Matt Gaetz is an American lawyer and politician who has a net worth of $700 thousand. He was elected to Congress, serving Florida’s 1st district, in 2016. He began serving in January 2017.
Financial Disclosures: In 2010 Matt reported his net worth to be more than $1 million, although he only earned $29 thousand that year. In 2016, his personal financial disclosure showed Matt had a net worth a little under $500,000. He has not released a financial disclosure since 2016.
Early Life: Matt Gaetz was born in Hollywood, Florida on May 7, 1982. His mother Vicky worked as a pharmacist for over two decades. His father, Don Gaetz, is a former politician and former healthcare executive. Matt’s paternal grandfather, Jerry Gaetz, was a North Dakota politician who infamously died of a heart attack live on television at the 1964 Republican National Convention. Matt’s father Don was 16 years old at the time and tragically saw his father die live on TV.
In the early 1980s Don successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Hospice Care Reimbursement Act. This act made hospice costs covered by Medicare. A year after the law was passed, Don and some partners converted what had been a nonprofit hospice care company run by a religious organization into a for-profit entity called VITAS Healthcare.
In 2004 VITAS was acquired by a company called Chemed for $400 million. Today Chemed generates around $2 billion per year in revenue thanks to its two primary assets: VITAS and Roto Rooter. According to a financial report filed when he was a state Senator, the VITAS sale left Don Gaetz with a net worth of $25 million.
Matt Gaetz graduated from Florida State University in 2003 then earned his JD from the College of William & Mary.
After graduating from William & Mary, Matt worked for a law firm in Fort Walton, Beach.
Truman Show House: In 1991, Matt’s parents paid $125,000 for a home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. In 1998 their home became famous after it was used in the film “The Truman Show”, as the home of Jim Carrey, as Truman Burbank, and Laura Linney, as Meryl Burbank. Matt would have been around 15 when filming occurred.
So Matt Gaetz not only grew up in “The Truman Show” neighborhood, he literally grew up in the Truman’s home.
In the movie the home’s address number was 36, which Don and Vicky kept fixed above the front door and keep a sign outside the gate that says “The Truman House”.
Political Career: Matt Gaetz served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 4th district from April 2010 to November 2016. He began serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida’s 1st district in January 2017. His district covers much of the Florida Panhandle including Pensacola and his home of Fort Walton beach. After law school he worked for a law firm in his hometown.
Matt Gaetz has been described as an enthusiastic supporter of President Trump.
Drunk Driving Arrest and Other Citations: In 2008 Gaetz was arrested for driving under the influence while returning from a nightclub on Okaloosa Island, Florida. He reportedly denied drinking at first, then reportedly failed two field sobriety tests. The charges were ultimately dropped.
According to The Scripps Florida Investigative Team, between 1999 and 2014, Gaetz received 16 speeding tickets in Florida.
Personal Life: In December 2020, Gaetz became engaged to Ginger Luckey. Ginger’s brother Palmer Luckey founded the company Oculus VR which was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $2 billion.
| Net Worth: | $700 Thousand |
| Date of Birth: | May 7, 1982 (39 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |