Robert F. Kennedy Net Worth

What was Robert F. Kennedy Net Worth?

Robert F. Kennedy, one of the towering figures in American politics and law, died with a rough net worth estimate of $14 million. That would, after adjusting for inflation, come to about $100 million in today’s economy. As brother to the sitting President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, Robert was holding very eminent places in public service. He was the US Attorney General from 1961 to 1964, and later a United States Senator from New York between 1965, until assassination in 1968 while on a presidential campaign trail.

Kennedy left behind him a strong heritage characterized by his numerous contributions to different social and political courses: he was a big supporter of the civil rights movement, struggling with organized crime from their headquarters, and even putting the attention of the country to the serious poverty issues while at the same time opposing vehemently to involve the United States in the Vietnam War. Such a contribution by Kennedy will mark American history so permanently that, through his time in office, the dedication and actions made will never be forgotten and will be remembered for his unswerving tenacity in carrying out justice and equality.

Early Life and Education

Robert Francis Kennedy graced this world on the 20th of November in the year 1925 at Brookline, Massachusetts, into the lineage of the esteemed and politically powerful Kennedy family, headed by Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy. He was the seventh of nine children, including Joseph Jr., John, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Jean, and Ted. As a family, he was very wealthy and had grown between Massachusetts, New York, Florida, and London, as his father’s business ventures thrived.

In 1939, he started studying at St. Paul’s School, New Hampshire, which was high class. However, his mother did not like the character of the school, with the Protestant Bible being one of the important subjects. She took him from there. Subsequently, Kennedy enrolled at Portsmouth Priory School, a Benedictine Catholic boarding school in Rhode Island. He then transferred in 1942 to another boarding school, Milton Academy, from where he graduated his secondary education two years later in 1944. Thereafter, he took to majoring in his undergraduate studies in political science at Harvard University after a short stint in the US Naval Reserve. He furthered his education by obtaining a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1951.

Career Beginnings

Kennedy, a Harvard graduate, spent the six months cruising in and around Europe and the Middle East with his friend from college. He succeeded in obtaining the job of correspondent for the Boston Post, which involved writing articles about the worsening in Palestine. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1951 and practiced law with the US Department of Justice Internal Security Division. By early 1952, he had begun making the transition to the Criminal Division before finally leaving his post and going off to a victorious US Senate campaign for his brother John in Massachusetts.

In the late 1952, Kennedy was appointed by Senator Joseph McCarthy to be one of 15 assistant counsels to the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. However, by the summer of 1953, he was to resign in open hostility to the same very heavy-handed approach McCarthy was using. His career very much took off when he took on the job as chief counsel for the Senate Rackets Committee from 1957 to 1959. He publicly went head-on against Jimmy Hoffa, the Teamsters union president, over corruption in his union. He left the committee and turned to assist his brother John in securing success for a presidential election in 1960.

US Attorney General

John won the presidency in 1960, and his office made Kennedy the US attorney general. Surprisingly, he became one of the youngest American cabinet members in history, at an age as early as 35. During this time in office—up until 1964—Kennedy was very aggressive in pursuit against organized crime, with a special focus on the Teamsters and the Mafia. Under his watch, convictions of organized-crime figures rose by a staggering 800%. At the same time, he was dealing with the problem of juvenile crime and gave vocal support to the civil rights movement, though his sanctioning of FBI wiretapping on Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders opened a dispute between the authorities and the movement.

In addition to this domestic role, Kennedy played an important part during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 as one of the key intermediaries in diplomatic communications between the US and the Soviet Union. He also headed CIA operations to subvert the Castro government in Cuba following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. His experience during the Cuban Missile Crisis had been the subject of a memoir, “Thirteen Days,” published after his death in 1969. But then again, the tragedy continues in the late year of 1963 when his brother John was shot in an assassination act in Dallas, Texas. Apparently, that event further added disillusionment to him against the political establishment where one day he had his share.

US Senator

In August 1964, Kennedy launched his bid for the US Senate seat representing New York. His campaign proved successful as he triumphed over the Republican incumbent Kenneth Keating in the general election. Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Kennedy was a vocal proponent of gun control and a staunch advocate for marginalized ethnic minorities. One of his notable initiatives was the initiation of a redevelopment project in the impoverished Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. This project served as a model for community development corporations in the years that followed. Additionally, Kennedy prioritized human rights in US foreign policy, condemning injustice and vehemently opposing American involvement in the Vietnam War.

1968 Presidential Campaign

It was in 1968 during a rendezvous with civil rights advocate César Chávez in California that he made a very strategic decision to contest Lyndon B. Johnson for the presidency. His official declaration to be a candidate came in March, just two weeks before Johnson’s stunning withdrawal from the race. Kennedy carried on a campaign crusading for racial and economic equality, social reform, and foreign policy with a non-belligerent arm. In May, he scored thumping victories in the Indiana and Nebraska primaries but faltered in Oregon. However, Kennedy made a big bang early in June with thumping victories in both California and South.

Dakota primaries, elevating him to second place behind Hubert Humphrey for the Democratic nomination.

Assassination

In the small confines of the ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Robert F. Kennedy delivered one of his more inspiring speeches to highly enthusiastic supporters during the early hours of June 5, 1968. He stopped off briefly to make his way through the kitchen, on the way to the press room. As he passed through the kitchen, the busy passageway, Kennedy paused for a moment to shake hands with Juan Romero, a young busboy. It was in this moment that tragedy struck.

A 24-year-old Palestinian, Sirhan Sirhan, let fly three fatal wounding shots at Kennedy as he was breaking the air with the sound of gunfire. Five others were wounded in the confusion as onlookers and even former professional athletes George Plimpton and Rafer Johnson tried to grab Sirhan and subdue him.

Swift medical assistance rushed to the scene, as Kennedy was whisked to the hospital in a life-or-death last-minute dash to keep him alive. Although he had received an extensive neurosurgery, the wounds were still too much for Kennedy. He was taken sadly to the hospital in critical condition and died at the hospital at 1:44 am on June 6, 1968.

Marriage and Children

He was then married to Ethel Skakel in 1950. His marriage to Ethel was blessed with 11 children, namely Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Kennedy Jr., David, Mary Courtney, Michael, Mary Kerry, Christopher, Matthew, Douglas, and Rory. The couple mostly lived at the Hickory Hill Estate, located at McLean, Virginia. In 2009, Skakel decided to dispose of the real property and managed to sell the same at $8.25 million.

FAQ about Robert F. Kennedy Net Worth

1. What was Robert F. Kennedy net worth at the time of his passing?
   • Robert F. Kennedy net worth of $14 million by the time of his tragic assassination in 1968. Adjusted for inflation, this would be approximately equivalent to $100 million in today’s currency.
2. How did Robert F. Kennedy accumulate his wealth?
   • Kennedy accumulated his wealth through various endeavors, including his career as a lawyer, politician, and writer. He served as the US Attorney General and later as a US Senator, both of which contributed significantly to his financial status. Additionally, his family background and investments likely played a role in his wealth accumulation.
3. Did Robert F. Kennedy come from a wealthy family?
   • Yes, Robert F. Kennedy came from the prominent and wealthy Kennedy family. His father, Joseph Kennedy Sr., was a successful businessman, investor, and politician, which provided financial stability and opportunities for the Kennedy siblings.
4. What were some of Robert F. Kennedy’s notable contributions to society?
   • Robert F. Kennedy was known for his advocacy and leadership in various social and political causes. He actively supported the civil rights movement, fought against organized crime, raised awareness about poverty, and opposed US involvement in the Vietnam War. His contributions left a lasting impact on American history.
5. Did Robert F. Kennedy hold any significant political positions?
   • Yes, Robert F. Kennedy held several significant political positions during his career. He served as the US Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 under his brother John F. Kennedy’s presidency. He later became a US Senator representing New York from 1965 until his assassination in 1968. Additionally, he ran a presidential campaign in 1968 before his untimely death.
6. How many children did Robert F. Kennedy have, and what was his family life like?
   • Robert F. Kennedy was married to Ethel Skakel, and they had 11 children together: Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Kennedy Jr., David, Mary Courtney, Michael, Mary Kerry, Christopher, Matthew, Douglas, and Rory. Their family life was centered around their estate in McLean, Virginia, known as Hickory Hill.
7. What was the value of the Hickory Hill estate, and when was it sold?
   • The Hickory Hill estate was sold by Ethel Skakel in 2009 for a sum of $8.25 million. The estate held significant historical and sentimental value as the family residence of the Kennedys.

Quick Summary

1. Robert F. Kennedy was an outstanding American lawyer, politician, and author, born on November 20, 1925, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the 64th Attorney General of the United States from 1961 to 1964 and went on to be a US Senator from New York, re-elected twice, until his tragic assassination in 1968. He had a net worth estimated at $14 million at the time of his death, an equivalent of close to $100 million in today’s money.
2. Kennedy was a major contributor with some really important contributions during his career to social and political causes, including civil rights, organized crime, poverty, and US involvement in the Vietnam War. He was married to Ethel Skakel, with 11 children. The Kennedy family’s estate, Hickory Hill, was sold in 2009 for $8.25 million, valuing their history and sentiment.

Mahbubur R. Mamun

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