Sandra Day O'Connor's Net Worth at the Time of Her Death
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor made history in 1981 when she became the first woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, O’Connor would go on to serve for more than two decades on the highest court in the land. She was a trailblazer and role model for women in the legal profession. Though she passed away on Dec. 1, 2023 at the age of 93, O’Connor left behind an inspiring legacy and a hefty net worth to match it. Read on for more about her historic career and how much she earned for it.
How did Sandra Day O'Connor get her start?
O'Connor was born in 1930 in El Paso, Texas, and expressed an interest in the law from an early age. That interest, combined with an unshakable work ethic, eventually led her to Stanford Law School, where she graduated near the top of her class in 1952. Despite her academic success, O'Connor had difficulty finding a law firm that would hire a woman. Eventually, she started her own firm with husband John O'Connor and built a career that saw her serve as an Arizona state senator (1969-1975), a judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court (1974) and a judge of the Arizona Court of Appeals (1979). Two years after that last job, in 1981, President Reagan fulfilled a campaign promise by nominating O'Connor to be the first female Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
What was Sandra Day O'Connor's net worth at the time of her death?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sandra Day O'Connor had an estimated net worth of $8 million at the time of her death in 2023 at age 93. The bulk of her wealth came from her long legal career, 25 years as a Supreme Court justice and various board positions and speaking engagements after retiring from the bench.
When did Sandra Day O'Connor serve on the Supreme Court?
Sandra Day O'Connor was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to become a Supreme Court justice in 1981. She would serve on the highest court in the U.S. until her retirement in 2006.
Related: 125 Influential Women in U.S. History
Was Sandra Day O'Connor the first woman Supreme Court justice?
Yes, when the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination, she made history by becoming the very first female Supreme Court justice. This finally broke the gender barrier on the previously all-male high court two centuries after its creation. Her elevation to the Supreme Court paved the way for more women justices to follow.
What did Sandra Day O'Connor get paid as a Supreme Court justice?
The salaries of Supreme Court justices are set by Congress. At the time of her confirmation in 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor earned $93,000 per year as an associate justice. By the time of her retirement 25 years later in 2006, O'Connor's salary had increased to $203,000. In addition to a generous lifetime pension equal to her final salary, O'Connor earned extra income from serving on boards, taking on speaking engagements and writing books during retirement.
What is the salary of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice?
In 2023, the annual salary for an associate Supreme Court justice like Sandra Day O'Connor is $285,400. Meanwhile, the current Chief Justice John Roberts makes $298,500. By law, Congress sets the compensation for Supreme Court justices and has typically granted small annual pay increases. With their lifetime appointments, generous pensions and other federal benefits, serving on the high court remains a highly lucrative job.
What was Sandra Day O'Connor known for on the Supreme Court?
As the first female Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor was known for trailblazing, independence and often casting the key swing vote in significant 5-4 decisions. Some highlights include:
Upholding abortion rights as a moderate conservative in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)
Her crucial swing vote in deciding the presidential election in Bush v. Gore (2000)
Authoring majority opinions upholding affirmative action (Grutter v. Bollinger, 2003) and campaign finance reform laws (McConnell v. FEC, 2003)
Though she tended to side with conservatives, O'Connor acted as the independent voice of reason who sought compromise positions. Her swing vote shaped American law and society for more than two decades.
Why did Sandra Day O'Connor leave the Supreme Court?
In 2005, Sandra Day O'Connor announced she would retire from active service on the Supreme Court. Her decision came shortly after her husband, John O’Connor, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She expressed a desire to spend more time with him in retirement.
Who succeeded Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court?
Following O’Connor’s announced retirement plans in 2005, President George W. Bush first nominated John Roberts and then Harriet Miers to fill Sandra Day O’Connor’s open associate justice seat. Both nominations were eventually withdrawn, and Bush nominated Samuel Alito. Much more reliably conservative than O’Connor, Alito was seen as likely to shift the ideological balance of the closely divided Supreme Court. He was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in a 58-42 vote in January 2006. Alito remains on the Supreme Court today as part of its current 6-3 conservative majority.
