The wealth transformation of U.S. presidents: How much did their net worth really change?

Diving into the financial journey of America's commanders-in-chief reveals some eye-opening patterns. Let's look at how their personal wealth shifted from before stepping into office to after leaving it:

**The moderate climbers:**
Ronald Reagan saw his net worth grow from $10.6M to $15.4M, while George W. Bush nearly doubled his fortune from $20M to $40M. These increases were steady but relatively modest compared to others.

**The wealth accelerators:**
George H.W. Bush's trajectory was more dramatic—$4M became $23M. Barack Obama transformed $1.3M into $70M, while Bill Clinton's rise was even more striking: a jump from just $1.3M to $241.5M.

**The unique case:**
Donald Trump's wealth story differs entirely. Starting at $3.7B, his net worth adjusted to $2.5B during his tenure—a notable decrease rather than the typical increase pattern.

**What this tells us:**
The disparity is striking. Some presidents' wealth multiplied by double digits, while others saw minimal growth. The question becomes: what drives these vastly different outcomes? Political career trajectory, business ventures, book deals, and speaking engagements all play roles, yet the variations remain puzzling.

The data paints an interesting picture about post-presidential income streams and wealth accumulation. Which trajectory surprises you most?