Stephen A Smith questions how Clinton, Obama amassed millions after office
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While criticizing the multi-million dollar net worths of two recent former presidents, Stephen A. Smith argues that the nation’s leaders should only succeed financially if Americans do the same.
The sports commentator and host of the “Straight Shooter” podcast weighed in on the profits President Donald Trump made while serving in the nation’s highest office.
“I don’t care how much money politicians funnel into their own pockets from time to time,” Smith said. Wednesday’s podcast episode. “If the American people are prosperous, take yours. It’s a capitalist society.”
Smith continued to cast doubt on how former President Bill Clinton achieved his multimillion-dollar net worth.
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Stephen A. Smith speaks onstage during the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit at the Ray Charles Center for the Performing Arts Morehouse College on October 9, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
“I’m going to confess something to you,” Smith continued. “Clinton was a lawyer in Arkansas. He grew up poor, relatively broke. How surprising to me that he and the Clinton Foundation are worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Smith also noted former President Barack Obama’s similarly high net worth.
“Barack Obama was a community organizer who was president of the United States, and last I checked, his salary was no more than $450,000, if I remember correctly,” Smith said.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama speak at the Children’s State Dinner in the East Room of the White House (ISP POOL IMAGES/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
“I have to double check this,” he added. “How did you leave your office worth over $200 million?”
According to a study According to research conducted by Forbes, both Bill and Hillary Clinton have made approximately $240 million since leaving office in 2021.
Bill Clinton is reportedly responsible for the majority of the couple’s earnings; He makes $189 million from writing books and $106 million from paid speaking engagements.
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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton gives the thumbs up twice as Bill Clinton stands next to her at the end of her campaign rally at Independence Hall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Similar Forbes’ research He announced that Obama earned a net worth of approximately $20 million during the 12 years he served as both a senator and president, increasing his net worth to around $70 million in 2024.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both Obama and Clinton for comment.
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Smith told his audience that he doesn’t care if politicians make big profits if the American people are doing well financially, but he doesn’t believe that’s the case domestically right now.
“I don’t mind if the American people are prosperous, but last time I checked that’s not the case,” Smith said.
