See how the U.S. president’s salary is made up.
Joe Biden’s salary as president of the United States is a topic of interest to many. But while you might think that a president receives exorbitant amounts, the reality is different.
Since taking office in January 2021, President Biden has faced a number of complications, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and the threat of economic recession. Add to that the fact that his son, Hunter Biden, is facing a number of indictments.
Biden’s net worth rose from $2.5 million to $8 million thanks to book deals and speaking engagements. But despite his long political career, most of his income comes from those sources and not from his salary as president.
In fact, when he started in the Senate in 1973, his starting salary was $42,500 a year. When he left the Senate in 2009, his salary was $169,300. As vice president, his salary increased to $230,700, and now as president he receives $400,000 a year.
It is important to note that the presidential salary is previously defined by Congress, and can only be modified with its approval. The last time it was adjusted was in 2001, before George W. Bush became president.
Biden has a long political career, having been elected senator from Delaware in 1972, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Before being elected president in 2020, he ran twice before. He also served as vice president during Barack Obama’s administration.