Net Worth Ranker
What Is Dick Cheney’s Net Worth?
Dick Cheney, a prominent figure in American politics and business, has amassed a significant fortune over his career. As of 2025, Dick Cheney’s net worth is estimated to be $150 million. This wealth is largely attributed to his tenure as CEO of Halliburton, a major energy services company, and his subsequent earnings in deferred compensation, retirement benefits, and bonuses.
Halliburton Earnings and Compensation
A substantial portion of Dick Cheney’s net worth stems from his leadership role at Halliburton, where he served as CEO from 1995 to 2000. During this period, Cheney accumulated significant wealth through various forms of compensation. Financial disclosures from 2000 reveal that his total compensation as CEO amounted to $72.5 million. This figure includes a $12.5 million base salary, $20 million in retirement benefits, and $40 million in stock options. These stock options proved to be particularly lucrative, as they allowed Cheney to acquire company shares at a predetermined price, which later appreciated in value. Beyond his direct compensation, Cheney continued to receive deferred compensation, retirement benefits, and bonuses from Halliburton even after stepping down to assume the role of Vice President in 2001. The exact value of these additional payments is not publicly available, but they undoubtedly contributed to his overall wealth.
Halliburton’s financial growth during Cheney’s tenure as CEO is also noteworthy. The company’s ranking as a military contractor rose significantly, from 22nd-largest in the U.S. the year before Cheney became Vice President, to 7th by 2003. This rise in prominence likely resulted in higher profits and, consequently, greater compensation for its top executives, including Cheney.
Financial Disclosures and Net Worth Estimates
In 2008, Dick Cheney’s wealth disclosure provided a glimpse into his financial standing at that time. The disclosure indicated that his net worth ranged from $20 million to $100 million. This is a broad range, reflecting the inherent difficulties in accurately valuing assets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. Nevertheless, it provides a valuable benchmark for understanding the scale of Cheney’s wealth. By comparison, President George W. Bush’s net worth at the time was estimated to be between $7 million and $20 million.
Early Life and Education: Foundations of a Career
Richard Bruce Cheney was born on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska. His upbringing in Casper, Wyoming, laid the foundation for his future endeavors. His father, Richard, worked as a soil conservation agent for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while his mother, Marjorie, was a former softball player. Cheney’s early education included attendance at College View Elementary School (now Calvert Elementary School) in Lincoln and Natrona County High School in Casper, where he served as senior class president and captain of the football team. After high school, Cheney enrolled at Yale University, but he dropped out less than two years later due to academic struggles. Following his departure from Yale, he faced legal issues, including two arrests for driving while intoxicated in 1962 and 1963. He later attended Casper College before earning a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in political science from the University of Wyoming. Cheney began pursuing a doctorate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison but left in 1966 to work as a staff aide to Governor Warren Knowles, marking the beginning of his career in public service.
Political Career: A Trajectory of Power
Dick Cheney’s political career began in 1968 when he received an American Political Science Association congressional fellowship. This opportunity led him to Washington, D.C., where he worked as an intern for Congressman William Steiger. From 1969 to 1970, Cheney served under Donald Rumsfeld in the Office of Economic Opportunity. He subsequently held positions as a White House Staff Assistant and Assistant Director of the Cost of Living Council. During Gerald Ford’s presidency, Cheney’s influence grew as he became Deputy Assistant to the President, and later, Assistant to the President and White House Chief of Staff. He also managed Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign, gaining valuable experience in political strategy and organization. In 1978, Cheney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wyoming. He was re-elected five times, serving as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee from 1981 to 1987. In 1988, he was elected House Minority Whip. His tenure in the House ended in 1989 when he became Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush. As Secretary of Defense, Cheney oversaw military operations such as Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. His service earned him accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official.
Private Sector Career: Halliburton and Beyond
Following Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, Dick Cheney transitioned back to the private sector. He joined the American Enterprise Institute and served on the Council on Foreign Relations from 1993 to 1995, having previously served from 1987 to 1989. From 1995 to 2000, Cheney served as CEO and Chairman of the Board for Halliburton. Upon his resignation to join George W. Bush’s administration, he reportedly received a $20 million retirement package. In 2002, Halliburton faced a class-action lawsuit from shareholders alleging securities fraud, which was settled for $100 million in 2016. In 2010, the Nigerian government filed corruption charges against Cheney and Halliburton. These charges were later dropped when the company agreed to pay a $250 million settlement.
Vice Presidency: Influence and Controversy
During his tenure as Vice President from 2001 to 2009, Dick Cheney exerted considerable influence on White House policy, particularly in foreign and environmental affairs, as well as the treatment of prisoners of war. Cheney played a significant role in the administration’s response to the “War on Terror,” publicly asserting Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction and its ties to Al Qaeda. On two occasions, Cheney assumed the role of acting president while Bush underwent minor medical procedures requiring sedation: from 11:09 a.m. to 1:24 p.m. on June 29, 2002, and 7:16 a.m. to 9:21 a.m. on July 21, 2007. On February 27, 2007, a suicide bombing occurred outside Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan during Cheney’s visit. The attack, which killed 23 people and wounded 20, was claimed by the Taliban, who stated that Osama Bin Laden had authorized the attack and that Cheney was the intended target. Cheney’s support for the administration’s “enhanced interrogation program,” which included waterboarding captured terrorists, drew criticism. His approval rating stood at 13% upon leaving office.
Post-Vice Presidency: Writings and Health
After leaving the Bush administration, Cheney co-authored two books with his daughter Liz: “In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir” (2011) and “Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America” (2015). On March 24, 2012, two years after his fifth heart attack, Cheney underwent a heart transplant.
Real Estate Holdings
Cheney’s real estate portfolio includes several properties. On January 12, 2000, he purchased a small lot in McLean, Virginia, for $1.35 million. He subsequently demolished the existing house and constructed a 12,765-square-foot residence in 2008. In 2005, Cheney acquired a waterfront estate in Saint Michaels, Maryland, for $2.67 million. He later sold it for $2.1 million in 2019. He also owns a home in Wyoming. The specific addresses and details of the Wyoming property are not publicly available.
Personal Life and Family
Dick Cheney married Lynne Vincent, his high school sweetheart, in 1964. They have two daughters: Elizabeth, born on July 28, 1966, and Mary, born on March 14, 1969. Liz followed in her father’s footsteps and took over his former congressional seat in 2017. Mary served as the Director of Vice Presidential Operations for Bush and Cheney’s re-election campaign. Liz is married to Philip J. Perry and has five children, while Mary and her wife, Heather Poe, have two children. Cheney has voiced support for same-sex marriage. On February 11, 2006, Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington while quail hunting in Kenedy County, Texas. Whittington sustained birdshot wounds to his chest, neck, and right cheek, and later experienced a heart attack and atrial fibrillation due to a pellet’s proximity to his heart. Whittington survived, and Cheney was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the Kenedy County Sheriff’s Office.
