Recently filed financial disclosure forms filed by state-wide elected leaders show that the net worth of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is significantly less than Florida’s three cabinet members.
The financial disclosure forms, known as Form 6, are required to be filed annually by state elected officials and some state employees. The forms were due to the Florida Commission on Ethics by July 1, 2021.
DeSantis reported a 2020 net worth of $348,832 on his Form 6 filed on June 20, 2021. This is up 16.5 percent from the $291,449 reported for 2019.
In contrast, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis reported a net worth of $6.67 million, down 0.1 percent from 2019 and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody reported a net worth of $3.94 million, up 17.9 percent.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried missed the deadline for filing the 2020 Form 6. She has until September 1 before fines begin accruing. Fried’s 2019 Form 6 reported a net worth of $1.45 million.
Net Worth Gain Since Last Election
Since filing the first required financial disclosure related to their current office, Fried leads the state-wide elected officials in net worth growth as an elected official.
DeSantis’ net worth has increased 12.2 percent to $348,832 in 2020 from $310,971 in 2017.
Patronis’ net worth has increased 2.8 percent to $6.67 million in 2020 from $6.49 million in 2017.
Moody’s net worth has increased 30.5 percent to $ 3.94 million from $3.02 million in 2017.
Fried’s net worth has increased 433.5 percent to $1.45 million in 2019 from the $271,613 reported in June, 2018.
What is driving the approximate $1.1 million growth in Fried’s net worth after she became an elected official?
First, there was an approximate $720,000 gift from her fiancé related to a financial interest in a home they were sharing. And second, the value of Fried’s “Household Goods and Personal Effects” increased from $20,000 in 2018 to $230,000 in 2019.
Fried, through a spokesperson, recently stated that the 2020 financial disclosure will be filed by September 1st.
– – –
Steve Stewart is the Managing Editor and a contributor at The Florida Capital Star. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Florida Capitol” by DXR. CC BY-SA 4.0.