By Sandy Fitzgerald | Saturday, 08 November 2025 02:13 PM EST
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who recently announced her retirement from the House, and her husband Paul have accumulated a multimillion-dollar fortune over the past 37 years, according to a new report. Their early stock holdings reportedly grew into $130 million, reflecting a return of nearly 17,000%.
Republican critics argue the figures highlight the need for stricter congressional ethics laws. “Nancy Pelosi’s true legacy is becoming the most successful insider trader in American history,” said RNC spokesperson Kiersten Pels, adding that if anyone else had achieved such returns, they would face legal consequences.
When Pelosi first joined Congress in 1987, she and her husband reported stock holdings between $610,000 and $785,000. By 2025, their portfolio was valued at $133.7 million, with a net worth estimated at nearly $280 million. This growth outpaced the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 2,300% rise over the same period, with an average annual return of about 14.5%.
In 2024 alone, their investments gained 54%, surpassing the S&P 500’s 25% increase and many hedge funds. Their holdings include major stakes in Apple, NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks, Salesforce, and Netflix, with Apple’s position valued between $25 million and $50 million.
Dan Weiskopf, a portfolio manager tracking congressional trades, described Pelosi’s strategy as “high conviction and aggressive,” noting her use of options trading for leverage. “We don’t see her panic or flip-flop on positions,” he said.
The couple also owns real estate and business ventures, including a Napa Valley winery worth up to $25 million and homes in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Paul Pelosi, a venture capitalist, has made tens of millions through stock and option trades involving about 20 companies. A notable 2023 trade involved exercising call options on NVIDIA shares, generating over $7 million in paper profits days before a Senate vote on semiconductor manufacturing legislation.
Critics argue the timing raises concerns about conflicts of interest, though Pelosi has denied her husband used nonpublic information. Weiskopf remarked, “When you’re supposed to be called an honorable member of Congress, maybe you should look yourself in the mirror and say, I want to do the right thing.”
