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In a political landscape often dominated by larger-than-life figures, Russell Vought has quietly become one of the most influential people in Washington, the architect behind much of Donald Trump’s second-term machinery.Days into the 2025 shutdown that brought the federal government to a halt, Trump shared an AI-generated video set to Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” In the clip, Trump plays the cowbell, Vice President J.D. Vance takes the drums, and Russell Vought, wielding a scythe, is cast as “the reaper.” It was more than internet theater, it was an acknowledgement of Vought's growing relevance.Before joining the Trump administration, he worked with the advocacy arm of the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank long known for shaping Republican policy.
When he returned to government in 2017, he brought with him an exhaustive understanding of the federal budget, and a deep commitment to Trump’s vision of reshaping it.
Over time, Vought became one of Trump’s most trusted functionaries as Trump came to power again. He emerged as one of the chief architects of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a sweeping plan that laid out how a second Trump presidency could consolidate executive power and overhaul federal agencies.
In his current role as the head of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Vought yields more power, than anyone would like. As the interest in this man rises, let us look at the modest net worth-
Russell Vought’s net worth
His estimated net worth is around $1 million, according to a financial disclosure filed with the US Office of Government Ethics before his February 2025 appointment. The report lists assets including index funds, mutual funds, and bond funds totaling roughly that amount.
The same disclosure revealed that he earned $542,204 in salary and bonuses from the Center for Renewing America, the conservative think tank he founded after leaving the first Trump administration. The document does not specify the period over which he received that compensation.Vought also carries between $1 million and $2 million in debt, mostly from two 30-year mortgages with interest rates between 5.625% and 6.49%. Additionally, he maintains a line of credit of up to $100,000. Details about his home and its value have not been made public.As the White House budget chief, he earns $250,600 a year, the standard salary for all Level I executive positions.