Peter Navarro Net Worth (Updated 2022)

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Peter Navarro is a writer and economist. He has written numerous books about the economy, starting in 1984. He served President Trump in multiple roles, including as an Assistant coordinator of the Defense Production Act.

He also serves as Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. He has an approximate net worth of $5 million. 

NamePeter Kent Navarro
Date of Birth:July 15th, 1949 (72 years old)
Place of Birth:Cambridge, Massachusetts
Height:5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters)
Profession:Economist, author, government official
Marital Status:Divorced
Children:0
Parents:Albert Navarro (father), Evelyn Littlejohn (mother)
Net Worth Estimate:$5 million

Net Worth

An exact figure of Navarro’s net worth is unknown. However, it is estimated to be around $5 million. Most of his earnings came from his work as an experienced economist, as well as being an author. 

Navarro worked at the University of California as a Professor of Economics for over two decades. He also worked in the same position at the University of San Diego.

He released several books during this time, including ‘The Policy Game: How Special Interests and Ideologies are Stealing America.’ For his next book, ‘Death by China,’ Navarro also created a documentary. However, Reuters reported that Navarro made less than $1000 per year in royalties from ‘Death by China.’

Navarro made his first bid for San Diego mayor in 1992 but lost. However, he was fined $4000 at this time for illegal loans accepted by his mother. He attempted to run four more times again and lost each of these.

In 2016, Navarro became part of the Trump administration team. He became the Director of the White House National Trade Council. He was influential in creating America’s trade policy during the Trump presidency. 

Navarro has several assets, including bonds and stocks. These are valued at approximately $1 million. Many of his assets are linked to his pension and real estate properties. These have connected to his mortgages.

Navarro filed for divorce from his wife, Leslie LeBon, in 2018. After lengthy divorce proceedings, Navarro agreed to split half of his pension benefits with Lebon. They also agreed to divide their bank accounts equally with each other.

In 2022, Navarro was given a subpoena to testify in the January 6th Attack on the Capitol investigations. Navarro pleaded not guilty to the grand jury indictment of contempt of Congress. He has stated that the trial will cost him “half a million dollars.”

Company

Navarro does not have his own official company. However, he does have various stocks and bonds in other companies. It is unclear which companies he has invested in.

According to an Associated Press review of documents, these investments are worth approximately $1 million.

In the late 1980s, Navarro founded the group Prevent Los Angelization Now (PLAN). This environmentalist group aimed to stop San Diego from becoming too similar to Los Angeles. Navarro became the President of this group. However, it is unclear what happened to PLAN, nor if this was a paid position.

Salary

During the 1970s, Navarro worked for the United States Department of Energy as a Policy Analyst. He also worked for the Massachusetts Energy Office and the Urban Services group. His annual salary was approximately $108,000.

Navarro became part of Harvard’s Energy and Environmental Policy Center in 1981. He worked there until 1985 as a research associate, with a salary of around $110,000 per year.

From 1985 to 1988, Navarro worked at two universities in California as a professor. These were the University of San Diego and the University of California in San Diego. His salary here is unclear.

In 1989, Navarro began teaching at the University of California in Irvine. According to documents analysed by the Associated Press, his salary was $240,000.

He became an Emeritus Professor shortly before joining the Trump presidential campaign. During Navarro’s last year teaching at UCI, his salary was $290,000.

Navarro also worked as a keynote speaker for several organisations, including the Casket and Funeral Supply Association. It is unknown how much he made from this position.

In 2016, Donald Trump hired Navarro as a campaign advisor for his presidential bid. It is unclear how much Navarro was paid for this position.

However, another campaign advisor, Brad Parscale, was paid $94 million throughout this campaign. So, we can estimate that Navarro’s salary was something similar.

The following year, Navarro became part of the White House staff. One of these roles included being the President’s Assistant for Trade and Manufacturing Policy. His salary was $183,000 per year.  

Navarro kept the rights to several online courses as part of his divorce proceedings. It is unclear how much Navarro charges for admission to these.

Real Estate

When married to LeBon, Navarro owned a house in Laguna Beach. It was 3323 square feet and had four bedrooms and ocean views. During the divorce, the pair placed the property on the market for $3.8 million.

This price later dropped to $3.3 million. In 2021, the pair finally sold the property for $2.93 million. The pair divided the net proceeds from this equally.

Together, LeBon and Navarro opened two houses in Troy, New York. As part of the divorce, both of these were given to LeBon. However, Navarro was given ownership of a 2014 ES 300H Lexus luxury car. This is valued at approximately $13,284 to $21,679. 

Early life

Navarro was born on July 15th, 1949, to parents Alfred Navarro and Evelyn Littlejohn. The pair were married at the time. Alfred worked as part of a house band while Evelyn was a store secretary on Saks Fifth Avenue.

A few years after Navarro was born, his parents divorced. Navarro lived with his mother in Maryland and Florida.

Navarro studied at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. He then went on to gain a full academic scholarship for entry to Tufts University. In 1972, Navarro graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, though it is unclear what his final grade was. 

After university, Navarro worked for the US Peace Corps in Thailand. He worked here for three years before returning to the United States. He then returned to school to study at Harvard University.

In 1979, Navarro graduated with a Master of Public Administration. He continued studying until 1986 when he was awarded a PhD in economics. 

Career

His first book was published in 1984 and was titled ‘The Policy Game: How Special Interests and Ideologies are Stealing America.’ Although sales of this book were fairly low, it helped form the basis of Navarro’s doctoral dissertation. 

Navarro worked for several energy-related companies, including the United States Department of Energy. During the 1980s, Navarro worked in academia as part of the University of California, San Diego, University of California, Irvine, and University of San Diego faculty.

Navarro made several unsuccessful bids for the mayor of San Diego. He also aimed to become part of the city’s council and board of supervisors. These attempts failed. 

Navarro became part of the Democratic Party and attempted to run for Congress. He also became part of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 bid for the presidency. 

After writing the book ‘Death by China’ in 2011, Navarro caught the attention of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kushner put Navarro in contact with Trump, and he became part of the presidential campaign.

Once Trump won the election, he made Navarro the White House National Trade Council director. 

Since Trump’s failed 2020 bid for re-election, Navarro has continued to work alongside the former president. He has made several appearances on Fox News, talking about the election.

In 2022, the House Select Committee gave Navarro a subpoena to give testimony about the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Navarro refused to testify, and he was indicted for contempt of Congress. Navarro pled not guilty. The trial is still ongoing.

Career Highlights

  • Worked in academia during the 1980s
  • Made several bids for San Diego government
  • Attempted to run for Democratic Party
  • Wrote several books, including ‘Death by China’ in 2011
  • Became part of Trump presidential campaign in 2016
  • Joined White House staff in 2027
  • Currently involved in trial regarding January 6th attack

Personal Life

Navarro married his ex-wife, Leslie LeBon, in 2001. They lived together in Laguna Beach. Many locals considered the pair a ‘power couple,’ as they had both been involved in local politics. They had six cats together. The pair had no children.

In 2018, Navarro filed for divorce from LeBon. In 2020, the divorce was finalized.

Interesting Facts

  • Navarro is known for his harsh stance on trade and American economics. He has frequently criticised China and Germany, particularly the former, for ‘endangering’ the United States.
  • Navarro was arrested at Reagan National Airport before boarding a flight to Nashville. Navarro claimed the FBI agents prevented him from drinking water or eating food. In response, the FBI said these allegations were false, and Navarro called the agents “kind Nazis.”
  • Navarro wrote his autobiography in 1996, titled ‘San Diego Confidential.’ During the introduction, Navarro referred to himself as “the cruelest and meanest son of a bitch who ever ran for public office in San Diego.”
  • Navarro was a registered Democrat until early 2018 when he re-joined the Republican Party.
  • Navarro openly criticised the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, in 2018. He said that a “special place in hell” was reserved for Trudeau because of his approach to US-Canada trade.

Summary

Peter Navarro is a famous economist and author. He has written several books over the years and has experience in academia. He worked for former-President Donald Trump from 2017-2020 as director of the White House National Trade Council.

He has a net worth of approximately $5 million.

 

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