What Is Dr. Ben Carson's Net Worth?
Dr. Ben Carson is an American neurosurgeon with a net worth of $30 million. Besides his renowned medical career, he gained public attention as a 2016 Republican presidential candidate and later as the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Donald Trump. According to a 2014 financial disclosure, his net worth was estimated at $26 million, which was later updated to $16 million in 2016. His assets included significant equities in companies like Kellogg and Costco.
Speaking Fees and Royalties
Beyond his medical income, Carson has amassed wealth through public speaking and book royalties. In 2014 alone, he earned over $2 million from speeches, with fees ranging from $12,000 to $50,000 per engagement. Between 2014 and 2015, Carson and his wife, Candy, reportedly earned between $9 and $27 million from speaking fees, book royalties, and salaries from board memberships.
Carson's tenure on the boards of Kellogg and Costco earned him between $2 million and $10 million during the same period. Additionally, his contributions to Fox News and the "Washington Times" brought in between $200,000 and $2 million.
Early Life
Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. was born on September 18, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan. His mother, Sonya, married his father, Robert Solomon Carson, when she was 13. After his father's military service, the family moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1959, his parents separated, and Carson relocated to Boston with his mother and brother. They returned to Detroit two years later, where he attended Southwestern High School, graduating third in his class.
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Education and Career as a Surgeon
Carson earned a full-ride scholarship to Yale University, followed by a medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. Despite early academic struggles, he graduated in 1977 with honors. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he ultimately became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery. Carson was also a Professor of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery, and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins.
Carson specialized in traumatic brain injuries, tumors, epilepsy, and congenital disorders. He revived and refined the hemispherectomy procedure and is best known for leading the successful 1987 separation of conjoined twins Patrick and Benjamin Binder, despite the twins later being left in a vegetative state.
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Political Career
Carson gained national attention with his 2013 National Prayer Breakfast speech, which criticized President Barack Obama's policies. In 2016, he ran for President in the Republican primaries but withdrew after Super Tuesday. He then became the national chairman of My Faith Votes and endorsed Donald Trump.
In March 2017, Carson was appointed as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by President Trump. Throughout his political career, he has identified as a Democrat, Republican, and Independent at various times.
Author
Dr. Ben Carson has authored numerous bestsellers, including "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story" (1992), "Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence" (1996), and "America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great" (2013). His works span themes of personal development, risk-taking, and national values.
Personal Life
Married since 1975, Dr. Ben Carson and his wife, Candy, have three children: Rhoeyce, Benjamin Jr., and Murray. In 2002, Carson was diagnosed with prostate cancer and successfully underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Real Estate
In 2001, the Carson family acquired a 48-acre property in Upperco, Maryland. They moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, in 2013. After Carson became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, they purchased a $1.22 million home in Vienna, Virginia, and sold their West Palm Beach home for over $900,000.
