In 2025, the investment portfolios of several members of the U.S. Congress saw remarkable growth, with one representative achieving an extraordinary 52% return. This performance notably outstripped that of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who, despite outperforming the S&P 500, did not feature among the top ten highest earners. The increasing scrutiny of congressional trading activities has brought these financial successes to public attention, sparking discussions on transparency and potential conflicts of interest among elected officials.
The public's interest in the stock trading disclosures of congressional members has intensified, leading to platforms that track their financial maneuvers. These trades frequently draw attention, either due to their strategic timing or because they raise concerns about conflicts of interest, especially given the members' committee assignments. Recent data from Quiver Quantitative, as highlighted by the New York Post, has identified the ten members of Congress who saw the most substantial gains from their investment portfolios in 2025. This group consists of three senators and seven representatives, with a notable majority of eight Republicans and two Democrats.
Leading the pack was Representative Tim Moore (R-N.C.) with a 52% gain, followed closely by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at 50%. Other significant performers included Representative Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Representative Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), both securing 37% gains. Representative Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Representative Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) each achieved 35% returns, while Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Representative Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) also posted impressive gains ranging from 29% to 33%. These figures stand in stark contrast to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&P 500 and recorded a 16.6% increase in 2025, highlighting the exceptional returns some members of Congress achieved.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a figure frequently observed by retail investors in 2025, is known for her active trading and strong returns. She maintains that her trades are managed by a portfolio manager to prevent insider trading. Both Greene and Pelosi will soon no longer be required to disclose their investment activities publicly, as Greene concluded her term and Pelosi will be leaving Congress in 2027. The considerable success of these political figures in the stock market has led to increased calls for banning members of Congress from trading stocks, a practice that remains legal despite ongoing debates about ethical implications.
The top earner, Tim Moore, gained attention for his timely transactions in stocks like Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and investments in various small-cap companies such as Hyster-Yale Inc and Genprex Inc. Senator Ted Cruz's substantial gains were largely attributed to a significant stake in Goldman Sachs Group Inc, a portion of which he sold at an all-time high. The trend of congressional members outperforming the broader market indexes year after year continues to fuel public debate and calls for reform regarding their investment practices.