Wealth explodes by 2,292%, but prolific stock trader Nancy Pelosi is not in Congress ‘for the money’

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed on Wednesday that she did not join Congress for the money, though her net worth has dramatically increased through investments during her decades on Capitol Hill.

Pelosi touted that she was the highest paid congressperson during her time as speaker while she attended a forum at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. Despite claiming she was not in politics for the money, her wealth grew by at least 2,292% throughout her 37 years in Congress.

“At the time, I was too, the highest paid person on Capitol Hill. As a woman, that was a big deal. Not that I was there for the money,” Pelosi said.

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Pelosi’s net worth is estimated to be $270 million as of early 2026, according to Quiver Quantitative. Her stock portfolio beat the S&P 500 by nearly 200% in 2024, which prompted calls for reforming the rules on lawmakers trading stocks, as well as concerns that she allegedly participated in illegal insider trading. Her office denied those suspicions, saying that her husband manages her trades and that she did not have any knowledge or involvement in the transactions.

Pelosi’s portfolio grew 70.9% between Dec. 29, 2023, and Dec. 30, 2024, compared to the S&P 500’s 24.9% return for the period, according to financial data platform Unusual Whales’ 2024 Congress Trading Report. She outperformed many of the world’s largest hedge funds in 2024.

President Donald Trump said on July 30 that Pelosi should have been investigated for insider trading, and accused her of exploiting privileged information for financial gain. Following Trump’s statement, Pelosi immediately expressed support for Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley’s legislation, the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, which intended to prohibit congressional members and their families from trading stocks by March 2027.

Trump singled out Pelosi during his State of the Union address on Tuesday while he urged Congress to pass the “Stop Insider Trading Act.”

“Let’s also ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information,” Trump said. “”They stood up for that. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. Did Nancy Pelosi stand up — if she’s here? Doubt it.”

Pelosi opposed a ban on stock trades for members of Congress in 2021, but later changed her tune after the 2022 midterms, according to CNBC.

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