Condoleezza Rice Net Worth, Music, National Security Advisor And Assets
Condoleezza Rice is a prominent American politician, civil servant, professor, and diplomat with a net worth of $12 million. She made history as the first female African American to serve as the United States National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005 and as the Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. After her government service, Rice returned to academia at Stanford University, where she later became the director of the Hoover Institution.
Income
Condoleezza Rice’s income is derived from multiple sources. Her annual salary at Stanford University is $305,000. Additionally, she earns compensation for her roles on various corporate boards. For instance, in 2019, she received $405,000 from her position on the board of Dropbox, which included a base salary of $105,000 and equity worth $300,000.
Current regulatory filings indicate that Rice holds at least $4 million in Dropbox stock and has sold approximately $1 million worth since joining the board. Furthermore, she serves on the board of CS.ai, earning an additional $200,000 to $300,000 annually.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Condoleezza Rice was born on November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama, as the only child of John Rice, a minister and dean of students, and Angelena Rice, a high school teacher. She grew up in Birmingham’s Titusville neighborhood and later on the campus of Tuscaloosa’s Stillman College. In 1967, after moving to Denver, Colorado, Rice attended St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girls Catholic school. She graduated at age 16 and went on to earn her BA in political science from the University of Denver at just 19 years old. In 1975, she completed her MA in political science at the University of Notre Dame.
Condoleezza Rice began her career in public service in 1977 as an intern at the State Department during the Carter administration. In 1979, she studied Russian at Moscow State University and interned with the RAND Corporation in California. By 1981, she had obtained her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Denver and started her long association with Stanford University as a fellow at its Arms Control and Disarmament Program.
Academic Career and Start in the White House
From 1981 to 1987, Rice served as an assistant professor of political science at Stanford before becoming an associate professor from 1987 to 1993, focusing on Soviet affairs. Her expertise caught the attention of Brent Scowcroft, who recruited her for the National Security Council during George H.W. Bush’s administration. From 1989 to 1991, she was director of Soviet and East European Affairs, contributing to policies that facilitated German reunification. In 1993, Rice was appointed Provost of Stanford University, making her the first woman and first African American to hold this prestigious role.
National Security Advisor
Following George W. Bush’s election in 2000, Rice was appointed National Security Advisor. She was deeply involved in discussions regarding terrorism before the September 11 attacks and met with CIA Director George Tenet to confirm approval for controversial interrogation techniques post-9/11. In 2003, she became a significant advocate for the invasion of Iraq.
Secretary of State
After Bush’s reelection in 2004, he nominated Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State following Colin Powell’s resignation. During her tenure from 2005 to 2009, she promoted democratic governance in the Middle East through her “Transformational Diplomacy” agenda and worked tirelessly to address nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea. Notably, she traveled extensively during this period, setting a record for miles logged by a Secretary of State.
Political Views
Condoleezza Rice was originally a Democrat until switching to Republican in 1982, partly due to disagreements with Carter’s foreign policy. While serving under Bush, she held somewhat liberal views on abortion but maintained conservative stances on LGBTQ rights, gun control, and environmental issues.
Private Sector
In addition to her public service roles, Rice has been involved with numerous corporate boards including those of the Carnegie Corporation, Chevron Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Transamerica Corporation, and Dropbox. In 1992, she founded the Center for New Generation, an after-school program aimed at improving high school graduation rates among underprivileged students.
Post-Bush Career
After leaving government service in 2009, Rice returned to academia and joined the Council on Foreign Relations. She resumed her role as a political science professor at Stanford and became a faculty member at its Graduate School of Business while also directing its Global Center for Business and Economy. In 2012, she became one of the first two women admitted to Augusta National Golf Club and was later appointed to the College Football Playoff selection committee in 2013. In 2020, Rice succeeded Thomas W. Gilligan as director of Stanford’s Hoover Institution.
Music
Condoleezza Rice has been passionate about music since childhood; she began playing piano at age three and performed with the Denver Symphony at age fifteen. Throughout her career, she has continued performing at various diplomatic events and benefit concerts. Notably, she accompanied renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma during a performance at the National Medal of Arts Awards in 2002.
Personal Life
Condoleezza Rice has never married or had children. She briefly dated NFL player Rick Upchurch in the 1970s but ended their engagement when she felt it wouldn’t lead to a lasting relationship.
Assets
In 1998, Condoleezza Rice purchased a home in Palo Alto for $500,000 alongside two investors; they sold it for $2.3 million in 2017. From 2008 to 2018, she owned another Palo Alto home bought for $1.375 million that sold for $1.96 million to Stanford University. Through her multifaceted career spanning academia and public service, Condoleezza Rice remains a significant figure in American history as both a trailblazer for women and African Americans in politics and an influential voice in international relations.
