Laura Bush Net Worth

What is Laura Bush's Net Worth?

Laura Bush is an American public figure who has a net worth of $40 million. She served as first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 during the presidency of her husband, George W. Bush. In addition to her public role, Laura Bush is a memoirist, author, and professionally trained librarian whose post-White House work has focused heavily on education, literacy, and women's health.

Early Life and Marriage

She was born Laura Lane Welch on November 4, 1946, in Midland, Texas. She is the only child of Harold and Jenna Welch and is of English, French, and Swiss ancestry. Her father worked as a builder and real estate developer, while her mother served as the bookkeeper for his business.

She attended James Bowie Elementary School and Robert E. Lee High School in Midland. At age 17, Bush was involved in a tragic car accident in which she ran a stop sign and struck another vehicle, resulting in the death of the other driver, a close school friend. Bush has spoken openly about the profound emotional impact of the accident, saying it affected her deeply and contributed to a long period of lost faith.

After high school, she enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, earning a bachelor's degree in education. She worked as a schoolteacher in the Dallas Independent School District before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Master of Science in Library Science. She later worked as a librarian in both Houston and Austin.

In 1977, she met George W. Bush through mutual friends. The couple began dating soon afterward, became engaged in September, and were married in November of that year.

Political Life

Shortly after their marriage, Laura Bush joined her husband on the campaign trail during his unsuccessful 1978 run for Congress. Although he won the Republican primary, he lost the general election. Her public exposure increased when her father-in-law, George H.W. Bush, became president in 1989, at which point she began appearing at political events and occasionally traveling abroad with the Bush family.

Laura became first lady of Texas in January 1995 after her husband was elected governor, a role she held until December 2000. During her time in the Governor's Mansion, she focused on education, literacy, and health initiatives, maintaining a low-profile approach to politics and hosting few formal events.

Following George W. Bush's successful presidential campaign, Laura assumed the role of first lady of the United States in January 2001. As first lady, she continued to emphasize education and literacy, largely avoiding partisan political engagement. Her tenure was marked by a quiet, traditional approach to the role, prioritizing policy-related advocacy over public political debate.

Pete Marovich /Getty Images

Personal Life and Causes

After several years of trying to conceive, Laura gave birth to fraternal twins, Barbara and Jenna, on November 25, 1981, in Dallas. The family maintains strong ties to both Texas and Maine, where the Bush family has gathered for generations at the Walker's Point estate in Kennebunkport. The couple also owns a ranch in Texas.

Throughout her public life, Laura Bush has consistently championed education and literacy. She founded the National Book Festival, served as honorary ambassador for the United Nations Decade of Literacy, and created the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries, which awards more than $1 million annually in grants to schools nationwide.

She has also been deeply involved in women's health advocacy, particularly in areas related to breast cancer and heart disease. Her work has included involvement with The Heart Truth campaign and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In 2007, the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health opened at Texas Tech University, focusing on research and education related to women's health issues.

Writing and Recognition

Laura Bush has authored and co-authored several books. In 2008, she co-wrote the children's book "Read All About It!" with her daughter Jenna. Her memoir, "Spoken from the Heart," was published in 2010 and received positive reviews, earning a Goodreads Choice Award nomination for Memoir and Autobiography. She later published the nonfiction work "We Are Afghan Women: Voices of Hope," which highlighted the experiences of women living under oppression in Afghanistan. She has also co-authored the children's book "Our Great Big Backyard" with Jenna.

Her contributions to education and public service have earned widespread recognition. She has received honors from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, the American Library Association, and numerous academic institutions. In 2015, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Wayland Baptist University. She and her husband also received the National Constitution Center Liberty Medal for their work supporting military veterans. In 2021, Laura Bush was honored with the Concordia Leadership Award.

Who's Richer?

Laura
Bush

Compare!

Barbara
Bush