As all four Florida Cabinet members carry on in their second terms, each continues to see their net worth rise steadily, according to the newest set of financial disclosures.
The latest disclosures show each Cabinet member reporting increases in their net worth. Each politician may come from a different background, but they’re all required to file their financial disclosures by July 1.
Here’s how the state’s top politicians stacked up:
Gov. Rick Scott remains the top dog as the wealthiest among the Cabinet members, boasting a net worth of nearly $147 million in 2014. Before Scott ventured into politics, he was an established businessman, co-founding Columbia Hospital Corp. in 1987. CHC eventually merged with the Hospital Corporation of America and eventually became the biggest for-profit health care company in the country.
When Scott first dropped into Florida politics in 2010, he listed a net worth of $218 million. After spending a pretty penny on his own election campaign, Scott saw that net worth drop quite a bit. Over the years, there have been some variations in the governor’s net worth -- it was $83 million in 2011, $84 million in 2012, and nearly $133 million in 2013.
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is the second wealthiest of the four Cabinet members. Prior to serving as agriculture commissioner, Putnam served in the U.S. House of Representatives, but most of his wealth comes from being a third-generation citrus grower in Polk County.
When he made his first bid for statewide office in 2010, Putnam had a net worth of a little more than $7 million. Four years later, Putnam’s seen that number increase (with a few fluctuations) -- to a little more than $8 million.
Ranking third in the bunch was Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who worked for 25 years as a community banker in North Palm Beach. Atwater then served in the state Legislature before he ran for CFO in 2010.
In 2010, Atwater had a net worth of a little over $1.6 million. That number went up to $1.7 million in 2012, $1.8 million in 2013 and up to $2.6 million in 2014. Atwater had over $1.6 million in investments alone, according to his 2014 financial disclosures.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is the least wealthy of the Florida Cabinet, but even she saw a slight tick in her net worth over the last few years. Bondi worked as an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County for several years before making her first bid for attorney general.
In 2010, Bondi posted a net worth of a little over $470,000. Four years of disclosures later show Bondi’s net worth jumped to $780,000 in 2012 and to $1.2 million in 2013. Last year, Bondi reported a net worth of around $1.4 million.
Bondi had nearly $280,000 in liabilities in 2014.
To see the full financial disclosures, click here.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
