What is James Comey's Net Worth?
James Comey is an American lawyer with a net worth of $16 million. During his Senate confirmation process for the head of the FBI in 2013, he reported a net worth of $11 million. After leaving the FBI, he amassed wealth through private speeches. Most of Comey's net worth stems from his tenure as general counsel and SVP at Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. At Bridgewater from 2010 to 2013, Comey earned $6 million in his final year and received a $3 million profit participation payout the following year.
Comey's career highlights include serving as the FBI director from 2013 until his dismissal by Donald Trump in 2017. Before that, he was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the 31st United States Deputy Attorney General. In 2005, he became Lockheed Martin's general counsel and senior vice president and later joined Bridgewater Associates in 2010. He also held a fellowship at Columbia Law School and became a notable figure due to his investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, announced just before the 2016 election, a decision many believe cost Clinton the presidency.
Salary and Speech Earnings
As FBI director, Comey's salary was $185,000 annually. While at Bridgewater, he earned several million dollars each year, peaking at $6 million in 2013. As a private speaker, he can earn up to $200,000 per speech, surpassing his annual FBI salary with just one engagement.
Book Deal
In 2017, Comey signed a book deal with a $2 million advance. His book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership," was released in 2018.
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Early Life and Education
James Comey was born on December 14, 1960, in Yonkers, New York, to Joan and J. Brien. In the early 1970s, his family moved to Allendale, New Jersey. Comey attended Northern Highlands Regional High School and graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1982. He earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School in 1985.
Career Beginnings
After law school, Comey clerked for US district judge John M. Walker Jr. and then worked at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in New York. From 1987 to 1993, he served in the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York as deputy chief of the Criminal Division.
Clinton Administration
In 1996, Comey joined the Clinton administration as managing assistant US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He also served as deputy special counsel to the Senate Whitewater Committee and led the prosecution in the Khobar Towers bombing case in Saudi Arabia.
Bush Administration
In 2002, Comey became the US attorney for the Southern District of New York. He led several high-profile prosecutions, including those of Adelphia Communications founder John Rigas and Martha Stewart. In 2003, he became deputy attorney general, where he drew controversy for his stance on Bush's domestic surveillance program and the CIA's use of torture. However, he opposed a second memorandum approving torture techniques.
Private Sector Work
After leaving the Department of Justice in 2005, Comey became senior vice president and general counsel at Lockheed Martin. In 2010, he joined Bridgewater Associates, later moving to Columbia University Law School as a senior research scholar. He also joined the board of directors at HSBC Holdings.
FBI Director and Investigations
In 2013, Comey succeeded Robert Mueller as FBI director. His tenure was marked by controversy, notably the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server. He announced no charges would be recommended but reopened the investigation before the 2016 election, a move criticized by both political sides. In 2017, inquiries into Comey's actions began.
Comey also investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, leading to his 2017 dismissal by Trump, sparking allegations of obstruction of justice.
Post-FBI
Following his FBI dismissal, Comey taught at the College of William & Mary and wrote "A Higher Loyalty." He also contributed op-eds to the Washington Post and the New York Times.
In the Media
In 2020, Comey's FBI tenure was dramatized in Showtime's "The Comey Rule," based on his autobiography, featuring Jeff Daniels as Comey and Brendan Gleeson as Trump.
Personal Life
Comey married Patrice Failor in 1987. They have five children and had a sixth who passed away in infancy. The couple has also fostered children.
Real Estate
In 2010, Comey and his wife bought a 7-bedroom mansion in Westport, Connecticut, for $3.05 million, selling it for $2.475 million in 2017. In April 2017, they bought an 11,000-square-foot mansion in McLean, Virginia, for $2.8 million.
