Petraeus in 2009. He was considered an expert on counterinsurgency. (Getty)
David Petraeus spent the bulk of his adult life in government service, so, although he isn’t poor, he is not extremely wealthy.
Petraeus has done well since leaving the CIA under the shadow of scandal, however. He’s a sought after educator and is involved in a money management firm run by a billionaire.
Donald Trump is considering Petraeus – who is still on probation for a criminal conviction – as Michael Flynn’s replacement as National Security Adviser. He is not the only candidate, however.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Petraeus Is Worth About $2 Million
David Petraeus. (Getty)
Most sites that track celebrity net worth put Petraeus’ net worth at about $2 million.
Petraeus had a lengthy and distinguished military and government career, ranging from a stint as CIA director to overseeing coalition forces in Iraq as the head of the US Central Command. The general has accumulated his wealth through years of government service as well as work in a private equity firm and teaching after retirement.
2. The Former General Has a Military Pension
Petraeus in 2010, when he was the Commander of the United States Central Command. (Getty)
Petraeus was one of the country’s highest profile generals and one of the few who are a household name. He spent 38 years in the U.S. military.
A four star general, Petraeus draws a $208,000 lifetime pension – each year. He earned $290,000 at the peak of his military career.
According to USA Today, the military chose not to strip Petraeus of a star, which would have cost him some of his pension, following his conviction for sharing classified information with a woman with whom he was having an affair.
3. Petraeus Once Earned $1 teaching at City University of New York
David Petraeus at Trump Tower on November 28. (Getty)
After being engulfed in scandal, Petraeus, prized for his military mind, remade himself as an academic. However, controversy followed him there too.
Petraeus waived his salary at City University of New York (CUNY) and took only $1 after the $200,000 he was scheduled to get to teach a class was criticized, according to The New York Times. However, The Times reported the pay was later upped to $40,000.
However, in 2013, USC wouldn’t release Petraeus’ salary to teach at that university,
4. The Former General Was Chairman of a Private Equity Firm
David Petraeus. (Getty)
After resigning his CIA post, Petraeus was snapped up as chairman of a private equity firm.
KKR Global Institute was a newly created firm. The firm was founded by a billionaire named Henry Kravis, according to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg reported that the firm and its competitors seek to manage the wealth of “the newly rich in Silicon Valley and China, Midwestern entrepreneurs and old money in Europe.”
The New York Times described Petraeus’ role there as running “what is described as a small research division, the ‘KKR Global Institute,’ which analyzes public policy and strategic risks and advises the firm on investment decisions.”
5. Petraeus’ Wife, Holly, Also Had a Government Salary
Petraeus isn’t the only member of his family bringing in income.
Holly Petraeus worked for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where, in 2011, The Washington Post reported her salary at between $119,554 and $179,700.
Petraeus stayed with Holly after his affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The New York Times reported that the retired general and his wife have “remained in the same house on the same street of $1 million to $2 million homes in the Northern Virginia suburb of Arlington” and that David Petraeus uses an Amtrak train to commute.