Bernie Sanders Says It's 'Very Easy' To Lose Touch With Ordinary People's Struggles, Defends Owning 3 Houses And A $2 Million Net Worth

Bernie Sanders has often been criticized for owning three houses and having a net worth of around $2 million, especially by those on the right who call out his stance on wealth inequality. But Sanders has a simple explanation for his wealth and shared his thoughts during an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast.

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“Do I own three residences? Yeah, I do,” Sanders said. He explained that he lives in Burlington, Vermont, in a “middle-class neighborhood, nice house,” and owns another home in Washington, D.C., like most senators do. He also has a summer camp on Lake Champlain. “That’s it,” Sanders stated, noting that his homes are far from luxurious. “They’re middle-class houses.”

When asked how he managed to afford these properties, Sanders pointed to his success as an author. “I wrote two bestselling books,” he said, including one about capitalism that became a New York Times bestseller. He also earns $175,000 a year as a senator.

Sanders emphasized that while he’s now comfortable financially, his working-class background remains a key part of who he is. “Growing up in a working-class family has been maybe the most singularly significant aspect of my politics,” he said. He grew up in a rent-controlled apartment in Brooklyn and remembers not having money.

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“I don’t really give a damn about money,” he added. Sanders drives an 11-year-old car, wears a solar-powered watch and owns a simple wedding ring – no luxury goods. “I don’t have a Rolex watch, would not be interested in it,” he said. For Sanders, money isn’t about status; it’s about security.

“The major thing about having money … I don’t have to worry if somebody in my family gets sick. I don’t have to worry about putting food on the table or paying the mortgage,” he explained. Sanders noted how this lack of financial stress is a luxury and he’s aware of how different that is from the experience of many working-class Americans.

Sanders also discussed how easy it is for politicians to lose touch with everyday struggles: “It’s a very easy trap to fall into – you can get separated from ordinary people and their struggles,” he admitted. By frequently working directly with members of the working class and endorsing labor strikes, he tries to stay grounded.

Despite his financial comfort, Sanders remains focused on fighting for the working class. “I do my best,” he said, adding that having wealth doesn’t mean he’s forgotten where he came from or the struggles he faced earlier in his life.

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