Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., “is now worth $29 million dollars.”
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. speaks Aug. 2, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez isn't worth $29 million. Her financial disclosure shows a far lower figure.
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- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.’s latest financial disclosure report, filed in September 2022, lists assets amounting to $4,004 to $60,000 and liabilities amounting to $15,001 to $50,000.
It’s not unusual for members of Congress to be millionaires. But is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., one of them?
A March 23 Facebook post shows a photo of Ocasio-Cortez with the text: "A broke bartender elected to Congress almost 6 years ago with a salary of $155,000 a year is now worth $29 million dollars … but the FBI is kicking in Donald Trump’s door..?"
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has been accused of being a millionaire. In 2021, we rated Pants on Fire a claim that she was worth more than $1 million. This latest version of the claim is no truer.
Members of Congress are required to file financial disclosures that list ranges, rather than specific amounts, of their assets, liabilities and income sources beyond their congressional salary.
Ocasio-Cortez’s latest financial disclosure report, filed Sept. 12, 2022, showed assets amounting to $4,004 to $60,000. It listed four assets — one savings account, one checking account, one brokerage account and a 401(k) plan. Each asset ranges from $1,000 to $15,000.
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For liabilities, the report listed student loans amounting to $15,001 to $50,000. Under gifts, an engagement ring is also listed, worth $3,057.04.
Similar to what we reported in 2021, this means her liabilities could be worth more than her assets.
We could not find any credible reports that show her net worth being anything close to $29 million.
Members of Congress, with few exceptions, receive a salary of $174,000. The House speaker receives $223,500, while the Senate president pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate receive $193,400.
These rates have been unchanged since 2009.
We rate this claim Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
Facebook post, March 23, 2023
House of Representatives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Financial disclosure report, Sept. 12, 2022
Congressional Research Service, Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief, updated Dec. 16, 2022
PolitiFact, AOC’s net worth over $1 million? That’s Pants on Fire!, March 10, 2021
OpenSecrets, Majority of lawmakers in 116th Congress are millionaires, April 23, 2020
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez isn't worth $29 million. Her financial disclosure shows a far lower figure.
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