Lindsey Graham Dies at 71: Inside His Financial Legacy

Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after what his office called a "brief and sudden illness," according to a statement posted Saturday night on X. The South Carolina Republican's family has asked for privacy as they mourn.

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement read. No cause of death has been officially confirmed, though audio reviewed by NPR indicates emergency responders were called to Graham's Washington, D.C. home for a report of cardiac arrest.

A Career That Spanned Three Decades in Congress

Graham first arrived in Washington as a member of the House of Representatives, where he served from 1995 to 2003, before moving to the Senate for the bulk of his political life. He had just won his primary back home in South Carolina, positioning him for a run at a fifth Senate term this November. His national ambitions once reached higher too: in 2016, he launched a bid for president before dropping out of the race.

From Trump Critic to Close Ally

The bond between Graham and President Donald Trump did not start warmly. Back in 2015, while both men were vying for the White House, Graham told CNN that Trump was a "race baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot." That changed considerably in the years that followed.

Graham came to describe his shift toward Trump as a matter of duty to the country, and he became one of the president's most reliable partners on Capitol Hill. During Trump's first term, he played a key role in pushing Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court through the Senate, according to NPR. Last year, he also helped steer the president's One Big Beautiful Bill Act to passage. More recently, Graham had been an outspoken backer of the U.S. military involvement in Iran, action that has persisted even after a ceasefire collapsed.

Trump's Tribute and Their Final Conversation

After news of the death broke, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Graham was "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known" and called him "a true American Patriot" who "was always working."

Trump later told Meet the Press that he had spoken with Graham the night he died. "Other than being tired, he was fine," Trump said, noting that Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine. Trump recalled Graham mentioning he was eager to see the SAVE America Act move forward. "He actually said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act, and I said, 'Well, we're going to get it done, Lindsey. We're going to get it done. I'll see you, like, soon.'"

What Graham's Finances Looked Like

As a senator, Graham drew an annual salary of $174,000, the standard base pay lawmakers have received since 2009. Estimates of his net worth generally fall between $1 million and $3 million, based on figures from multiple financial outlets.

Tax returns released by his 2020 re-election campaign show that between 2008 and 2019, Graham reported $2.1 million in adjusted gross income and paid roughly $495,000 in combined federal and state income taxes. A 2022 report from GOBankingRates noted that his holdings included mutual funds, corporate bond funds, and shares of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, along with checking and savings accounts at the United States Senate Federal Credit Union and First Citizens. He had no reportable rental property.

Family and What Comes Next for His Seat

Graham is survived by his sister, Darline Graham Nordone. He never married and had no children. His sudden passing leaves South Carolina Republicans facing questions about who might seek the Senate seat he had just secured a primary win to keep, with his term set to run through this November's election cycle.