) and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi ($248 million). Eight senators are worth over $50 million each.
The numbers: Congressional salary is $174,000 per year. Average U.S. household income is $63,600. That's a 2.7x difference. But the median congressional net worth ($1 million) is 5.2x the median American household net worth ($192,900).
Here's what matters: personal wealth shapes perspective. When you're worth tens or hundreds of millions, a $1,000 surprise medical bill isn't a crisis—it's invisible. Student loan debt isn't crushing—it's an abstraction. The affordable housing crisis isn't about whether you can afford rent—it's about your investment portfolio.
The Money Trail
Congressional wealth is only half the story. The other half is written in campaign finance reports.
The 2024 election cycle saw $15.9 billion in spending. That's billion, with a B. Where did it come from? The top economic sector contributing to campaigns was Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate. The top industry within that sector? Securities and Investment firms.
Pharmaceutical and health product companies' political action committees gave over $16 million directly to federal candidates in 2024. But that's just campaign contributions. They spent $6.1 billion on lobbying—that's 380 times more on lobbying than on direct campaign contributions. The American Hospital Association, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the American Medical Association all ranked in the top 10 lobbying spenders of 2024.
Here's the key distinction most Americans miss: campaign contributions over $200 must be itemized and disclosed. Anything under $200 is considered a "small donor" contribution. Megadonors—those giving $5 million or more—contributed $522 million to pro-Trump groups alone in 2024, triple what they gave in 2020.
Follow the money: When a representative votes on healthcare legislation, look at their top campaign contributors. When they vote on financial regulation, check who's funding their campaigns. When they vote on housing policy, see who's paying for their re-election. The votes often align with the money.
The Impact
This isn't about corruption in the traditional sense. Most members of Congress aren't taking briefcases full of cash in dark parking garages. The system works more subtly and more effectively.
When your representative is a multimillionaire who receives hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions from the financial sector, they don't need to be explicitly bribed to vote in favor of bank deregulation. Their personal interests, their social circle, and their campaign's financial health all align in the same direction. They genuinely believe they're doing the right thing—because for their world, they are.
The result? Legislation that tends to protect the interests of the wealthy and corporate donors while ordinary Americans struggle with medical debt, unaffordable housing, and stagnant wages. It's not a conspiracy. It's a system working exactly as designed, with incentives that ensure representatives serve those who fund their campaigns rather than those who cast their votes.
What You Can Do
First, look up your representative. OpenSecrets.org is your best resource. Find their net worth, their top campaign contributors by industry, and how much they receive from small donors versus large donors. This isn't complicated research—it takes about ten minutes.
Second, when they vote on legislation, connect the dots. If your representative votes against drug price negotiation, check their pharmaceutical industry donations. If they vote against financial regulation, check their Finance/Insurance/Real Estate contributions. The pattern often becomes clear.
Third, support candidates who refuse corporate PAC money. They exist in both parties. They're often outspent, but they're also free to represent actual constituents rather than donors. Your vote matters most when you're voting for someone whose incentives align with yours.
Finally, small-dollar donations work. If 1,000 people each give $25, that's $25,000—a meaningful campaign contribution that comes with zero strings attached. Democracy isn't free, but it's more affordable than most people think.
The rigging isn't hidden. It's public record. You just have to look.
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