New York's first female governor Kathy Hochul, who took office on August 24, 2021, holds an estimated net worth of $2 million. Her position as one of America's wealthier state leaders comes with a substantial annual salary of $250,000.
The Hochul family's finances paint an impressive picture. Tax records show Governor Hochul and her husband William earned a combined income of nearly $2 million in 2023. Her gubernatorial salary reached almost $250,000, while their investment portfolio generated $43,292 in dividends and $18,756 in interest.
This piece will reveal how Hochul accumulated her wealth and her husband William's financial impact. We'll also track her net worth's growth since 2011, when estimates ranged between $1,041,015 and $2,265,000.
Kathy Hochul’s Net Worth in 2025: The Official Estimate
How much is Gov. Kathy Hochul worth in 2025?
Governor Kathy Hochul's net worth reaches an estimated $2.5 million in 2025. This represents steady growth from her earlier years. Her wealth comes from assets, investments, and savings built throughout her decades in public service.
New York's first female governor has seen her financial portfolio grow since taking office in 2021, thanks to her gubernatorial salary and smart investment choices.
The Hochul family's finances get a boost from her husband William's income. Their combined wealth puts them among New York state's more prosperous political families.
Comparing her net worth to other U.S. governors
Hochul's wealth sits in the middle range compared to other governors nationwide. She's nowhere near as wealthy as Illinois' J.B. Pritzker with his $3 billion fortune or West Virginia's Jim Justice who's worth hundreds of millions. Yet her financial position remains more comfortable than many of her peers.
Her $250,000 salary ranks among America's highest for state governors. This amount surpasses the national average for gubernatorial pay by a wide margin. Combined with her assets, this puts her firmly in the upper-middle tier of gubernatorial wealth.
How her wealth has changed over the years
Hochul's financial growth shows a steady upward trend throughout her political career. Her congressional years between 2011 showed a net worth between $1,041,015 and $2,265,000. Her wealth continued to climb, especially after becoming governor.
She built her path to financial stability well before becoming governor. Her roles in Hamburg Town Council, Erie County Clerk position, and time in Congress all added to her wealth. The real financial uptick came with her Lieutenant Governor position in 2014 and later as Governor in 2021.
The Hochul family's recent financial success stands out. Their 2023 tax returns showed nearly $2 million in combined income. This includes her governor's salary, investment returns, and interest earnings. This is a big deal as it means that their earnings have grown from her early political career days.
Where Her Money Comes From: Salary, Investments, and More
Kathy Hochul earns her income from several sources, which builds up her wealth through a variety of financial channels.
Kathy Hochul's salary as Governor of New York
Her salary as New York's governor is the life-blood of her personal income at $250,000 per year. This makes her one of America's highest-paid governors, which matches New York's position as one of the country's largest and most economically powerful states. Official records show her state position earned her $250,314 in 2022. This amount grew to $259,804 by 2024.
Other public service roles and earnings
Her current governor's salary anchors her income, but her household's total earnings paint a bigger picture. The Hochul household reported $984,250 in federal adjusted gross income for 2022. Their combined income jumped to $1,902,102 in 2023. This is a big deal as it means their earnings led to major tax payments – $275,737 in federal taxes and $62,340 in state taxes just for 2022.
Stock investments and dividends
Her investment portfolio grows steadily and creates passive income. Recent financial documents show the Hochuls earned $43,724 in dividends and $70,047 in interest in 2024. These numbers show growth from previous years. The couple shows their giving spirit through finances too – they gave $58,424 to charity in 2022, mostly through stock donations.
Real estate and property holdings
Hochul keeps strong ties with real estate industry leaders, though public records don't reveal much about her personal property holdings. Her political campaign gets strong support from the real estate sector. Donors from this industry have given at least $1.5 million since January 2023. Real estate figures and their families have made more than 65 donations at the state maximum of $18,000 since her last election.
The Hochul Household: William J. Hochul Jr.’s Financial Influence
William J. Hochul Jr. plays a vital role in the gubernatorial household's finances. His earnings overshadow Kathy Hochul's income, which brings both financial advantages and ethical questions to New York's first family.
Who is William Hochul?
William J. Hochul Jr. works as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Delaware North, a global hospitality and food service company. The company's yearly revenue is more than $3 billion. He built an impressive career in public service before moving to the private sector.
He served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York from 2010 to 2016. His switch from government prosecutor to corporate executive has given the Hochul family big financial benefits beyond the governor's state salary.
William J. Hochul Jr. net worth and career earnings
William Hochul earns nowhere near what his wife makes in the public sector. His executive position brings in much more money. Financial records show he made about $1.64 million from Delaware North in 2023. His pay package has a base salary, bonuses, and other typical corporate executive benefits. His high earnings have made him the family's main provider.
How the couple's finances are intertwined
The Hochuls' combined wealth paints an interesting picture. They made almost $2 million together in 2023. William's earnings made up over 80% of that amount. They keep their professional lives separate, but make financial decisions together.
Their joint investments brought in over $43,000 in dividends and nearly $19,000 in interest income based on recent filings. They approach charitable giving as a team and donate substantial amounts through stock contributions.
Controversies around Delaware North and ethics concerns
William's role at Delaware North has raised some ethical questions. The company has many contracts with New York State entities. Governor Hochul created a recusal policy to separate her official duties from her husband's business interests.
In spite of that, critics worry about the connection between the governor's office and a major state contractor. They point out how things might look wrong even when the ethics rules are followed properly.
Beyond the Numbers: Public Perception and Financial Transparency
Kathy Hochul's governorship stands out for its financial transparency. Her administration shares detailed tax information with the public regularly.
Tax returns and charitable donations
The Hochul family openly shares their financial status through yearly tax filings. Their combined income reached $1,902,102 in 2023. They paid $610,072 in federal taxes and $123,090 in state taxes.
Their portfolio yielded $43,292 in dividends and $18,756 in interest that year. The family's reported income dropped to around $1.5 million in 2024. William Hochul earned $949,946 from his role at Davis Polk.
The couple shows their philanthropic side through substantial charitable giving. They donated $84,780 to charities in 2023. This amount grew to $87,883 in 2024. Their donations supported organizations like the American Diabetes Association, Erie County SPCA, Planned Parenthood, and Habitat for Humanity.
Criticism over financial decisions and policies
The governor's financial transparency efforts didn't shield her from criticism. Her $2 billion "inflation refund" program drew fire from critics who saw it as a political move rather than effective policy. State Senator James Skoufis labeled it a "gimmick" and pushed legislation that would stop Hochul from putting her name or image on the checks.
Watchdog groups also targeted Hochul's administration about "slush funds" – billions in lump-sum appropriations with little oversight. These funds raised corruption concerns and were deemed "totally unaccountable", despite her promises of transparency.
Handling of staff controversies and public trust
Staff issues created challenges for Hochul's administration. Press secretary Avi Small stepped down after sexual harassment allegations surfaced. This situation proved awkward given Hochul's earlier warning that anyone crossing ethical lines would "have to deal with me".
Linda Sun's firing after corruption charges put Hochul's transparency promises to the test. The governor responded by creating "the strongest workplace protections and training policies in state history". Her administration now requires ethics training and has established new human resources protocols that address misconduct allegations.
Conclusion
Kathy Hochul, New York's first female governor, is expected to reach a net worth of $2.5 million by 2025. This shows steady financial growth from her earlier worth of $1-2.2 million in 2011. Her gubernatorial salary of $250,000 adds to her personal wealth, though it's nowhere near her husband William's corporate earnings.
The Hochul family's finances paint a broader picture than her individual worth. Their combined income reached nearly $2 million in 2023, largely due to William's role at Delaware North. His earnings of approximately $1.64 million make up over 80% of their household income, making him the main provider.
The Hochuls have managed to keep their financial records transparent through regular tax disclosures. They've shown their dedication to giving back by donating over $84,000 to charity in recent years. Yet concerns linger about potential conflicts tied to William's corporate position with a major state contractor.
Public criticism about her financial choices and policies hasn't stopped Governor Hochul from setting up protocols to tackle ethical concerns. Her team has put in place workplace protections and ethics training to handle the delicate balance between personal wealth and public service.
Hochul's financial growth mirrors a common pattern in political leadership. Personal success often comes with public power, bringing both opportunities and intense scrutiny. Her financial decisions will stay under the public eye as she leads New York, serving as one way to measure how well she governs.
FAQs
Q1. What is Kathy Hochul's estimated net worth in 2025?
Governor Kathy Hochul's net worth is projected to be approximately $2.5 million by 2025, reflecting steady growth throughout her political career.
Q2. How does Kathy Hochul's salary compare to other U.S. governors?
At $250,000 annually, Kathy Hochul's salary as New York Governor ranks among the highest for state governors in America, significantly surpassing the national average for gubernatorial compensation.
Q3. What are the main sources of income for the Hochul household?
The Hochul household's income primarily comes from Governor Hochul's salary, her husband William Hochul Jr.'s earnings as a corporate executive, stock investments, and dividends.
Q4. How much did the Hochuls donate to charity in recent years?
The Hochuls have demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy, donating over $84,000 to various charities in recent years, including organizations like the American Diabetes Association and Habitat for Humanity.
Q5. What measures has Governor Hochul implemented to address ethical concerns?
Governor Hochul has instituted workplace protections, mandated ethics training, and established human resources protocols to address misconduct allegations, aiming to maintain transparency and ethical standards in her administration.
