ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Former Vice President Mike Pence Joins White House Race, To Take On Ex-Boss Donald Trump

The 63-year-old evangelical Christian is known for his conservative beliefs.
PUBLISHED JUN 6, 2023
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Chip Somodevilla  Staff
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Chip Somodevilla Staff

Mike Pence has made a formal announcement that he would campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race. Pence's declaration of candidacy, filed with the Federal Election Commission, has solidified his intention to pursue the highest office in the nation. With this he has also launched a challenge to the former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner and his former boss.

Mike Pence, the 47th Vice President of the United States, is a prominent figure in American politics. He is a member of the Republican Party and served as the Vice President from 2017 to 2021. Throughout his career, he has held various important positions, including Governor of Indiana and a member of the US House of Representatives. The 63-year-old evangelical Christian is also known for his conservative beliefs. 

Let us take a closer look at Mike Pence's early life, political career, achievements, controversies, and net worth.



 

Early Life and Education

Born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana, Mike Pence was raised in an Irish Catholic family. His parents owned several gas stations, and Pence grew up in a middle-class environment. He attended Columbus North High School, graduating in 1977. Later, he pursued higher education at Hanover College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1981.

During his college years, Pence identified as a "born-again, evangelical Catholic." It was at church where he met his wife, Karen Batten, whom he married in 1985.

Source: Getty Images | Scott Eisen  Stringer
Source: Getty Images | Scott Eisen Stringer

From Lawyer to Vice President

After earning a law degree from Indiana University in 1986, Mike Pence began his professional career as a lawyer. However, his interest in politics soon led him to public service. In 1988, Pence ran as a Democratic representative candidate but was unsuccessful. Undeterred, he persisted and ran again, eventually gaining recognition and establishing himself as a prominent political figure in Indiana.

In 2001, Pence won a seat in the US House of Representatives, representing Indiana's 2nd congressional district. He served in this position for 12 years until 2013 when he became the 50th Governor of Indiana. As governor, Pence focused on economic issues, job creation, and tax cuts.

In 2016, Mike Pence took on a new role as the 48th Vice President of the United States under President Donald Trump. Serving as a loyal ally to Trump, Pence defended the administration's policies and acted as the president's representative on various matters. His political journey has shaped his reputation as a conservative leader with strong Christian values.

Source: GettyImages | Joe Raedle  Staff
Source: GettyImages | Joe Raedle Staff

 

Achievements and Controversies

Throughout his career, Mike Pence has achieved both acclaim and criticism. As a staunch social conservative, he has been a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and certain healthcare policies. Pence's conservative values resonated with many Republicans and earned him popularity within the Tea Party movement.

Source: GettyImages | Scott Olson  Staff
Source: GettyImages | Scott Olson Staff

However, his signing of the RFRA in Indiana sparked a national outcry and raised concerns about discrimination. The backlash led Pence to sign a revised version of the bill, as an attempt to counter the criticism.

Source: GettyImages | Jessica McGowan  Stringer
Source: GettyImages | Jessica McGowan Stringer

Net Worth Breakdown

Mike Pence's net worth primarily stems from his career in politics and public service. Before assuming the role of Vice President, his main source of income was his salary as the Governor of Indiana. In 2015, he earned an average salary of approximately $173,860.

In 2016, news reports indicated that Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, earned a combined income of $113,026. Additionally, they received over $9,000 from a pension fund. However, Pence faced a significant financial setback when he invested a substantial amount, between $200,000 and $450,000, in Kiel Bros, a gas station company. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt, resulting in Pence losing over $600,000. Right now, Pence's net worth stands at $4 million.

Source: GettyImages | Dia Dipasupil  Staff
Source: GettyImages | Dia Dipasupil Staff
MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The company, Scholly, entered the Shark Tank Hall of Fame as it gave a 60x return years later.
37 minutes ago
After the contestant, Drew Carey broke the board further while trying to fix it...
20 hours ago
As it so turned out, a crucial ruling from the judges led to a BIG win for the player.
22 hours ago
When a guest brought a precious Charles Rohlfs chair, expert John Sollo confessed that he was nervous to appraise it.
1 day ago
The guest had no idea about the item being a Tiffany product and being embedded with a rare gem.
1 day ago
The host was baffled by the goof up that the contestant made between two words.
1 day ago
Carey showed that he has got the weapon of sarcasm, and he isn't afraid to use it.
1 day ago
Whatever the host was expecting, it was far away from what the contestant said on national TV.
1 day ago
The guest was surprised to learn more about the item he had actually found on the street for free.
2 days ago
After going through everything on the board, the player left Harvey in hysterics with his answer.
2 days ago
As it so turned out, the weird-looking floor lamp was a piece from a very famous studio.
2 days ago
Most contestants were consistently getting the answers wrong, and Harvey was worried about what was next.
3 days ago
Some claimed that they got the puzzle despite English being their second language.
3 days ago
The letter was written to a columnist in response to a piece taking a swipe at Sinatra.
3 days ago
In a special episode of Celebrity Family Feud, a WWE star decided to go for the one thing Harvey is known for.
4 days ago
Luck was shining for her as she was off to a flying start and won the car with a single card.
4 days ago
Sajak had a witty reply for the contestant who was fanboying over White during the game.
6 days ago
The model said that considering White's age she would also take the offer from Sony.
6 days ago
Sheila won a brand new entertainment unit, complete with an HD plasma TV and mini bar from Howard Miller.
7 days ago
The appraiser disclosed that Yoakum began painting in the 1960s and he created one unique piece of art every single day.
7 days ago