David Petraeus Net Worth

What is David Petraeus' net worth and Salary?

David Petraeus is a retired military officer and public official who has a net worth of $5 million. David Petraeus served as the Director of the CIA from September 6, 2011 until his resignation on November 9, 2012. Before that he served 38 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of a highly decorated Four-Star General.

David's last assignments in the Army were as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and as a Commander in the US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), a role he held from July 4, 2010 to July 18, 2011. His other four-star assignments include serving as the 10th Commander with the US Central Command, and as a Commanding General in the Multi-National Force – Iraq. During his time in Iraq, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces.

In 2011, Petraeus was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as the next Director of the CIA. Unfortunately, one year later Petraeus resigned from his position as Director of he CIA citing the controversy that arose from an extramarital affair that was discovered in the course of an FBI investigation. According to Petraeus' associate Steven A. Boylan, Petraeus began an affair with Paula Broadwell, principal author of his biography, "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus," in late 2011 when he was no longer an active duty military officer. Petraeus reportedly ended the affair in the summer of 2012, around the time that he learned that Broadwell had been sending harassing emails to a longstanding family friend of the Petraeuses, Jill Kelley. Apparently, Broadwell became anxious that Petraeus' eye was wandering to the Tampa socialite so she sent a series of anonymous, threatening emails to express her concern. In the aftermath of the scandal, Petraeus has found a home in academia and has taken up teaching positions at USC, The City University of New York, and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He's also keeping busy with various professional advisory roles, including a position as chairman of the investment firm KKR's Global Institute.

Salary and Military Pension

During his time as Four-Star General, David Petraeus earned a salary of $234,803 per year. As a Four-Star General with 38 years of military service, David Petraeus earns a military pension that pays $20,000 per month.

When he became the Director of the CIA, his salary was $203,000.

His salary as a board member of private equity firm KKR is not known but based on comparable board member positions it's almost certain that he earns a base salary of at least $350 thousand. He would also be entitled to a bonus and potentially stock options in the firm.

Early Life and Education

David Howell Petraeus was born on November 7, 1952, in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. He displayed a commitment to leadership and excellence early in life, graduating in the top 5% of his class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1974. He furthered his education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, earning his master's degree in public administration in 1985 and a Ph.D. in international relations in 1987 from Princeton University. His doctoral dissertation, "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam," revealed his deep interest in military strategy and policy.

Military Career

Petraeus's military career is marked by numerous leadership roles and transformative strategies. His rise through the military ranks was swift and steady. He served as an Assistant Chief of Staff in the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and as an Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2003, he commanded the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq, earning acclaim for his leadership and successful management of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

In 2007, as a four-star general, Petraeus took command of the multinational force in Iraq, where he implemented the "surge" strategy, which significantly increased American troop presence to quell sectarian violence. His counterinsurgency tactics, combining military operations with efforts to gain the trust and support of local populations, played a crucial role in stabilizing Iraq.

In 2008, Petraeus was appointed as the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, overseeing all U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia. In 2010, he assumed command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, where he implemented a similar counterinsurgency strategy to the one used in Iraq.

Director of the CIA

Following his retirement from the military in 2011, Petraeus was appointed as the Director of the CIA by President Barack Obama. His tenure at the CIA, though brief, was marked by efforts to integrate military and intelligence operations to counter global terrorism.

Scandal and Resignation

In 2012, Petraeus resigned abruptly from his position as CIA Director after it was revealed that he had an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. An FBI investigation also revealed that Petraeus had shared classified information with Broadwell. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information in 2015.

Post-Scandal Life

Despite the scandal, Petraeus has remained active in public life. He joined the global investment firm KKR in 2013, where he serves as the Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, providing analysis on international economic trends and geopolitical issues. He frequently appears as a commentator on national security issues and continues to be a prominent voice on military and international affairs.