A Portion of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Net Worth Doesn't Come From Politics

During his time serving as Texas governor, Greg Abbott has received mixed reviews from residents over the measures he has pushed for and those he hasn’t. But in March 2023, Abbott likely gained a few new recruits to his “fan base” after he announced his intentions of getting Senate Bill 8 passed. The bill calls for $8,000 in taxpayer money to go to families to cover private schooling.

Speaking of money, what is Greg Abbott’s net worth?

Born on Nov. 13, 1957, Abbott has been serving as the governor of Texas since 2015. He was re-elected for a third term in November 2022, defeating his opponent, Beto O'Rourke. Although Abbott has been wheelchair-bound since 1984, it hasn’t stopped him from taking charge in life.

Keep reading to find out more about Abbott’s disability and the fortune he’s made from his role in politics.

Abbott’s net worth is estimated to be $14 million, both from his professional career and $7.8 million from the lawsuit related to his 1984 accident. He's married to Cecilia Abbott, a granddaughter of immigrants from Mexico. The two married in 1981 and she became the first Hispanic first lady of Texas. The couple adopted a daughter, Audrey Abbott.

As of February 2023, it's believed that Abbott collects a salary of $153,750, according to The Texas Tribune.

In July 1984, while Abbott was jogging, an oak tree on the path cracked and fell on his back, crushing several vertebrae. Since then, he has been paralyzed below the waist. He's the first wheelchair-bound governor of Texas.

In 2020, Abbott was named the “Best Governor in the Nation.” Before he was elected as the 48th governor of Texas in 2014, he was the 50th attorney general of Texas. He was initially elected in 2002 with 57 percent of votes and was re-elected with 60 percent and 64 percent votes in 2006 and 2010, respectively.

Abbott is the longest-serving attorney general of Texas and is already in his third term as the Texas governor. He has been known to be a big Donald Trump supporter.

In September 2021, Abbott wrote to President Joe Biden to issue an emergency declaration over the migrant crisis at Texas’s borders. However, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) denied that request.

Abbott then wrote another letter to Biden, asking him to reconsider the decision and give direct federal assistance to address the migrant crisis. In the letter, Abbott said, “I have determined that the disaster caused by the overwhelming surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border is of such severity that supplementary federal assistance is necessary to lessen the threat of disaster; save lives; and protect property, public health, and safety.”

Abbott has allocated a record $1 billion toward border security and wants to build a wall along the Mexican border. He also allocated $250 million as a downpayment for the border wall.

Under Trump’s presidency, the U.S. saw its longest shutdown. It lasted for 35 days, between Dec. 22, 2018, and Jan. 25, 2019, as Trump insisted on funding for the border wall.

While many scoffed at Trump’s idea of a border wall, there's little denying that the continuous influx of illegal immigrants at the border is a crisis waiting for a solution.