How Did George Washington Get So Rich?

Just how wealthy was George Washington? And did he really become rich by marrying Martha Washington? Mrs. Washington herself (as portrayed by Elizabeth Keaney) sets the record straight.

#AskMountVernon

[hancock]

And marrying the richest widow in Virginia also helped.

[MirzaAhmed]

Surely slaves had something to do with the value of that land?

[imperialguard]

"This guys so rich, he's got a swimming pool in a swimming pool"-SpongeBob SquarePants.

[tscream]

I think marrying Martha Dandridge Custis helped matters, too. ;)

[jreyes]

I always wondered is there anyone related to George Washington in the 21st century? Like does he still have any relatives?

[whitetig]

How does one talk about a southern slave holders wealth and land without talking about the enslaved. Their wealth was in the enslaved first then the land. So strange...

[JCTLR]

His 3rd cousin Capital John Medearis give him $75, 000 during the war

[woodmason]

He had slaves and benefited from the sweat of their unfree labor. In fact, I think his marriage brought even more slaves into the equation. It's easy to get rich when one only has to house (inadequately), feed (at subsistence level) and clothe (barely) the workers while paying no wages. Exploitation always benefits the master class with wealth. And I even like Washington but he lived well on the labor of others