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Trump's Cabinet Picks Have a Combined Wealth of $14.5B. How Did They All Make Their Money?

Donald Trump is stocking his White House with fellow billionaires.
Image: McConnell Meets with Education Secretary Nominee Betsy Devos in Washington, DC
President-elect Trump's nominee for Education Secretary, Elisabeth DeVos, is the daughter-in-law of Amway co-founder Richard DeVos.JIM LO SCALZO / EPA

President-elect Donald Trump ran on a campaign of blue-collar anger and populism, but he's now drawing fire for stocking his White House with fellow billionaires.

Financial success isn't necessarily a barrier to public service. President Obama has a billionaire on staff too: Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker is worth an estimated $2.5 billion, from real estate and family banking investments in Chicago.

Related: Donald Trump Builds Cabinet with Old Friends and Some Rivals

But already the combined wealth of Trump's prospective cabinet tops $14 billion — more than 30 times greater than that of even President George W. Bush's White House. And Trump isn't halfway done with his picks.

Here's a look at how some of the wealthiest appointees so far stack up, according to data and estimates by the Washington Post, Forbes, The Guardian, and OpenSecrets.org:

$5.3 billion - Todd Ricketts - Deputy Secretary of Commerce

Co-owner of Chicago Cubs. Billionaire father founded the Ameritrade discount brokerage services.

Image: Donald Trump and Todd Ricketts
Todd Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs.Drew Angerer / Getty Images

$5.1 billion - Betsy DeVos - Secretary of Education

Daughter-in-law of co-founder of Amway, a multi-level-marketing company later renamed "Quixtar." Brother founded Blackwater. Fierce faith-based proponent of school voucher programs.

Image: McConnell Meets with Education Secretary Nominee Betsy Devos in Washington, DC
President-elect Trump's nominee for Education Secretary, Elisabeth DeVos, is the daughter-in-law of Amway co-founder Richard DeVos.JIM LO SCALZO / EPA

$2.9 billion - Wilbur Ross - Secretary of Commerce

Dubbed the "king of bankruptcy." Restructured failed companies in steel, coal, and telecommunications using leveraged buyouts.

Image: President-Elect Trump Holds Meetings At Trump Tower In New York
Wilbur Ross, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary.Drew Angerer / Getty Images

$1.16 billion (with husband) - Linda McMahon, head of Small Business Administration

Co-founder of the pro-wrestling company World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which she owns with her husband, Vince McMahon. His net worth is estimated to be $1.16 billion, according to Forbes. The magazine reported that Linda McMahon owns $84 million in the company's stock. She previously attempted to enter politics when she ran for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012, pouring close to $100 million into the campaigns.

President-Elect Trump Holds Meetings At Trump Tower In New York
Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, speaks to reporters at Trump Tower, Nov. 30, in New York City.Drew Angerer / Getty Images

$46 million - Steven Mnuchin - Secretary of the Treasury

Worked 17 years at Goldman Sachs. Started his own hedge fund and invested in at least two Donald Trump projects. Turned around failed home lender IndyMac and renamed it OneWest. Company was involved in string of lawsuits over questionable foreclosure practices. In one controversy the bank foreclosed on a senior who accidentally underpaid by 27 cents.

Image: Steven Mnuchin arrives at Trump Tower,
Steven Mnuchin, Trump's pick for Secretary of the Treasury.ANDREW GOMBERT / EPA

$26 million - Ben Carson - Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

A former Republican presidential candidate and neurosurgeon with revenue from best-selling books, paid speeches and board positions. During his campaign said social safety net and welfare programs create dependency among poor.

Image:
Ben Carson, Trump's pick for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.SAUL LOEB / AFP - Getty Images

$16.9 million - Elaine Chao - Transportation Secretary

Former member of both Bush administrations. Daughter of a shipping magnate. Married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Image: President-elect Donald Trump holds meeting at Trump Tower
Former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.Aude Guerrucci / POOL / EPA

$13.6 million - Tom Price - Secretary of Health and Human Services

An orthopedic surgeon with medical industry companies in his stock portfolio. He wants to repeal Obamacare and replace it with tax credits and health savings accounts.

Image: Trump's Pick For Health Secretary Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) Speaks At The Brookings Institution On The Federal Budget Process
Tom Price, Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services.Alex Wong / Getty Images

$15.8 million - Jeff Sessions - Attorney General

Republican Senator from Alabama. Noted advocate for reducing legal immigration. Supported Bush tax cuts, opposed 2009 stimulus and Obamacare. Top contributors are in legal, health, real estate and utilities, especially a gas and electric company and a coal-mining firm.

Image: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Meets With Trump's Attorney General Nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions
U.S. Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions.Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Unknown - Andrew Puzder - Secretary of the Department of Labor

The CEO of CKE Restaurants, this fast food exec is critical of workplace protection efforts. Puzder has said that raising the minimum wage would result in job losses and that lunch breaks are bad for business. Because Puzder's company is privately own his net worth is unknown, but is estimated to be in the millions. In 2011, he earned $10 million in total compensation.

Key Speakers At The Milken Institute Global Conference
Andrew Puzder, chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants Inc., listens during a panel discussion at the annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills on April 30, 2012.Bloomberg via Getty Images