Joe Manchin Net Worth and Career
Joe Manchin is an American politician with an estimated net worth of $8 million. A Democrat, he has represented West Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2010. Before his time in the Senate, Manchin served as the 34th governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010 and was a state senator from 1986 to 1996.
Early Life and Education
Joseph Manchin III was born on August 24, 1947, in Farmington, West Virginia, the second of five children to Mary and John Manchin. He is of Italian and Czech heritage. Manchin attended Farmington High School and earned a football scholarship to West Virginia University. A career-ending injury redirected his focus, and he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Early Political Career
Manchin began his political journey in 1982 as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. He was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1986, serving a decade until 1996. He ran for governor in 1996 but lost the Democratic primary. He later served as West Virginia Secretary of State, building experience in statewide office.
Business Ventures
In 1988, Manchin co-founded Ener systems, a waste coal brokerage in Fairmont, West Virginia. He served as its president until 2000. His ownership in Ener systems accounts for roughly 30% of his net worth, and dividends from the company have added significantly to his income over the years. Between 2011 and 2020, he reportedly earned $5.2 million in dividends, including $500,000 in 2020 alone.
Governor of West Virginia
Manchin successfully ran for governor in 2004, benefiting from the incumbent’s weakened position. He won reelection in 2008, serving until 2010. His tenure focused on economic and energy issues, with an emphasis on coal and industry support.
U.S. Senate
Manchin won a special election in 2010 to fill the late Robert Byrd’s Senate seat and was reelected in 2012 and 2018. Known as one of the most conservative Senate Democrats, he has often broken with his party on issues like Medicare for All, minimum wage increases, and filibuster reform. His opposition to key Democratic initiatives, including the 2021 Build Back Better plan, drew national attention and highlighted his role as a swing vote in an evenly divided Senate.
Manchin earns a Senate salary of $174,000 annually. His centrist positions include supporting the coal industry, opposing aggressive environmental regulations, and advocating for gun rights, while occasionally backing more progressive measures on military intervention and fiscal issues.
Personal Life
Joe Manchin married Gayle Conelly in 1967, and they have three children. Their daughter Heather served as CEO of Mylan from 2012 to 2020. The family lives between West Virginia and Washington, D.C., where they reside on a $250,000 houseboat called “Almost Heaven.” In Charleston, West Virginia, they own a townhome and a riverfront home purchased for $765,000 in 2021. Manchin also drives a Maserati Levante valued at approximately $80,000.
