At the Democratic National Convention this week, some of America’s wealthiest and most powerful people took to the stage to speak to the nation about wealth inequality and the dangers of an American culture that values money and status.
Income inequality was also the topic of speeches at the convention this week, from billionaires like former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, to billionaires like Oprah Winfrey and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
“We live in times of turmoil and hatred, and a culture that values impermanent things like money, prestige, status and favor,” former President Obama said Tuesday night, despite his family’s fortunes being worth tens of millions of dollars.
Protesters yell ‘fuck you’ at Chicago police, more than 70 arrested on second night of Democratic National Convention
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama gestures onstage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, USA on August 20, 2024. (Reuters/Elisabeth Franz)
Here are four ultra-wealthy Democratic leaders who spoke at the Democratic National Convention despite the convention’s anti-rich theme.
Oprah laments her experience with income equality
Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest and most influential media moguls in history, spent part of her speech Wednesday night blasting “income equality” and other issues that Democrats have vowed to eradicate from America.
“I’ve seen racism, sexism, income inequality, division,” she said, adding, “I’ve not only seen it, but I’ve also been on the receiving end of it at times.” Winfrey was raised by her grandmother in rural Mississippi and then by a single mother, with whom she lived for many years in a boarding house in Milwaukee.
Still, Winfrey’s accusations of income inequality rang hollow to those who pointed to her current massive net worth, estimated by Forbes magazine at $3 billion.
“It seems a bit odd that Oprah, with her Hawaiian mansion, multiple homes, expensive wardrobe and frequent lavish vacations, would be talking about income inequality,” wrote conservative radio host Dana Loesch.
Michelle Obama discusses her parents’ skepticism of wealthy people
In his speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, Obama praised his parents for their humility, hard work, rejection of wealth and distrust of the rich.
Obama said his mother taught him “the meaning of hard work, humility and decency,” adding, “Neither my mother nor my father aspired to be wealthy — in fact, they were suspicious of people who took more than they needed. They understood that if everyone around them was drowning, it wouldn’t be enough for their children to thrive.”
Obama said those values were instilled in him, drawing criticism from people who pointed to his enormous wealth.
The Trump War Room, the official account of former President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, shared a video of Michelle Obama’s speech and commented, “Michelle Obama says her parents were ‘skeptical of people who took more money than they deserve.’ She has a net worth of $70 million and lives in a mansion on Martha’s Vineyard.”
Critics say Biden will remain president “in name only” despite the Democratic National Committee’s vow to finish the next five months strong.
President Obama denounces America’s obsession with ‘money, fame, status and likes’
Following his wife’s speech, former President Obama blasted American culture for its “emphasis” on “money, fame, status and favor.”
The former president is one of the most famous politicians in modern history and shares his $70 million net worth with his wife and family. He also owns a film production company with Mrs. Obama called Higher Ground Productions, as well as several properties in some of the most expensive areas of the country.
He is also known for having cultivated close ties with Hollywood and media elites during his political rise and now as a senior member of the party.
Billionaire Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has boasted that he’s a “real billionaire” just days after Bernie Sanders called for keeping big money out of politics.
Another notable event at the Democratic National Convention this week was Pritzker gave a speech In the speech, he boasted about his own wealth, following a speech by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), who blasted billionaires for using money to influence elections.
In his speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, Sanders called on Democrats to “keep big money out of our political process” and declared that “billionaires from both parties should not be able to buy our elections, including our primaries.”
Pritzker, who owns the Hyatt hotel chain and is currently the richest U.S. elected official with a net worth of $3.4 billion, according to the report. $350 million personal fortune He is projected to win the Illinois gubernatorial election in 2018 and 2022. The blue state hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988, but it has elected Republican governors and senators in that time.
Pritzker boasted about his wealth in a speech to Democrats.
“Donald Trump claims he’s incredibly wealthy so we think we should trust him with the economy. But listen to actual billionaires: The only thing that makes Trump wealthy is stupidity,” Pritzker told the Democratic National Convention audience.
Fox News Digital’s Daniel Wallace contributed to this report.
Click here to get the FOX News app
