With John Kerry's selection of John Edwards as his running mate, the 2004 presidential election will be contested by probably the richest set of candidates in U.S. history.
Edwards, a successful trial lawyer, has a net worth between $12 million and $60 million, according to his financial disclosure forms as a U.S. senator.
Meanwhile, Kerry, if elected, would be the third-richest U.S. president, if his wife's $500 million-plus fortune were counted as belonging to him as well.
Kerry and Edwards will face off against two other very rich men.
When Dick Cheney joined the Republican ticket four years ago, we estimated his personal fortune from his stock options and salary at Halliburton at $50 million.
President George W. Bush also ranks among the richest U.S. presidents on the strength of the roughly $15 million he made selling his share of the Texas Rangers.
With four multimillionaires on the tickets, 2004 may be the first time in history when all four major-party candidates could afford to work for free.
