Rod Blagojevich's net worth: How does the ex-governor make money today?
As of 2025, Rod Blagojevich's net worth is estimated to be $ 100,000. Today, the 40th governor of Illinois earns through a mix of media work, speaking engagements, and niche services. They are all tied to his notoriety and courtroom saga.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Rod Blagojevich's net worth is estimated to be $100 thousand.
- His finances took a hit after serving eight years of a 14-year sentence for soliciting a bribe.
- Blagojevich served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009.
- On January 8, 2009, the Illinois House voted 114–1 (with three abstentions) to impeach Blagojevich.
- He was convicted in 2011 on 17 counts, including bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion, and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
Rod Blagojevich's profile summary
| Full name | Rod R. Blagojevich |
| Nickname | Blago |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | December 10, 1956 |
| Age | 68 (as of July 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Current residence | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Serbs |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Partner | Patricia Blagojevich |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Rade B. Blagojevich |
| Mother | Mila |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Education | Northwestern University (BA)Pepperdine University (JD) |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood. |
| Convictions | Wire fraud (10 counts)Bribery (3 counts)Extortion (4 counts)Making false statements |
| Criminal penalty | Served nearly 8 years of a 14-year sentenceCommuted in 2020 by President Donald TrumpPardoned in 2025 |
Rod Blagojevich's net worth
The former Illinois governor, Blagojevich, has an estimated net worth of $100 thousand. His financial standing was hit after serving eight years of a 14-year sentence for soliciting a bribe. In early February 2020, President Donald Trump commuted his sentence.
How does Rod Blagojevich make money today?
Blagojevich makes money through media work, speaking engagements, and niche services. After leaving prison in 2020, he launched a politics‑focused podcast, The Lightning Rod. It ran on Chicago radio from 2020 to 2021.
He often appears on conservative TV networks like Fox News to comment on issues like justice and weaponisation. In addition, he monetises his infamy via Cameo, which offers personalised video messages (shout-outs) at about $100 each.
Source: Getty Images
In May 2025, reports surfaced that Blagojevich considered making a political comeback. He eyed to succeed Senator Dick Durbin in the 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois. In June 2025, Blagojevich commented on the sentencing of longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. He accused the political system in Springfield of being deeply corrupt.
Rod Blagojevich's political career
Blagojevich began his legal and political career as a clerk for Chicago Alderman Edward Vrdolyak. He then served as an Assistant State's Attorney under Richard M. Daley. In that role, he focused on prosecuting domestic violence and felony weapons cases.
In 1992, with backing from his politically influential father-in-law, Blagojevich challenged and defeated longtime incumbent Myron Kulas in the Democratic primary for the 33rd district in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Given the district’s strong Democratic leanings, the primary win guaranteed his election. Drawing on his courtroom experience, Blagojevich prioritised criminal justice reform. He pushed for legislation aimed at reducing violence and improving the legal system.
Four years later, he shifted his sights to the national stage and ran for Congress in Illinois’s 5th District. With strong support from his father-in-law, he unseated Republican incumbent Michael Flanagan by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. He easily secured re-election in 1998 and 2000.
Blagojevich made headlines in the late '90s when he joined civil rights leader Jesse Jackson on a mission to Belgrade to negotiate the release of American POWs from Yugoslavia. In 2002, he was one of just two Illinois Democrats in the House to vote to authorise military action in Iraq.
That same year, he entered the race for governor. After a tight Democratic primary battle against Roland Burris and Paul Vallas, he won. In the general election, he defeated Republican Jim Ryan, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in decades.
He launched his re-election campaign in 2006. Blagojevich refused to debate his primary opponent, Edwin Eisendrath, but still won 72% of the vote. In the general election, he beat Republican rival Judy Baar Topinka and Green Party candidate Rich Whitney.
What happened to Rod Blagojevich?
Blagojevich was arrested in 2008 on serious corruption charges, including an attempt to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama. Wiretap recordings revealed him discussing the seat as something valuable he wouldn’t “give away for nothing”.
In 2009, the Illinois House impeached him, and the state senate removed him from office. He became the first governor in the state's history to be ousted in this manner.
He was convicted in 2011 on 17 counts, including bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion, and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. After serving eight years, his sentence was commuted in early February 2020 by President Donald Trump, who argued the punishment was excessive. The pardon cleared Blagojevich’s criminal record.
Following his release, he shifted focus to media appearances and public commentary. He often criticised the judicial system and defended his actions. In 2021, he officially changed his political affiliation to Republican.
Rod Blagojevich's properties
Blagojevich faced financial difficulties and property-related challenges following his arrest and conviction. His vintage home in Chicago’s Ravenswood Manor neighbourhood was listed for sale in 2011 at around $1.07 million. This house had been used as collateral for his bail, and its price drew criticism for being potentially inflated.
As Blagojevich prepared to begin his 14-year prison sentence in early 2012, he and his wife, Patti, tried hard to sell the home. They hoped to finalise the sale before he reported to prison.
Rod Blagojevich's pension
Source: Getty Images
Blagojevich had two main pension streams: a state pension from Illinois and a federal pension from his time in Congress. He was entitled to approximately $65,000 annually from the state system, having served six years as governor and four years as a state legislator.
However, Illinois AG Lisa Madigan ruled in December 2011 that his felony convictions, directly tied to his official duties, disqualified him from receiving state pension benefits.
By March 2012, he had contributed about $129,167 to the system. A federal judge ordered $21,800 of that refunded amount to be seized to cover court-ordered fines and penalties. This left him with a little over $107,000. He was never paid the ongoing $65,000 annuity.
On the federal side, Blagojevich is eligible for a Congressional pension of around $15,000 annually, beginning at age 62. Since his federal crimes occurred after his tenure in Congress, these benefits were left untouched.
FAQs about Rod Blagojevich
- Who is Rod Blagojevich? Rod Blagojevich is a former Illinois governor who served from 2003 to 2009. He was impeached and later convicted on federal corruption charges.
- Why was Rod Blagojevich sent to prison? Rod Blagojevich was sent to prison in 2011 for attempting to sell Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat and for other corruption-related charges.
- How long was Rod Blagojevich in prison? Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years but served eight before his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2020.
- Is Rod Blagojevich planning to return to politics? Yes, Rod Blagojevich is planning to return to politics. In May 2025, he reportedly considered a U.S. Senate run in 2026, though he has not yet committed to a political party.
- Did Rod Blagojevich lose his pension? Yes, Rod Blagojevich lost his Illinois state pension due to his felony conviction. But he remains eligible for a congressional pension starting at age 62.
Final word
Rod Blagojevich's net worth is an estimated $100 thousand. The former Illinois governor's finances took a hit after his sentence. But he’s trying to make a comeback through a mix of media work, speaking engagements, and niche services.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
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