Tallahassee – Governor Ron Desantis’ net worth rose nearly 18% in 2024 as finances continued to be raised by book deals.
Desantis filed its annual financial disclosure report on Tuesday showing its net worth of $2,087,550 as of December 31, rising from $1,773,157 at the end of 2023.
It was the third year in a row that Desantis has received financial support from his 2023 book, The Couragen to Free: Florida’s American Revival Blueprint.
Desantis received $625,500 in 2024 from Harpercollins Publishers LLC. This is the same amount as 2023. The publisher paid Desantis $1.25 million in 2022.
The book was released in February 2023 as DeSantis prepared to officially launch his presidential campaign. He dropped out of the Republican presidential election in early 2024.
Prior to the book agreement, Desantis posted a net worth of $318,986 in 2021. His net worth jumped to $1,174,331 in 2022.
State elected officials must submit a financial disclosure form by July 1st each year listing income, assets and liabilities. In general, the form shows financial information from the end of the previous year.
Excluding money from Harpercollins’ publishers, Desantis’s sole revenue in 2024 was $141,400 from the state, according to a newly submitted report. DeSantis, who lived with his family in the governor’s mansion, did not report any property holdings.
At the end of 2024, Desantis had $573,109 in USAA checks and savings accounts. $1.31 million in savings account with an interactive broker. $99,803 Recycle Savings Plan, a type of retirement savings and investment plan. Under the Florida Resignation System, it costs $116,859.
Desantis’ sole liability was $15,095 in student loan liabilities.
At the end of 2023, Desantis’ USAA account totaled $351,078. A savings account with an interactive broker was $1.26 million. The Thrift Savings Plan was $95,592. The Florida Resignation System account held $84,196.
Meanwhile, state Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson reported a double-digit percentage jump in his net worth in 2024.
The majority of the increase came from the inclusion of a joint account with Charles Schwab Money Market, which holds $3.54 million, which was not part of his 2023 figures.
According to his report, Simpson was paid $139,628 by the state in 2024. He also reported $1.183 billion in revenue from Belly Wadding LLC, tied to an IHOP restaurant in Florida in 2024. $33,663 from Simpson Farms Inc. in Pasco County. $12,600 as a member of the Bank Florida board of directors in Dade.
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Other statewide offices have looked at sales this year, with DeSantis appointed former Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate, and former state chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis being elected to Congress in a special election. In February, DeSantis appointed former Chief of Staff James Usmierer on behalf of Moody’s host.
Nonetheless, Moody and Patronis submitted an updated financial disclosure report.
Moody reported a net worth of $4,426,804 as of January 21, his final day as Attorney General. This was a slight decline from $4,428,428 at the end of 2023.
Patronis reported a net worth of $9.25 million from $8.16 million at the end of 2023 as of March 31.
Janet Nunez, president of Florida International University, who resigned as lieutenant governor earlier this year, reported a net worth of $2.45 million on February 16, the last day of the statewide. This is up from $2.086 million at the end of 2023.
DeSantis has not appointed a replacement for Nuñez and Patronis.
The Uthmeier report was not available on the Florida Ethics Committee website Wednesday morning.
The financial disclosure report is scheduled for July 1, but the agency will have a grace period until September 1, with a $25 per day fine that could be imposed for up to 60 days.
Jim Turner, Florida news service
