Gold Plated Cabinet
What is the estimated* total net worth of Donald Trump's proposed cabinet?
* Estimates vary. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump cabinet is worth over $8 billion. The Politico website suggests the new president’s team could be worth $35b, and Academe tallies The Trump cabinet's net wealth at $9.5.
How accurate was your prediction?
What surprises you most about this data?
What story does this chart tell?
Why do you think the wealth of the cabinet is so high?
What is one consequence of this?
Explain whether this is good or bad news:
Why do you think Donald Trump picked such a wealthy cabinet?
What does the cabinet actually do?
What kind of work background is typically necessary to be a billionaire?
Who has the power to approve these cabinet nominees?
How do you think the wealth of the average Trump voter and the Trump cabinet compare?
If you were a member of the US Senate deciding whether or not to approve these nominees, explain how much the wealth of a cabinet nominee would affect your vote for their confirmation.
Would you rather be Vice President Mike Pence, worth $211,000, or Deputy Secretary of Commerce Todd Ricketts, worth $5.3 billion (which is written out as $5,300,000,000)?
How do you think this cabinet's wealth compares to former cabinets like that of President Obama and President W. Bush? **See bonus charts
How do you think that compares with the wealth of the US population? **See bonus charts
How do you think that compares to the wealth (GDP) of the world's poorest nations? **See bonus charts
Learning Extension
Read this Guardian report on some of the richest members of the cabinet.
Action Extension
Contact your U.S. Senator and tell them what you think about Donald Trump's cabinet.
Bonus Charts**
Atlas via Politico's cabinet net worth estimate
