How was Joe Biden poor as a Senator?

At a White House summit for working families Monday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden tried to relate to the audience by calling himself "the poorest man ... vice president's reported net worth of less than $800,000 is less than many of his colleagues in Congress, where he serves as president of the Senate. read more

Vice President Joe Biden said that, as a senator, he was the poorest member of the club Photo by Johan Ordonez/AFP/Getty Images On Monday morning, at a White House summit on policies to help working families, Vice President Joe Biden reflected on his wealth. read more

Biden was born on November 20, 1942, at St. Mary's Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Biden (née Finnegan) and Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden Sr. He was the first of four siblings in a Catholic family, with a sister, Valerie, and two brothers, James and Frank, following. read more

When Joe Biden was elected to the Senate in 1972, the salary for a Senator was $42,500/year. By the time he left in 2009, it had gone up to $174,000/year. That’s not “poor”, but it’s not hugely wealthy. read more