The Majority of US Senators Are Millionaires

(Oct. 28) -- Just in case you thought money doesn't equal power ...

More than half of the U.S. senators are millionaires and four more fall just 100 grand short of the million-dollar mark, according to a recent Roll Call analysis. The survey, based on a review of Senate financial disclosure forms filed in 2010, also indicated that the majority of senators saw their fortunes grow during the past year.

While many of the senators amassed their wealth through common means, Roll Call actually makes a point of highlighting the recent prevalence of increased wealth by inheritance in the Senate. For instance, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, recently received $96,000 in a retirement fund from his mother.

Although a senator's annual salary is $174,000, according the TheCapitol.net, it's no surprise that many lawmakers have amassed massive fortunes along their path to the Senate.

Even though they don't quite break the Forbes 400 list, here are a few of the most impressive estates:

John Kerry (D-Mass.) -- Always a familiar face among Congress' most wealthy, Roll Call says the second husband of philanthropist Teresa Heinz remains the wealthiest lawmaker, with $188.37 million.

Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) -- Sessions, who made some of the largest gains among any senator, reported 1,100 acres of timberland valued at between $1 million and $5 million.

Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) -- Although Kohl ranked among the poorest members of Congress in 2009, Roll Call argues that he is likely among the wealthiest. They have every right to feel that way -- Kohl is the owner of the NBA franchise the Milwaukee Bucks (no pun intended).

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Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) -- With an estimated net worth of $83.7 million, Rockefeller is still reaping the benefits of his great-grandfather, Standard Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller.

Mark Warner (D-Va.) -- Despite reporting a decline of more than $2 million in 2009, Warner still ranks among the Senate's wealthiest with $70.2 million in assets.

Of course, the news isn't likely to help with the anti-incumbent fever going into this year's midterm elections, where voters are seeking to implement chump change of a very different sort.

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