Colin Luther Powell was born on 5 April 1937, in New York City, USA, of Jamaican, Scottish and African- American descent, and named after the heroic pilot Colin P. Kelly, Jr. of World War II fame. Colin is a retired general of the United States Army, only the third general since World War II to achieve four-star ranking without serving as a division commander, and holding the distinction for being the only African-American to be part of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, he is probably best known as a statesman, being the first African-American to serve as the United States Secretary of State. All his endeavors have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Colin Powell? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $45 million, mostly accumulated through a successful military and political career. He’s held numerous positions in the government and has also had a decorated career in the military. All of these have ensured his wealth.
Colin Powell Net Worth $45 Million
Colin attended Morris High School and matriculated in 1954. During his time there, he worked at a baby furniture store, and also did various other jobs. He then attended City College of New York from where he graduated with a degree in geology. After his second tour in Vietnam, he would go to George Washington University to complete an MBA degree.
Powell started his military career when he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). He enjoyed the experience and eventually after graduation, became an Army second lieutenant. He went to Fort Benning for training and was assigned to be a platoon leader of the 48th Infantry in West Germany. Colin participated in the Vietnam War, becoming an adviser to the South Vietnamese Army; during his first tour, he was wounded by a wooden spike booby trap called a punji stake, and was sent home early because of the wound, but returned in 1968 as a major. During his second tour of Vietnam he had many more experiences, including surviving a helicopter crash and helping rescue the other crash victims.
After the war, under President Richard Nixon, Colin became a part of the White House Fellowship. A few years later he would attend the National War College, mentoring other soldiers and officers. In the 1980s, he became a senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense at the time, Caspar Weinberger. He was consulted over the 1983 invasion of Grenada and the airstrike on Libya during 1986. A few years later he would become the National Security Advisor for President Ronald Reagan, after which President George H.W. Bush promoted Powell to four-star general rank, serving as Commander-in-Chief, Forces Command for a short period. Also in 1989, he became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
As the Chairman, he occupied the highest military position in the Department of Defense. He oversaw many crises including Operation Desert Storm, and the Invasion of Panama, although advocating diplomacy and containment during his service. His work continued under the presidency of Bill Clinton, opposing military actions that weren’t in the interest of the country. He served in the position until 1993.
Although widely popular, Colin Powell showed little interest in standing for political positions, eventually preferring to support Republican presidential candidates. He was subsequently appointed Secretary of State in 2001 by President George W. Bush, largely because of his moderate stance regarding international affairs. However, he was instrumental in pursuing the battle against terrorism after 9/11, and eventually agreeing to the invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein. After completing his term in 2005, Powell returned to private life.
For his personal life, Colin Powell has been married to Alma Johnson since 1962, and they have a son and two daughters.
mostly accumulated through a successful military and political career
Wow, I should have joined the military or became a politician.