You’ve seen him on CNBC or read his name in a Wall Street Journal headline about interest rates. Neel Kashkari, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, isn't your typical buttoned-up central banker. He’s the guy who ran the $700 billion TARP program during the 2008 financial crisis, which is basically the ultimate "high-pressure" job.
But when people start digging into Neel Kashkari net worth, the numbers get a little confusing. Is he a Wall Street tycoon? A career public servant? Truthfully, it’s a bit of both.
The Goldman and PIMCO Years: Where the Wealth Started
Kashkari didn’t start in finance. He was an aerospace engineer first, working on NASA missions. That’s a cool "fun fact," but engineering doesn't usually lead to the kind of wealth associated with Federal Reserve officials. The real money started at Goldman Sachs.
He worked as an investment banker in San Francisco, helping tech companies raise capital. If you know anything about Goldman in the early 2000s, you know it was a gold mine. Reports suggest that during just six months at Goldman, he pulled in around $738,000.
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Then came PIMCO. After his first stint in Washington D.C., he joined PIMCO in 2009 as a managing director. This is where his net worth likely peaked. During a 2014 divorce filing, it came out that Kashkari was earning roughly $500,000 per month at PIMCO in 2012.
That is "buy a private island" money. Or at least "very nice house in Laguna Beach" money.
The Campaign Drain
Here’s where the Neel Kashkari net worth story takes a turn. In 2014, he decided to run for Governor of California as a Republican. Running for office in the most populous state in the U.S. is insanely expensive.
Most people didn't realize how much of his own skin he put in the game. He actually pumped about $3.1 million of his own money into that campaign.
Before he started the race, he told reporters his net worth was "less than $5 million." If you do the math, spending $3 million out of a $5 million fortune is a massive gamble. He lost the election to Jerry Brown, and that personal investment didn't exactly see a return.
What Is Neel Kashkari Net Worth in 2026?
Since 2016, Kashkari has been the President of the Minneapolis Fed. This is a public-sector role with a very transparent salary. In 2024 and 2025, Fed presidents generally earned around $230,000 to $250,000 annually.
It’s a great salary, but it’s not PIMCO money.
His wealth today is largely tied up in diversified investments, which he has to disclose every year for transparency. Looking at his latest financial disclosures (Form A), his assets are mostly held in:
- Broad-based mutual funds and ETFs.
- Retirement accounts from his time in the private sector.
- Real estate holdings.
Taking into account his previous earnings, his massive campaign spending, and a decade of a steady government salary, most experts estimate Neel Kashkari net worth to be between $3 million and $7 million today.
It’s enough to be comfortably wealthy, but it’s a far cry from the $100-million-plus fortunes of some of his former Goldman Sachs colleagues.
Why This Matters for the Economy
Some people get annoyed when they hear a "millionaire" is making decisions about their interest rates or the price of eggs. But there's a flip side to that.
Kashkari has been one of the most vocal "doves" (and lately, more of a "hawk") on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). He often talks about the "labor market" and "regular workers" more than his peers.
Maybe it’s because he spent a week living on $40 to highlight poverty during his campaign. Or maybe it’s because he knows what it’s like to watch a bank account balance drop after a major career pivot.
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Lessons From His Financial Journey
- Pivot when you need to. He went from engineering to banking to government. Each move changed his wealth trajectory, but he prioritized the "mission" over the paycheck after a certain point.
- Diversification is boring but works. His public filings don't show him gambling on meme stocks. He’s in index funds.
- Transparency is key. Unlike many politicians, Fed officials have their personal finances scrutinized every single year. You can actually go to the Minneapolis Fed website and download his disclosure forms yourself.
If you're curious about how Fed policy affects your own net worth, the best next step is to look at the "Dot Plot" from the most recent FOMC meeting. It’ll tell you exactly where guys like Kashkari think interest rates are going, which impacts everything from your savings account yield to your mortgage.