What is Laura Bush’s Net Worth?

Laura Bush, the former first lady of the United States during her husband’s presidency from 2001 to 2009, has a net worth of $40 million. She is also known for her work as an author, memoirist, and librarian.

Early Life and Education

Laura Lane Welch was born on November 4, 1946 in Midland, Texas to Harold and Jenna Welch. She attended James Bowie Elementary School and then Robert E. Lee High School in Midland. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She then went on to earn her Master of Science in Library Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

Early Career

After completing her education, Bush became a school teacher in the Dallas Independent School District. She later worked as a librarian in Houston and Austin.

Personal Life

In 1977, Laura Bush met George W. Bush through mutual friends. They began dating and were engaged by September of the same year. They got married in November and have been together ever since.

Tragic Accident

At the age of 17, Laura Bush was involved in a car accident that resulted in the death of her friend Michael Douglas. The incident had a profound effect on Bush and caused her to lose her faith for a long time.

Laura Bush’s Political Career

Laura joined her husband’s 1978 campaign for Congress, though he lost the general election. She remained involved in politics as George’s father became the President in 1981.

Laura became the First Lady of Texas in 1995 as her husband was elected Governor of Texas. She focused on education, literacy, and health causes during her time in the Governor’s mansion.

She joined her husband on his campaign for presidency, which he won. In 2001, George W. Bush became President of the United States, and Laura became the First Lady. She focused on education during her time in this role.

Laura Bush’s Advocacy and Philanthropy

After struggling to conceive, Laura Bush gave birth to fraternal twins, Barbara and Jenna. The Bush family gathers multiple times a year in Walker’s Point, Maine and also owns a ranch in Texas.

Laura has devoted herself to championing several causes, including education, women’s health movements, breast cancer, and heart disease. She launched the National Book Festival and became the honorary ambassador for the United Nations’ Decade of Literacy. She created the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries and is involved with The Heart Truth awareness campaign and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign. The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health opened at Texas Tech University as a center devoted to research and education around women’s health issues.

Laura has published several books, including a memoir and a non-fiction book about oppressed women in Afghanistan. She has received multiple awards and honors for her advocacy, including recognition from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, the American Library Association, and an honorary Doctor of Letters from Wayland Baptist University. She also received the National Constitution Center Liberty Medal with former President Bush for their work with military veterans and the Concordia Leadership Award in 2021.

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