Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won plaudits from critics for saying her congressional salary is her only income and she doesn't trade stocks.

Summary

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denied claims that she is secretly wealthy, stating she is worth less than $500,000 and doesn’t trade stocks or take corporate money.

Her financial disclosures show modest savings and student debt.

Some conservatives on X, despite opposing her politics, praised her perceived integrity.

Accusations of political corruption have surged online, partly fueled by Elon Musk.

  • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
    101·
    5 hours ago

    she is worth less than $500,000

    That sounds like a lot of money still, but I’d imagine public figures can easily leverage that to wealth so makes sense

    • inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world
      14·
      22 minutes ago

      Jesus, people need to learn to read a damn article.

      Her financial disclosure form last year showed she had no more than $46,000 across her checking, savings, brokerage, and 401(k) accounts, and owed between $15,000 and $50,000 of student loans.

      Forbes estimated Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth last year at about $125,000 with most of her wealth in a Thrift Savings Plan — a 401(k)-style investment vehicle for government employees that doesn’t have to be listed in financial disclosures.

      And no it’s not that unusual for ordinary people to have 500k net worth. Buy a house, put in a few percent in your 401k in index funds, and there you go.

      • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
        2·
        9 minutes ago

        Uhm, it’s her own damn words (from the article):

        You are completely making things up. I am not even worth $1 million. Or a half million. I am one of the lowest net worth members of Congress, trade no individual stock, and take no outside income. These filings are public. I loathe corruption, and your lying is reprehensible.

        https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1887197530573717552

        She specifically decided to say “less than half million” which sounded a lot to me.

        • candybrie@lemmy.world
          1·
          6 minutes ago

          How does “I’m not even worth half a million” mean “I have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank” to people. I don’t get it.

          If you have a retirement account and a home, you’re probably worth more than that.

    • bane_killgrind@slrpnk.netEnglish
      14·
      4 hours ago

      She doesn’t even own her own home, or she lives in a shark at that value. No second property: no cottage or landlording.