The 50 Richest Members of Congress

Lawmakers’ Fortunes Continue to Increase

• By Stephanie Woodrow
• Roll Call Staff
• Sept. 8, 2006, 3:32 p.m.

And the rich just keep getting richer.

For the 50 richest Members of Congress, 2005 was great for the bottom line, according to Roll Call’s annual survey of lawmakers’ personal wealth.

All told, 20 lawmakers who made the Roll Call list in both 2005 and 2006 increased their estimated worth, and even the House Members and Senators at the bottom of this year’s list boasted personal fortunes in excess of $4.67 million, according to financial-disclosure reports. That is up nearly 12 percent from the cutoff for the 2005 list of $4.17 million.

Five names are new to this year’s rankings, including one freshman House Republican who leaped into the top 20.

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) made a splash by coming in at No. 13 with $16.92 million. Campbell took over the seat vacated by Christopher Cox (R), who left in August 2005 to become chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Before coming to Congress, Campbell served as president and CEO of several car dealerships in and around Orange County. The California Republican still owns the property on which the dealerships are located.

So far this cycle, Campbell has loaned his campaign more than $266,000 — just under a quarter of the money his re-election committee has raised this cycle.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) made the most impressive jump in this year’s annual Roll Call rankings. Bingaman — who sometimes has made the top 50 in the past — had a net worth of $3.51 million in 2005, which wasn’t enough to qualify him for that year’s list. Now, he checks in at No. 29.

In addition to reducing his liabilities from $780,000 last year to $520,000 this year, several of Bingaman’s investments also increased in value. The largest gain came from his wife’s acquisition of a $5 million to $25 million Goldman Sachs portfolio.

The three other newcomers to the 2006 list are No. 47, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa); No. 48, Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.); and No. 49, Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas).

Four lawmakers lost their spots on this year’s list, not necessarily because of a decline in their own assets, but because their increases failed to keep up with those of their peers. They include Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) and Reps. Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Anne Northup (R-Ky.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.).

Another departure from the annual list is now-New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D), who ranked No. 2 on Capitol Hill in personal wealth last year. If Corzine had stayed in the Senate and reported the same net worth as he did last year — $262 million — he would have ranked No. 3 on this year’s list.

Northup, who was No. 41 in last year’s rankings, reported personal worth of at least $4.4 million this year, down $2.33 million from 2005. Last year, the Congresswoman reported that one of her husband’s stock assets was worth $5 million to $25 million. But his stock in Radio Sound Inc. was downgraded to the $1 million to $5 million range this year as the company’s value dropped.

Upton, who came in at No. 34 in 2005, also fell off this year’s list, reporting $4.39 million this year. Last year, the Michigan Republican disclosed a net worth of $7.62 million. The drop appears to be the result of a tough year in the stock market. A jointly held trust with his wife was valued in the $5 million to $25 million range last year, but its value fell to the $1 million to $5 million range this year.

Because Roll Call uses the low end of the reported asset range for calculating a lawmaker’s worth, this drops the trust’s value by $4 million, although the trust’s true value may actually fall at the high end of the $1 million to $5 million range.

Dayton, last year’s No. 48 wealthiest lawmaker, reported $4.38 million this year, $350,000 less than the previous year. The change in asset value is attributed to stock prices. Dayton, a one-time schoolteacher turned investor, is the son of the former head of the retailer that is now called Target.

Leach lost his No. 49 slot this year when his worth dropped $660,000, to $3.7 million. Leach’s descent also is due to falling stock values.

Roll Call’s rankings are based on the annual disclosure reports filed by each Member. To determine a lawmaker’s estimated worth, Roll Call computes the minimum assets reported by the lawmaker, and then subtracts the minimum liabilities. This approach yields conservative estimates of any individual lawmaker’s worth.

Roll Call also consults other media outlets and databases to help supplement the estimates for any particular lawmaker.

1. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)
$750 million

Kerry’s net worth may not be dropping, but his wife’s rank on the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans has.

The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee’s wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, no longer makes the long-running Forbes list. It took a minimum net worth of $900 million to qualify for that honor last year; Kerry was No. 391 on 2004’s Forbes list with $750 million.

Roll Call is using the Forbes estimate because it incorporates assets not included on the Senator’s disclosure form and more accurately takes into account his wife’s vast portfolio.

The Senator’s own 2006 disclosure form divulged a minimum net worth of nearly $167 million, a minor increase from earlier reports of $160 million.

Since lawmakers are required to report only a broad range on assets on the annual disclosure forum, this is an extremely vague account of Kerry’s fortune. For instance, Kerry marked the “over $1,000,000” box 128 times on his disclosure report and thus avoided declaring an even more impressive bottom line.

In fact, if Roll Call’s ranking had been based solely on disclosure forms, Kerry would have been listed as No. 2 behind Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.).

However, Kerry is not required to disclose his wife’s income or detail her assets. Her late husband, former Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.), was an heir to the Heinz ketchup fortune. When Heinz died in a 1991 plane crash, she inherited his assets.

During the past few years, the couple’s worth has been estimated at anywhere from $600 million to $3.2 billion.

2. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.)
$243.15 million

As the Milwaukee Bucks basketball franchise continues to increase in value, so does the worth of the team’s sole owner, Kohl. The franchise increased in value by 33 percent last year and is now worth at least $231 million, according to Forbes, bumping the Wisconsin Democrat to the No. 2 spot on this year’s rankings.

Since the Senator does not list the entire value of the team on his annual disclosure report, Roll Call has added to that figure the rest of his reported assets and deducted his liabilities. Kohl’s Congressional report disclosed a net worth of $12.15 million.

Kohl reported income from the Bucks’ franchise last year at more than $68.7 million, before expenses. Kohl’s liabilities exceed $105 million, which include an “over $50,000,000” personal promissory note from the Bucks, and three promissory notes for the franchise that exceed $55 million.

Last year, Kohl sold six properties through a personal trust that he controls, including residential and undeveloped lots in several states. The total value of the sales range from $382,000 to $880,000.

3. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.)
$200 million

Even though Corzine is no longer included in the annual rankings, Rockefeller — a man whose name is virtually synonymous with wealth — wasn’t able to move up from his No. 3 position.

There haven’t been any recent public estimates about the wealth of the Rockefeller family, but in 2002, Forbes valued the family’s fortune at $8.5 billion. They also reported that the Rockefeller “dynasty” includes more than 200 members.

In his financial disclosure this year, the Senator reported a net worth of $78.15 million; however, Roll Call is using the $200 million estimate from the 2002 Forbes list of America’s richest politicians, which incorporates a more accurate estimate of his personal portfolio.

The Senator’s uncle, David Rockefeller Sr., is ranked No. 93 on the 2005 Forbes 400 Richest Americans list at $2.5 billion. The Forbes rankings also included the Senator’s cousin, former Arkansas Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller (R), who died in June, at No. 283. With eight children and a widow, it is unlikely that the Senator will be a beneficiary of his cousin’s estate, estimated at $1.2 billion by Forbes.

However, with relatives as wealthy as these, it is possible the Senator’s wealth is significantly higher than disclosed on his report.

4. Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.)
$172 million

Harman moves up one spot this year from No. 5 on Roll Call’s 2005 list. The veteran Democrat, who serves as ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, has continued to see her net worth soar, increasing from $117.1 million in 2003, to $128 million in 2004, to $172 million now, although that dramatic rise also demonstrates the inherent weakness in the disclosure reports filed by lawmakers.

Harman’s husband, Sidney Harman, is the founder of Harman International Industries, which has a current market value of $5.4 billion. The company, of which Sidney Harman owns 5.7 percent of stock worth more than $300 million at current market values, is an electronics manufacturer whose brands include AKG Acoustics, dbx, Harman Kardon and Infinity.

5. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)
$140.86 million

With an increase in personal worth of almost $20 million, Issa moves up to No. 5 on the list of wealthiest lawmakers. Issa founded the company that makes the Viper automobile alarm system and other devices.

Issa, maintaining his status as the richest Republican serving in Congress, saw his holding in Greene Properties Inc. yield him an annual income of $1 million to $5 million. Issa’s wife, Katherine, receives a salary from the firm.

Issa reported the same income range from his investment in DEI Professional Services LLC, which owns and manages five office and light industrial properties. Issa is a partner in that company.

The couple also holds $10 million to $50 million in both the AIM International Small Company Fund and Lord Abbett Mid Cap Value Fund.

6. Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.)
$59.75 million

Even though Hayes’ net worth dropped by $400,000 this year, the amiable North Carolina Republican climbed one spot on the Roll Call list.

The majority of the hosiery and textile heir’s wealth, at least $31 million, is spread among three trust accounts. He earned more than $1.1 million from two of those accounts in 2005.

Hayes’ only liability was a $1 million to $5 million commercial loan for an airplane, which he took out in 2004.

7. Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.)
$56.1 million

Despite seeing his bottom line improve by a cool $800,000 last year, the makeup of Taylor’s portfolio hasn’t changed much in the past couple of years.

The majority of Taylor’s wealth comes from his holdings in the Financial Guaranty Corp., where his wife works and where the Congressman serves as vice chairman. Taylor controls more than $50 million in the company’s stock, according to his financial disclosure.

Financial Guaranty Corp., which has come under media scrutiny for its business dealings, issued loans in Russia during the 1990s with interest rates at times in excess of 50 percent, according to previous disclosure reports filed by the North Carolina Republican.

8. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
$42.6 million

Feinstein’s portfolio, including assets she holds with her husband, financier Richard Blum, continues to show strong growth.

Her assets last year included “over $1,000,000” in Perini Corp. stock, CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. stock, Newbridge Asia II LP, Newbridge Genpar Advisors LP, Astar Cargo Holdings, KFB Newbridge GenPar LP, two Bank of America deposit accounts and a First Republic Bank deposit account.

Blum receives fees from Newbridge Capital LLC and CB Richard Ellis Group, according to Feinstein’s disclosure forms.

In an 18-page letter accompanying her disclosure form, Feinstein lists her joint ownership with Blum in two condominiums and several property management companies. One of her chief assets is a 50 percent stake in the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, which she values at $5 million to $25 million.

9. Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.)
$39.92 million

Chafee, scion of a wealthy and politically prominent family, hasn’t seen his portfolio change much since 2005, although his net worth increased by roughly $1 million, allowing the Senator to climb two spots in the 50 richest survey.

The Rhode Island Republican doesn’t offer too many details about his personal assets on his disclosure forms, referring to 21 of his assets as worth more than $1,000,000 and more than 30 assets at $500,001 to $1,000,000.

The majority of Chafee’s assets are held in a blind trust, which include bonds and securities. Chafee also reports trusts in each of this three children’s names, and one titled “Grandchildren’s Trust #2,” although all of his children are still minors.

10. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
$29.21 million

The 2000 GOP presidential hopeful jumped 10 spots on our list this year, with McCain more than doubling his worth from last year’s $12 million. The Arizona Republican’s 2005 income included more than $1 million from Hensley & Co. stock, a beer distribution company to which is wife, Cindy, is the heir.

McCain included his wife and his dependent children’s assets and income in his annual disclosure form, checking the “over $1,000,000” asset box 11 times in his report.

His liabilities total $2.52 million, including an “over $1,000,000” promissory note to Dream Catcher Family LLC, two promissory notes from JP Morgan Chase & Co. totalling more than $600,000 and $160,000 in credit card debt from six cards.

11. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.)
$19.98 million

The New Jersey Republican, who is a sixth-generation Member of Congress, saw his net worth take a small dip from the previous year, falling by just more than $1 million.

Frelinghuysen sold off a significant portion of his securities portfolio last year, including more than $300,000 in Proctor & Gamble Co. stock.

Frelinghuysen and his wife still maintain a healthy portfolio, which includes more than $7 million in Proctor & Gamble Co. stock and $1 million in a money market fund.

They reported no debts.

12. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)
$19.19 million

The Senator from one of the most famous families in U.S. political history saw his net worth nearly double from 2004 to 2005, jumping him 13 spots up the annual Roll Call rankings.

Last year, Kennedy reported a net worth of $9.9 million, which included a $5 million to $10 million trust in his name, and four $1 million to $5 million trusts — two in his name and two in the names of his late older siblings, Joseph Kennedy Jr. and Kathleen Hartington.

This year, one of Kennedy’s $1 million to $5 million trusts was elevated to the $5 million to $25 million range. Kennedy also assumed responsibility for a $5 million to $25 million trust held in the name of his mother, Rose Kennedy, who died in 1995.

13. Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.)
$16.92 million

As a newly elected Congressman, Campbell makes the 50 richest list for the first time this year.

Before winning a seat in the House, Campbell held positions as president and CEO of Campbell Automotive Group, president and CEO of Saturn of Orange County and chairman and CEO of Saab of Orange County.

His real-estate holding company, ACD Holdings LLC, owns five commercial properties, valued at more than $5 million. Three of the properties are home to car dealerships in Santa Ana, Calif.

The California Republican also holds than $6 million in Goldman Sachs stocks, mutual funds and partnerships.

14. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)
$14.66 million

Lowey’s investments in Ingalls & Snyder Value Fund and MMI Investment/Millcap Advisors and her purchase of an IRA can be credited with her net worth increase of $800,000 from 2004 to 2005.

Lowey’s husband, Stephen, is a partner in the law firm Lowey Dannenberg Bemporad & Selinger. The couple’s stake in the firm and its profit sharing plan is individually valued at $1 million to $5 million.

15. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
$14.25 million

The House Minority Leader saw her rank and personal fortune dip slightly from 2004 to 2005. Pelosi went from No. 14 and an estimated $16 million personal fortune two years ago to No. 15 and slightly more than $14.2 million last year.

That’s the second year in a row that Pelosi has seen her net worth sink slightly. The California Democrat has suffered from a downturn in high-tech stocks over the past several years.

Pelosi and her husband, Paul, are heavily invested in real estate, with holdings topping $12 million, including a $5 million to $25 million vineyard in St. Helena, Calif.

16. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.)
$13.51 million

Dole’s net worth fell somewhat in 2005, but she held onto the No. 16 spot in the Roll Call rankings.

The Senator’s husband, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.), continues to remain in demand since he left the Senate nearly a decade ago. Bob Dole was paid for consulting fees, speaking fees and book royalties throughout last year, although the Doles only listed those payments as “over $1,000” for each category and offered no further details.

The majority of the assets detailed in Elizabeth Dole’s disclosure report are stocks, funds, trusts and money market accounts in her husband’s name.

17. Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas)
$13.27 million

The Texas Republican’s reported assets include more than $7 million in Clear Channel stock, which he jointly holds with his wife. His father-in-law, Lowry Mays, is the CEO of Clear Channel.

McCaul also has more than $1 million in each of two partnerships and a family trust.

Last year, McCaul sold his $1 million to $5 million stake in BBT Partners and paid off his two credit card debts, but the Texas Republican continues to carry a $250,000 to $500,000 personal loan as a liability.

18. Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Texas)
$13 million

Marchant’s family limited partnership, Marken Interests Ltd., holds the bulk of the Texas Republican’s assets. That company is made up of 18 investment funds, partnerships and land holdings, valued at a minimum of $5 million.

He also owns three Texas ranches covering 2,659 acres, valued at $1.75 million.

19. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)
$12.96 million

Smith’s financial losing streak definitely is over. After seeing his assets decline during the early part of this decade, Smith saw an increase in his own bottom line in 2004 of $1 million. In 2005, Smith’s fortune grew by another $4.65 million.

The jump is attributed to the increase in value of his Oregon storage and packaging company, Garrett Packing Co., worth more than $5 million.

Smith and his wife, Sharon, also have a large stake, valued at more than $5 million, in Smith Frozen Foods Inc., where she is the CEO.

20. Rep. Chris Chocola (R-Ind.)
$12.17 million

The Indiana Republican’s portfolio mainly consists of stocks, although his largest assets include two residential lots in Emmet County, Mich. Chocola was first elected to the House in 2002.

Prior to joining Congress, he was CEO of CTB International, a manufacturer of poultry, egg, swine and grain products.

21. Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)
$11.67 million

It may seem as if the Senate Majority Leader’s net worth dropped more than 25 percent last year, but it’s not the result of bad business decisions. Rather, it’s the result of an empty nest at home.

Bryan, the youngest of the Senator’s three sons, turned 18, which allowed him to take control of his trust fund — meaning that his father no longer has to report it as an asset.

Frist, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of the 109th Congress, reported a total of 13 blind trusts, in the names of his children and wife, Karyn.

The Tennessee Republican, who is considering a run for the White House in 2008, has been under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. attorney’s office in New York since last year. Investigators are looking into sales of HCA stock belonging to Frist and his immediate family last year, near the stock’s peak and at a time when other HCA insiders were selling off their holdings in the company. HCA is a hospital chain founded by the Tennessee Republican’s family. Frist has denied any wrongdoing.

22. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
$11.54 million

With only a minor decline in assets, Alexander held steady in the annual rankings, keeping the No. 22 spot he held last year.

The holdings of the Senator and his wife include more than $6 million in Processed Foods Corp. stock, as well as more than $2 million in BFAM securities.

As he has over the past several years, Alexander continued paying off personal debt during 2005. His liabilities declined from $1.75 million in 2003 to $1.25 million in 2004. In his disclosure report for 2005, Alexander reported only $350,000 in debt. He has a $100,000 mortgage on undeveloped land in Nashville, Tenn., and a $250,000 promissory note through the Nashville Bank of America.

23. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.)
$10.8 million

After a huge leap up last year’s rankings, Rehberg treaded water on this year’s list, remaining in the No. 23 spot he found himself in during 2005. This comes despite an increase in reported personal wealth of at least $240,000.

His joint spousal partnership with his wife, Jan, in Rehberg Ranch LLC and Rehberg Ranch land and livestock exceeds $10 million in value.

The Montana Republican also is involved in other livestock, land and property holdings. His three largest assets are Rehberg Ranch LLC, valued at more than $5 million, Rehberg Ranch Marketing Inc., valued at more than $1 million, and the ranch’s land and livestock, worth more than $5 million.

24. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.)
$10.77 million

The House Judiciary chairman is in an enviable financial position: He’s worth nearly $11 million and has no liabilities.

Sensenbrenner reported more than $6.6 million in stock holdings on this year’s disclosure form, including big stakes in Merck & Co., Pfizer, Exxon Mobil and Abbott Laboratories, as well as nearly $560,000 in life insurance.

His other significant assets are a home in Alexandria, Va., worth $1.49 million, as well as properties in Wisconsin valued at slightly less than $1 million.

The Wisconsin Republican also serves as a trustee for several family trusts worth more than $9 million. Sensenbrenner was paid $25,000 in 2005 for his trustee work.

Sensenbrenner offers far more details on his personal fortune than almost any other lawmaker. For instance, he disclosed a stamp collection worth an estimated $90,000, as well as four cars (the youngest of which is 10 years old) valued at roughly $12,000. He even reported $7,218 in traveler’s checks.

25. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.)
$10.08 million

The junior Senator from New York continues to benefit financially and politically from her husband’s former job as president and her former role as first lady.

Last year, Bill Clinton was paid more than $7 million for 43 speeches. He also received a sum described only as being “over $1,000” in book royalties. In 2005, Sen. Clinton earned book royalties of $872,891 from her 2003 book, “Living History.”

The couple has a joint bank account worth $5 million to $25 million, and Sen. Clinton maintains her own blind trust with the same reported value, meaning their assets could be worth at least $40 million more than was disclosed on the Senator’s annual disclosure form.

The couple has one liability, a $15,001 to $50,000 credit card debt where the monthly balance is paid, according to Sen. Clinton’s annual report.

26. Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.)
$9.98 million

The California Republican’s portfolio has seen some drastic changes over the past two years, and his position in the 50 richest has as well. Miller’s net worth jumped from less than $9 million in 2003 to more $19.15 million in 2004, before falling to slightly less than $10 million last year.

But these big financial swings also have attracted unwanted media attention for the former real-estate developer turned politician.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Miller has avoided paying several million dollars in taxes on some recent land deals; he claimed that the sales were required by local governments, when in fact they were not.

In addition, Miller borrowed more than $7.5 million from a major contributor who is also a business partner; the partner then benefited from a House bill closing a small airport. That property was purchased by the Lewis Group, which had loaned Miller the $7.5 million.

In both cases, Miller has denied any wrongdoing.

In 2005, Miller sold more than $5 million in General Electric stock, in addition to millions of dollars worth of property in Diamond Bar, Fontana and Indio, Calif.

Miller has not paid off any of his personal debt, according to the disclosure, and still owes $3 million to $15 million.

27. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
$9.12 million

After jumping 18 spots the previous year and increasing her reported wealth by 50 percent, Maloney’s $320,000 financial dip in 2005 knocked her down one position for 2006.

The New York Democrat, who is known for her affinity for real estate, purchased a home in Southeast D.C. last year worth $1 million to $5 million, and she now owns eight properties with a total value of more than $4.5 million.

Her liabilities remain the same this year as last — three mortgages and a real-estate loan — giving Maloney a total of $1.5 million to $3 million in debt.

28. Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.)
$9.01 million

Petri saw a healthy bounce in his net worth this year, moving up more than $1 million and three spots in the year-end rankings.

The Wisconsin Republican’s holdings include upward of $5 million in Walgreen Corp. stock, $1 million in U.S. Bank stock and $1 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock. Petri downsized his liabilities last year, paying off more than $1.1 million in debt, although he continued to carry a $1 million to $5 million loan secured with stock from Merrill Lynch.

29. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)
$8.78 million

Another new face on the list this year, Bingaman boasts an extensive financial portfolio, including three TD Waterhouse accounts, two RDM Investment accounts, four Merrill Lynch accounts, three money-market accounts and a certificate of deposit, most of which the Senator jointly holds with his wife, Anne. Anne Bingaman is a former top official for the Clinton Justice Department.

Bingaman’s biggest assets are his $5 million to $25 million Goldman Sachs account , a 42-acre rental unit in Santa Fe, N.M., valued at $1 million to $5 million, and a promissory note deriving from his ownership interest in Soundpath Conferencing Services LLC worth “over $1,000,000.” For her part, Anne Bingaman was listed as the 100 percent owner of Soundpath, a Washington, D.C., firm, at the end of 2005, according to Bingaman’s disclosure report.

Bingaman declared a minimum of $520,000 in liabilities.

30. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.)
$8.52 million

The former Clinton White House adviser and current Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman slightly increased his worth this year, improving from last year’s $8.13 million.

The majority of Emanuel’s portfolio is held in a qualified blind trust that’s worth $5 million to $25 million. The trust earned the Illinois Democrat $100,000 to $1 million last year in dividends, interest and capital gains.

Emanuel also maintains an additional three blind trusts, each valued at $500,000 to $1 million.

31. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)
$8.41 million

After moving up 12 slots in the rankings last year, Shelby’s loss of a mere $140,000 in net worth cost him four spots on this year’s list.

Shelby’s real-estate holdings constitute the bulk of his personal wealth. His assets include a $250,000 office building, a $5 million to $25 million apartment complex and $1 million-plus home, all located in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He also owns a townhouse in Washington, D.C., valued at more than $1,000,000.

The only liability that Shelby reports is a $1 million to $5 million mortgage on the Tuscaloosa apartment building.

32. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)
$7.98 million

Most of Snowe’s assets are divided between stocks and mutual funds, except for the biggest one, which consists of $5 million to $25 million in stock options related to Education Management Corp. Snowe’s husband, John McKernan Jr., is CEO of the company. The EDMC provides private post-secondary education to more than 72,000 students in the United States and Canada.

McKernan served as governor of Maine from 1987 to 1995, as well as two terms in the House as a GOP lawmaker.

The couple reported no liabilities.

33. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
$7.87 million

Doggett makes the list this year at No. 33, a jump of seven spots.

The Texas Democrat’s portfolio consists almost entirely of residential property in the Lone Star State and stocks. Doggett owns or has interest in seven properties, with his ownership stake in one worth at least $1.5 million. His assets also include more than $1 million in Whole Foods Market Inc. stock and $500,000 in Vanguard Convertible Securities.

Doggett’s only liability is a $250,000 to $500,000 line of credit drawn against one of his properties.

34. Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.)
$7.77 million

No other Member’s bank accounts have been the topic of more discussion this year than Harris’ accounts. However, the Florida Republican didn’t make this year’s list of the 50 richest as a result of her inheritance; it will not appear on her disclosure form unless she wins her long-shot Senate race this fall.

Following her father’s death in January, Harris pledged to inject $10 million of her inheritance into her bid to oust Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

Harris’ father, George Harris Jr., owned Citrus and Chemical Bank in Lakeland, Fla., and he was the son of Ben Hill Griffin Jr., who left a $500 million estate at his death in 1990.

In addition, the Florida Republican’s husband, Anders Ebberson, is a millionaire in his own right. Harris’ largest assets are her husband’s business, Intercon Marketing Inc., valued at $5 million to $25 million, and her Sarasota, Fla., home, estimated to be worth more than $1 million.

35. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.)
$7.6 million

The freshman GOP Senator boasted a significantly larger financial portfolio in 2005 than he did the year before, allowing Isakson to move up two positions on this year’s list.

Isakson maintained his $1 million to $5 million holdings in Riverside Bank and Wachovia stock. He also owns 12 acres in Raburn County, Ga., valued at $1 million to $5 million.

Isakson does not have any reported liabilities.

36. Rep. Clay Shaw (R-Fla.)
$7.31 million

Shaw’s financial disclosure report is short, sweet and to the point: Almost all of his assets are tied up within the family company, Dania Farms, where the Florida Republican serves as director and corporate officer.

Dania Farms’ wholesale nursery is valued at $250,000 to $500,000, and the company’s assets, including real estate and farmland, are worth $5 million to $25 million.

The Shaw Land Co., a family partnership, owns $1 million to $5 million of timberland in Alabama and Mississippi.

Shaw also is the guarantor on a mortgage of $500,000 to $1 million for New River Land Co. Inc.’s office building in Southeast D.C.

37. Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.)
$7.29 million

Even with $1.3 million in income last year, Linder’s total reported worth dropped from a minimum of $7.74 million to a minimum of $7.29 million.

In 2004, he sold Linder Financial Corp. for more than $1 million, according to the Georgia Republican’s disclosure report from last year. This factor could explain the year-to-year decrease in reported wealth.

Linder currently holds $5 million to $25 million in stock in Grayling Industries, an adhesives and sealant manufacturer in Alpharetta, Ga. Linder earned more than $1 million from his Grayling stake in 2005.

Linder also owns stock in Intel Corp., IBM, Home Depot and Microsoft that collectively is worth at least $400,000.

38. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.)
$7.17 million

The New Mexico Republican got a big boost in his personal worth during 2005; the roughly $900,000 increase allowed him to move up four spots from last year’s ranking.

Pearce owns more than $5 million in stock in Trinity Industries Inc., where his wife is employed and where he serves as president.

The New Mexico Republican reported assets in excess of $1 million more than last year, including a stake worth more than $500,000 in Lea Fishing Tools LLC, an oil field services firm that he sold to focus on his family and Congressional career.

39. Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.)
$7.1 million

Like many of the lawmakers on this list, Dreier’s personal wealth is based primarily on real-estate investments.

Dreier, chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, owns an apartment building in Kansas City, Mo., called Tiffany Manor that is worth $5 million to $25 million. Dreier earns $100,000 to $1 million annually in rent from that property alone.

The rest of the California Republican’s assets are spread though stocks, including holdings worth $500,000 to $1 million in media conglomerate Viacom.

Dreier did not list any liabilities on his disclosure report.

40. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.)
$6.76 million

Price, an orthopedic surgeon and former state lawmaker who’s serving his first term in the House, has no problems qualifying for Roll Call’s 50 richest list.

Price’s most valuable assets are several Fidelity accounts worth nearly $5.7 million at the end of 2005.

Price and his wife, Elizabeth, also disclosed another $837,000 held in an A.G. Edwards fund, as well as a mix of other financial assets, including life insurance.

The couple did not report any liabilities.

41. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)
$6.66 million

Even a slight increase in the value of his financial assets couldn’t help the Nebraska Democrat maintain his ranking among the wealthiest lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Last year, Nelson found himself at No. 39, while this year, even though he had roughly the same amount to his name, his ranking slid to No. 41.

Nelson boasts more than $2 million in Treasury notes and Berkshire Hathaway stock — the company run by home-state investor Warren Buffett — in addition to development property in Springfield, Neb., worth another $1 million-plus. Nelson reported earning in excess of $50,000 in 2005 from Treasury notes as well as more than $15,000 from rental property he owns in Washington, D.C.

42. Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio)
$6.51 million

The Ohio Senator’s huge gain of 13 spots in the 2005 annual rankings took a slight hit this year, as his portfolio declined in value by an estimated $560,000. As a result of that reverse, DeWine dipped six spots from 2005, ending up as No. 42 on this year’s list.

On his disclosure report, DeWine listed DeWine Enterprises Inc. — which includes stocks, bonds, and farmland valued at more than $1 million — as well as the the Ohio Twine Co., which has similar holdings, worth upward of $5 million.

43. Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio)
$6.16 million

Before entering Congress, Gillmor ran Gillmor Financial Services, and the Ohio Republican still owns more than $5 million in stock in the company. Gillmor continues to serve as director of the firm.

The veteran lawmaker’s portfolio also includes stocks and mutual funds. Gillmor has no listed liabilities.

44. Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-Colo.)
$5.77 million

Beauprez’s disclosure form goes into some detail about his personal financial holdings, as one might expect for a candidate seeking a more high-profile job — governor of Colorado.

Beauprez owns $3,105,596 in Front Range Capital Corp. bank stock, $1,547,780 in IRA Front Range Capital Corp. bank stock, and three rental properties in Lafayette, Colo., valued at just under $1.82 million.

The Colorado Republican and his wife, Claudia, have seven liabilities on their annual report that total $865,000 to $1.9 million.

45. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
$5.72 million

The majority of assets in DeLauro’s disclosure report belong to her husband, Stanley Greenberg. He is the 67 percent owner of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, a polling and consulting firm. The company is valued at more than $5 million.

Greenberg also has his own business, Greenberg Research Inc., a venue for offering strategic consulting.

The couple’s debts include two credit card accounts, each ranging from $15,000 to $50,000.

46. Rep. Don Sherwood (R-Pa.)
$5.09 million

A majority of Sherwood’s $5 million-plus in holdings come from seven companies for which he serves as president, vice president, director and partner.

His portion of Sherwood Freightliner, a heavy-truck dealership in Tunkhannock, Pa., is worth more than $1 million, according to his annual report, while several other companies are each valued at upward of $500,000. Sherwood Farms’ value ranges from $100,000 to $250,000.

The Pennsylvania Republican also holds $1 million each in Wachovia and PNC Bank stock.

Sherwood also has two lines of credit totaling $115,000 to $300,000, and a $250,000 to $500,000 mortgage from Wachovia Bank.

Sherwood announced last November that he had reached a confidential legal settlement with Cynthia Mirella Ore, who had sued the lawmaker for $5.5 million after she accused him of repeatedly assaulting her during their five-year romantic relationship. Sherwood’s financial disclosure form discloses no payout to Ore.

47. (tie) Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
$4.87 million

Harkin may perch toward the bottom of the list, but at least he’s on it this year after being left off in 2005.

The Iowa Democrat’s investments in United Technologies Corp. are worth upward of $1 million, while the rest of his portfolio is spread though stocks and mutual funds. Ruth Harkin, the Senator’s wife, previously was a top official at United Technologies.

47. (tie) Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
$4.87 million

Herger’s stake in his family companies and properties actually could put his net worth closer to $20 million, rather than the less than $5 million that he currently reports on his annual disclosure form.

His Rio Oso, Calif., home and ranch are worth more than $1.1 million, and his stake in Herger Gas, for which the California Republican still serves as the president and director, is valued at $1 million to $5 million.

Herger also controls $2 million to $10 million in company stock.

49. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas)
$4.85 million

Once again, the Texan barely makes the list this year, even though his portfolio expanded by more than $1.5 million.

Neugebauer’s accounts at Goldman Sachs include more than $3 million worth of bonds and other investments, and he also owns a number of small properties, mainly in Lubbock, Texas.

The Texas Republican, now in his second term in the House, also owns a property in Southeast D.C. worth more than $500,000.

Neugebauer was involved in numerous financial transactions throughout 2005, buying and selling millions in bonds. He also disposed of a number of the Lubbock lots.

Neugebauer reported $650,000 in liabilities, including a demand note worth $100,000 to $250,000 from Kingdom Enterprises, a firm that he is a partner in.

50. Rep. Sue Kelly (R-N.Y.)
$4.67 million

Kelly ranked No. 46 on the 2005 list before sliding four spots this year.

The former professor, teacher, hospital administrative aide, medical researcher and retailer, along with her husband, Edward, have invested over the years in everything from Bed Bath & Beyond to BP Amoco to real estate.

Their most valuable holding is an office park on Croton River, N.Y., that’s worth $1 million to $5 million, plus other properties in the region worth millions more.

Kelly’s liabilities include a $1 million-plus mortgage on the Croton site, plus another $350,000 in loans on other properties.

John Bresnahan, Kathrine Schmidt, Dan Rasmussen and Robert Rosenbaum contributed to this report.

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