Poorest President in the World

Uruguay's José Mujica, wears his title as "World's Poorest President" partly because he donates 90% of his salary to charity.


Uruguay is one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America

Per Capita GDP (PPP): all figures are international dollars (Int$): International Monetary Fund (2015)
Chile $23,507
Uruguay $21,341
Argentina $20,499
Mexico $18,430
Brazil $15,646
Colombia $13,836
Peru $12,518
Ecuador $11,317
Nicaragua $5,044

The Obama's vacation on one of David Geffen's two yachts along with Oprah and other guests.


The last truly middle class President we had was probably Harry S. Truman (1945–1953). Do you think it could happen again, or are those days gone forever?

Quote: Pacomartin

The last truly middle class President we had was probably Harry S. Truman (1945–1953). Do you think it could happen again, or are those days gone forever?

It would have to be an accidental POTUS like Truman or Ford. You have to be rich and in the club (Hillary) or rich enough to have your own club (Trump) and not care about the club.

Quote: Pacomartin

Uruguay's José Mujica, wears his title as "World's Poorest President"...

How about the communist presidents? Technically, they should have no personal "wealth":

China
Cuba
Vietnam
North Korea
Laos - Here's the former President of Laos, Tổng thống, with a familiar face:

Quote: Ayecarumba

Laos - Here's the former President of Laos, Tổng thống, with a familiar face:

Grinning Obama always reminds me of
a grinning Jack o Lantern, only creepier.
Is that racist? How do you tell.

Quote: Pacomartin

Uruguay's José Mujica, wears his title as "World's Poorest President" partly because he donates 90% of his salary to charity.

I take all public claims, not to mention displays, of austerity with a large grain of salt.

I assume the photo is of Mujica. Next question is: Is there a security detail riding behind him? If so, how big?

Recall Olof Palme was gunned down while walking alone with his wife after an outing, while he was Sweden's PM.

The other thing to ask is what other revenue does he get from government? For instance, Golden Boy gets a LOT for using his properties on official trips. If he were to donate all that to charity, rather then just his comparatively tiny paycheck, that would be meaningful. As it is, he looks like a kleptocrat from a third-rate banana republic.

Oh, yeah, the related joke:

Q: How can you tell a poor politician from a rich one?
A: The poor politician washes his own Mercedes.

You can take anything Mark Twain said about
politicians 150 years ago, or Will Rogers 100
years ago, and they are just as true today.
If anything, truer.

Quote: Nareed

I take all public claims, not to mention displays, of austerity with a large grain of salt.

I assume the photo is of Mujica. Next question is: Is there a security detail riding behind him? If so, how big?

I should say that Mujica is the past President of Uruguay and his five year term ended two years ago.
Tabaré Vázquez (a physician: age 77) was President of Uruguay before Mujica and is also the incumbent President. It seems that while the constitution prevents running for re-election, you can run again after 5 years.



There is no indication that Vázquez chooses to live in poverty or eschews the Presidential Palace.

Mujica may choose to keep his post presidential salary.

Quote: Pacomartin

The last truly middle class President we had was probably Harry S. Truman (1945–1953). Do you think it could happen again, or are those days gone forever?

I thought Carter was upper middle class. At least he came off that way. I don't think Ford was super wealthy but am not sure. He was a congressman for many years before becoming president.

Bernie Sanders doesn't strike me as a rich man. I think had he beaten Clinton in the primary he would have won the general election.

Quote: Wizard

I thought Carter was upper middle class. At least he came off that way.

Wikipedia lists their adjusted net worth in millions (starting with FDR) as:

Donald Trump $3500
John F. Kennedy $1000
Lyndon B. Johnson $108
Herbert Hoover $82
Bill Clinton $75
Franklin D. Roosevelt $66
George W. Bush $39
George H. W. Bush $26
Richard Nixon $17
Ronald Reagan $14
Dwight Eisenhower $9
Barack Obama $9
Gerald Ford $8
Jimmy Carter $8
Harry S. Truman <$1

So depending on your definition of "upper" I suppose some of them qualify. I do find it odd that Bill Clinton, a career politician born into poverty, would have more net worth than FDR who was born into one of the oldest Manhattan fortunes.

Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt around the year 1652 (13 -24 years after immigrating) bought a farm comprising 48 acres which included the present site of the Empire State Building.

Some other great fortunes were made after the Great Fire of London in 1666 when land could be bought for cheap.

Quote: Wizard

Bernie Sanders doesn't strike me as a rich man. I think had he beaten Clinton in the primary he would have won the general election.

I don't think Bernie was a millionaire (or just barely), but I don't think he ever really stood a chance.